Using Virt-manager gui application, using Cockpit web console. Import Qcow2 images using virt-install command. Virt-install is a command line tool to create KVM, Xen and Linux container guests. It is part of the Virt-manager package. If you haven't installed Virt-manager yet, refer the guide attached in 'Virt-manager' section below. Virt-manager, short for Virtual Machine Manager, is a graphical user interface application used for managing virtual machines through libvirt. Even though it is mainly created for KVM guests, it also can manage XEN and LXC containers as well.

1. Virt-manager
2. Virt-manager Create Virtual Network

Virtual Machine Manager. Virt-manager is a graphical tool for managing virtual machines via libvirt.Most usage is with QEMU/KVM virtual machines, but Xen and libvirt LXC containers are well supported. About virt-manager’s supporting tools. Virt-install is a command line tool which provides an easy way to provision operating systems into virtual machines. Virt-viewer is a lightweight UI interface for interacting with the graphical display of virtualized guest OS.

The source for the Windows drivers is hosted in a repository on GIT hub. Anonymous users can clone the repository

git clone git://github.com/virtio-win/kvm-guest-drivers-windows.git

Binary Drivers

Binary drivers are provided by some Linux distributions including WHQL Certified drivers.

For example the binary drivers for Ubuntu can be found here.

64-bit versions of Windows Vista and newer (this currently includes Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012) require the drivers to be digitally signed to load.

If your distribution does not provide binary drivers for Windows, you can use the package from the Fedora Project. These drivers are digitally signed, and will work on 64-bit versions of Windows:

• Drivers should be signed for Windows 64bit platforms.
• Here are some links how to self sign and install self signed drivers:

virt-manager is a free softwarevirtualization solution for Linux. virt-manager has a more complexinterface than VirtualBox or GNOME Boxes but it also has a morecomplete set of features.

virt-manager is the only virtualizationsolution that we present that allows the use of a PersistentStorage. See Running Tails from a USBimage.

The following instructions have been tested on Debian 10 (Buster).

Please, let us know if they do not applyto Debian 10 (Buster).

Virt-manager

virt-manager is based on a set of lower level virtualization tools,going from the user interface to the hardware interactions with theprocessor. This terminology is a bit confusing and other documentationmight mention the following tools:

• KVM is the module of the Linux kernel that interacts with thevirtualization features of the processor.
• QEMU is the virtualization software that emulates virtualprocessors and peripherals based on KVM and that starts and stopsvirtual machines.
• libvirt is a library that allows virt-manager to interact withthe virtualization capabilities provided by QEMU.
• SPICE is a protocol that allows to visualize the desktop ofvirtual machines.
• virt-manager is the graphical interface that allows to create,configure, and run virtual machines.

To install virt-manager in Debian, execute the followingcommand:

To install virt-manager in Ubuntu, execute the followingcommand:

1. Start virt-manager.

2. Double-click on localhost (QEMU) to connect to the QEMUsystem of your host.

3. To create a new virtual machine, chooseFile ▸ New Virtual Machine.

4. In step 1, choose Local install media (ISO image or CDROM).

5. In step 2, choose:

   • Use ISO image, then Browse..., and Browse Local tobrowse for the ISO image that you want to start from
   • OS type: Linux
   • Version: Debian Buster

6. In step 3, allocate at least 2048 MB of RAM.

7. In step 4, disable storage for this virtual machine.

8. In step 5:

   • Type a name for the new virtual machine.
   • Click Finish to start the virtual machine.

1. Click on localhost (QEMU).
2. Choose Edit ▸ Connection details to administer the connection to your local QEMU system.
3. Click on Virtual Networks tab, then select the default virtual network in the left pane.
4. Click on the icon on the bottom of the left pane to start the default virtual network.

Running Tails from a USB image is the only virtualization solution thatallows you to use a Persistent Storage in a virtual machine.

1. Download a USB image instead of an ISO image.

2. Increase the size of the USB image to be at least 8 GB. This createsspace for automatic upgrades and the Persistent Storage.

   truncate -ssizetails.img

   • size has to be at least7200M.
   • tails.img is the file nameof the USB image that you want to resize.

3. Start virt-manager.

4. Double-click on localhost (QEMU) to connect to the QEMUsystem of your host.

5. To create a new virtual machine, chooseFile ▸ New Virtual Machine.

6. In step 1, choose Import existing disk image.

7. In step 2, choose Browse..., and Browse Local tobrowse for the USB image that you want to start from.

   As operating system, choose Debian Buster.

8. In step 3, allocate at least 2048 MB of RAM.

9. In step 4:

   • Type a name for the new virtual machine.
   • Choose Customize configuration before install.
   • Click Finish to open the configuration view.

10. In the configuration view, choose VirtIO Disk 1 or IDE Disk 1

    • Expand the Advanced options and set Disk bus to USB.
    • Click Apply.
    • Check the Removable check box which should appear in the same view.
    • Click Apply again.
    • Click Begin Installation in the top left corner to start the virtual machine.

After you start on the USB image, you can create a PersistentStorage on it.

To run Tails from a USB stick using virt-manager, firstcreate a virtual machine running from an ISO image as describedabove.

Then do the following:

1. From the virtual machine window, choose Virtual Machine ▸ Shut Down ▸ Force Off to shut down the virtual machine.
2. Plug in the USB stick from which you want to run Tails.
3. Choose View ▸ Details to edit the configuration of the virtual machine.
4. Click on the Add Hardware button on the bottom of the left pane.
5. Select USB Host Device in the left pane.
6. In the right pane, click on the device from which you want to run Tails, and click Finish.

You can keep the original ISO image connected as a virtual DVD toinstall Tails onto the USB stick if needed.

You can also disconnect the original ISO image and start directly from theUSB stick once Tails is already installed on it. To do so:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. In the configuration of the virtual machine, click on IDE CDROM 1 in the left pane.
3. Click on the Disconnect button in the right pane.
4. To enable the USB stick as a boot option:
   1. Click on Boot Options in the left pane.
   2. Select the USB boot option corresponding to your USB device.
   3. Click Apply.
5. To start the virtual machine choose View ▸ Console and then Virtual Machine ▸ Run.

After you start on the USB device, you can create a PersistentStorage on it.

Graphics issues

Issues with graphics support in Tails running inside a virtual machinewith virt-manager are common. The best solution can vary dependingon the version of the virtualization solution and on the virtualmachine configuration. For example:

• The Auto resize VM with window feature does not work in allconfigurations.
• The video device that provides optimal graphics performance can bedifferent depending on the version of the host operating system.

To troubleshoot such issues:

Virt-manager Create Virtual Network

1. Ensure the virtual machine has a Spice display and a Spicechannel configured, as opposed to VNC ones.

2. Try various virtual video device models.

   Start with Virtio and QXL video devices: they generally givethe best results. If they don't perform well for you, try everyother video device model.