How to Use Virt-Manager on Linux Mint/Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide
TLDR
This article guides you through the installation and usage of Virt-Manager on Linux Mint or Ubuntu, providing an easy way to manage virtual machines (VMs).
Context
Virt-Manager is a graphical tool for managing virtual machines via libvirt. It's user-friendly and supports KVM/QEMU and Xen virtualization.
Why Virt-Manager?
- Graphical Interface: Easy for beginners.
- Wide Support: Works with KVM, QEMU, and Xen.
- Linux Compatibility: Ideal for Linux Mint and Ubuntu users.
Steps
1. Installing Virt-Manager
-
Open Terminal: You can press
Ctrl + Alt + T
or search forterminal
in the start menu. - Update Repositories:
sudo apt update
- Install Virt-Manager:
sudo apt install virt-manager
2. Adding Your User to Relevant Groups
-
Add Your User to the
libvirt
Group:
sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER
-
Add Your User to the
kvm
Group:
sudo usermod -aG kvm $USER
- Reload Groups:
newgrp libvirt newgrp kvm
3. Using Virt-Manager
-
Open Virt-Manager: You can search for
virt-manager
in the start menu or run the following command in the terminal:
virt-manager
-
Create a New Virtual Machine: Click on the
Create a new virtual machine
button. -
Select Installation Method: Choose
Local install media (ISO image or CDROM)
. -
Select ISO Image: Click on the
Browse
button and select the ISO image you want to use. You can downlaod Ubuntu server from here: Ubuntu Server. - Follow the Wizard: Choose the installation method and configure your VM.
4. Managing Virtual Machines
- Start/Stop VMs: Right-click on the VM and select Start or Shut Down.
- Access VM Console: Double-click the VM.
- Edit VM Settings: Right-click and choose Open.
Troubleshooting
1. Unable to Connect to libvirt qemu:///system
Error on Linux Mint/Ubuntu
Steps to solve
1. Ensure libvirt Service is Active
- Check Status:
sudo systemctl status libvirtd
- Start Service:
sudo systemctl start libvirtd
- Verify user group permissions:
# check groups for user groups $(whoami) # add required groups if missing sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER sudo usermod -aG kvm $USER # reload groups or log out and log in again newgrp libvirt newgrp kvm
2. Check libvirt Configuration
- Open libvirt Configuration File:
sudo nano /etc/libvirt/libvirtd.conf
- Enable TCP Connections: Uncomment
listen_tcp = 1
. - Restart libvirtd Service:
sudo systemctl restart libvirtd
Note: Sometimes just rebooting the service also works.
Reboot the System
Sometimes, even in linux, rebooting the system can solve the problem.
References
- Virt-Manager Official Website
- Ubuntu Community Help Wiki
- Linux Mint Documentation
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