Turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a KVM Hypervisor

Turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a KVM hypervisor to create and manage virtual machines efficiently. Our KVM Support team is ready to assist you. 

Turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a KVM Hypervisor

Turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a KVM hypervisor to unlock powerful virtualization capabilities. By running several virtual computers on a single physical server, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) optimizes resource utilization and lowers expenses. Linux and this open-source technologies work closely together to provide robust security and excellent performance. Ubuntu 24.04 is a flexible, controllable, and efficient KVM host, whether you’re managing production workloads or configuring a test environment. Keep reading to learn how to install and manage KVM easily.

What is KVM?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a Linux feature that lets your computer run multiple virtual machines with different operating systems. In order to improve performance, it works directly with hardware like a hypervisor. KVM is widely used for effective and adaptable virtualization on Linux systems because it is open-source.

Benefits of KVM

KVM Virtualization Benefits

KVM helps you use server hardware efficiently by running many virtual machines on one physical server, saving costs and power. It enables you to easily relocate, resize, or add virtual computers to suit your requirements. KVM’s robust performance is a result of its extensive Linux integration. To protect virtual machines, it also makes use of Linux security capabilities. Additionally, KVM is free and compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows and Linux.

KVM Switch Benefits

KVM switches save space and clutter by enabling you to control several PCs with a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse. They reduce expenses by eliminating unnecessary peripherals and expedite your work by making machine changeover simple. Certain KVM systems facilitate management in more extensive settings by providing centralized control and remote access.

In general, KVM technology enhances hardware management and virtualization’s effectiveness, adaptability, and control.

How to set up and manage KVM

Here’s a quick tutorial on using virt-manager to build virtual machines in KVM. Use egrep -c ‘(vmx|svm)’ /proc/cpuinfo to first see if your CPU supports virtualization. If it displays 0, turn on AMD-V or Intel VT-x to enable virtualization in your BIOS. Install KVM after that, along with any necessary programs like libvirt, virt-manager, and QEMU. Install qemu qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system bridge-utils virt-manager on Ubuntu using sudo apt install. After installation, make sure KVM is operating, add your user to the libvirt and kvm groups, and then restart.

After that, configure networking for your virtual machines (VMs) using bridged mode for direct network access or NAT for isolation. Furthermore, use the command virt-manager to launch virt-manager, then follow the wizard’s instructions to quickly construct and manage your virtual machines. For more sophisticated VM control, you can also utilize the virsh command line tool.

If you’re interested in virtualization technology, be sure to check out our expert article KVM Nested Hypervisor for a deeper understanding.

How to Install KVM on Ubuntu 24.0

Follow these simple steps to install KVM on Ubuntu 24.0:-

Step 1: To check if your CPU supports virtualization, run egrep -c ‘(vmx|svm)’ /proc/cpuinfo. Turn it on in your BIOS settings if it isn’t already.

Step 2: Use sudo apt to install KVM, QEMU, libvirt, and virt-manager after updating your system. libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils virt-manager qemu-kvm should be installed.

Step 3: Add your user to the kvm and libvirt groups, log out and back in, and run sudo systemctl enable –now libvirtd to enable and start the libvirt service. Furthermore, to construct and administer virtual machines with ease, start virt-manager.

Check out our expert article for a quick fix on the KVM module unload error.

Conclusion 

Turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a KVM hypervisor to efficiently run multiple virtual machines on one server. This open-source solution is compatible with a number of operating systems and offers robust performance, robust security, and ease of setup. Ubuntu 24.04 with KVM provides a strong, adaptable virtualization platform for testing or production.