How to Install KVM on Manjaro

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is an open-source virtualization platform for Linux. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to install KVM on Manjaro.

Prerequisites

Before installing KVM, make sure your system meets the following requirements:

  • A 64-bit x86 processor
  • 4GB or more RAM
  • Intel CPU with VT-x support or AMD CPU with AMD-V support
  • Manjaro Linux installed on your system

Steps to Install KVM on Manjaro

Step 1: Update the system packages

Before installing KVM, update the system packages to their latest version using the following command in the terminal:

sudo pacman -Syu

Step 2: Install the QEMU package

KVM uses QEMU as its backend for emulating different hardware devices. Therefore, you need to install the QEMU package using the following command:

sudo pacman -S qemu

Step 3: Install the KVM package

Install the KVM packages by running the following command:

sudo pacman -S kvm qemu-arch-extra virt-manager

Step 4: Enabling KVM

To enable KVM on your system, load the kvm and kvm_intel or kvm_amd kernel modules, depending on your processor. Run the following command to load the required modules:

sudo modprobe kvm
sudo modprobe kvm_intel #(for Intel processors)
sudo modprobe kvm_amd #(for AMD processors)

Step 5: Validate the Installation

To validate if the KVM installation is successful and working correctly, run the following command:

sudo kvm-ok

You should see the following output:

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

This output means KVM is installed and configured correctly on your Manjaro system.

Step 6: Use Virt-Manager to Create Virtual Machines

You can use the Virt-Manager application to create and manage virtual machines on your Manjaro system. Launch the Virt-Manager application from the terminal using the following command:

virt-manager

Conclusion

KVM is a powerful virtualization platform that allows you to create and manage virtual machines on your Manjaro system. We hope this tutorial helped you to install KVM on your Manjaro system.