How to Install KVM on Elementary OS Latest

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization technology that allows users to run multiple virtual machines on a single host machine. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing KVM on Elementary OS Latest.

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure that your system meets the following requirements:

  • A 64-bit processor that supports virtualization.
  • At least 4 GB of RAM.
  • At least 20 GB of free disk space.
  • A stable internet connection.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing KVM, it is recommended to update the system packages to their latest versions. Open the terminal and update the packages using the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install KVM and its Dependencies

The easiest way to install KVM and its dependencies is by installing the 'virtinst' package. Open the terminal and run the following command to install it:

sudo apt install -y qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils virtinst

Step 3: Verify KVM Installation

After installing KVM, verify its installation by running the following command:

sudo kvm-ok

This command will display the output similar to the following:

INFO: /dev/kvm exists
KVM acceleration can be used

Step 4: Create a Virtual Machine

Now that KVM is installed and working correctly, it's time to create a virtual machine. To create a virtual machine, you need to have an OS image. In this guide, we will use the Ubuntu 20.04 ISO image.

Create a directory where you want to store the virtual machine files. For example:

mkdir ~/myubuntu

Create a new virtual machine by running the following command:

 virt-install --name=myubuntu --ram=2048 --vcpus=2 --disk path=~/myubuntu/myubuntu.qcow2,size=20 --graphics none --location ~/Downloads/ubuntu-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso --network bridge=br0

This command will create a virtual machine named "myubuntu," with 2GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs. It will also create a virtual disk with a size of 20GB.

You can also customize the virtual machine according to your requirements.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to install KVM on Elementary OS Latest and create a virtual machine using the Ubuntu 20.04 ISO image. You can now use KVM to run multiple virtual machines on your system.