KVM virtualization with Qemu and Aqemu
Down in the Kernel

KVM and Qemu provide a fast and powerful alternative to VirtualBox for virtualization in Linux.
Linux users often equate virtualization with VirtualBox, a versatile virtualization app that Oracle has maintained for several years [1]. VirtualBox is a favorite with both beginners and power users because of its convenient installation and simple configuration.
With all the recent attention to VirtualBox, many users don't realize that a fully developed virtualization alternative is already built into the Linux kernel. Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) has been part of the kernel since Linux 2.6.20 and is developed by a team at Red Hat [2]. Combining KVM with the Qemu hypervisor system and the Aqemu graphical interface can lead to greater flexibility and significantly faster virtual machines (VMs) than a solution based around VirtualBox.
Operating Principle
KVM is actually a kernel module that acts as an operating system interface and, therefore, relies on a virtualization environment. Qemu [3], which is available in all major distributions, adds the necessary application-level virtualization features and is the perfect complement to KVM.
KVM/Qemu requires a CPU that supports hardware virtualization. If you use a computer with an Intel processor, you can enter the following command:
grep --color vmx /proc/cpuinfo
to find out whether the processor supports Intel VT. The color
option highlights the vmx
flag. If you have a computer with an AMD processor, the command sequence is similar:
grep --color svm /proc/cpuinfo
If you do not see the appropriate flags, and you suspect the CPU really does support hardware virtualization, take a look at the BIOS settings. Some BIOS versions let you switch the virtualization function on and off manually.
See your distribution's package manager for information on how to install Qemu. When you set up the KVM/Qemu duo, you should also install the Spice protocol and the QXL graphic driver, or else the system will only emulate an ancient Cirrus graphic card that does not support usable screen output on high-resolution monitors. Both components are also available in the repositories of all major distributions.
Aqemu [4] is a graphical environment for managing VMs. The Aqemu software is based on the Qt libraries and is strongly adapted to Oracle's VirtualBox. Aqemu is usually found in the repositories, so you can set it up along with the dependencies using the package manager. Also, the application is available for download at SourceForge [5].
First Steps
When you first launch Aqemu, a dialog guides you through the setup. In the course of the setup, the software scans the system for the active versions of KVM and Qemu and displays them in a table. If one of the two packages is missing, you need to check the installation.
After configuring all parameters, the routine jumps to the main window, which is very like VirtualBox: After creating the VM, on the left, you will find names listed in a table. On the right, Aqemu shows the settings in several dialogs, each grouped into tabs. Above is a horizontal bar with buttons for quick selection of the most important functions. A menu arranged horizontally at the top of the window rounds off the elements of the application.
Settings
Aqemu displays the complete KVM/Qemu instruction set and combines it with the elements of a graphical interface. The dialogs for setting the parameters are extensive. You can find several configuration options in the File menu under the General Settings and Advanced Settings submenus. The basic settings let you set the path for the VMs and configure some options for the appearance of the program.
In addition, you can define a default template if necessary. The default template gives you specifications for creating VMs in the individual dialogs, although you can adjust these settings retroactively.
In the Advanced Settings menu, you can tweak settings for hardware emulation and specify the path to the log files. In Advanced Settings | Information in Info Tab, you can activate further options for display as needed (Figure 1).
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Escuelas Linux 8.0 is Now Available
Just in time for its 25th anniversary, the developers of Escuelas Linux have released the latest version.
-
LibreOffice 7.5 has Arrived Loaded with New Features and Improvements
The favorite office suite of the Linux community has a new release that includes some visual refreshing and new features across all modules.
-
The Next Major Release of Elementary OS Has Arrived
It's been over a year since the developers of elementary OS released version 6.1 (Jólnir) but they've finally made their latest release (Horus) available with a renewed focus on the user.
-
KDE Plasma 5.27 Beta Is Ready for Testing
The latest beta iteration of the KDE Plasma desktop is now available and includes some important additions and fixes.
-
Netrunner OS 23 Is Now Available
The latest version of this Linux distribution is now based on Debian Bullseye and is ready for installation and finally hits the KDE 5.20 branch of the desktop.
-
New Linux Distribution Built for Gamers
With a Gnome desktop that offers different layouts and a custom kernel, PikaOS is a great option for gamers of all types.
-
System76 Beefs Up Popular Pangolin Laptop
The darling of open-source-powered laptops and desktops will soon drop a new AMD Ryzen 7-powered version of their popular Pangolin laptop.
-
Nobara Project Is a Modified Version of Fedora with User-Friendly Fixes
If you're looking for a version of Fedora that includes third-party and proprietary packages, look no further than the Nobara Project.
-
Gnome 44 Now Has a Release Date
Gnome 44 will be officially released on March 22, 2023.
-
Nitrux 2.6 Available with Kernel 6.1 and a Major Change
The developers of Nitrux have officially released version 2.6 of their Linux distribution with plenty of new features to excite users.