CLI: Enabling Virtualization in the CLI

You can use the virt command to creat or edit virtual machines.

Configuring virtual machines

To enable the virtualization feature:

virt enable

To assign an interface to use as a VM access port:

virt interface <interface>

To configure a virtual machine:

virt vm <name> {arch|boot|comment|console|copy|feature|install|interface|memory|power|rename|storage|vcpus}

• arch {i386|x86_64} - Set CPU architecture.
• boot {auto-power|device} - Configure boot options.
  • auto-power {on|off|last} - Specify power state for VM to have after host boot.
    • auto-power on - Always power VM on. If VM was running at last shutdown, restore its state.
    • auto-power off - Always leave VM powered off. If VM was running at last shutdown, its state is lost.
    • auto-power last - Power VM on only if it was running at last shutdown. In this case, also restore its state.
  • device order {cdrom|hd} - Specify order to try devices during boot.
    • E.g. device order cdrom hd
    • E.g. device order hd cdrom
• comment <comment> - Set a comment describing this virtual machine.
• console {connect|graphics|text} - Configure or connect to the text or graphica
• copy <new_name> [storage copy-type {shallow|none}] - Make a duplicate copy of this virtual machine.
  • storage copy-type {shallow|none} - Make a duplicate copy of this VM's storage.
    • shallow - Use the same volumes as the source VM.
    • none - New VM will have no attached storage
• feature {pae|acpi|apic} enable - Enable/disable certain virtualization features.
  • pae - Physical Address Extension
  • acpi - Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
  • apic - Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller
• install {cancel|cdrom} - Install an operating system onto this virtual machine (temporarily attach a CD and boot from it).
  • cancel - Cancel an install already in progress
  • cdrom file <volume-name> {connect-console|disk-overwrite|timeout|verify} - Install an operation system from a CD-ROM (ISO) image
    • connect-console - Connect to the console during installation
    • disk-overwrite - Install even if primary target volume is not empty
    • timeout {<minutes>|none} - Specify a timeout for installation (default is no timeout)
    • verify - Options for verifying OS installation
• interface <name> {bridge|macaddr|model|name|order|type|vnet} - Configure virtual interfaces.
• memory <MB> - Set memory allowance.
• power {cycle|off|on} - Turn this virtual machine on or off, plus other related options.
• rename <new_name> - Rename this virtual machine.
• storage {create|device} - Configure storage for this virtual machine.
  • create disk {bus|drive-number|file|mode|size-max} - Create new storage device for the VM, with an automatically assigned name.
  • device {bus|drive-number|move|swap} - Modify existing storage device, or crate a new one with a specific name.
• vcpus {count|vcpu} - Specify number of virtual CPUs.
  • vcpus count <count> - Specify number of virtual CPUs
  • vcpu <vcpu> - Specify options for a particular virtual CPU

To configure or manage virtual networks:

virt vnet <name> {dhcp|forward|ip|vbridge}

• dhcp range <low_ip> <high_ip> - Configure a DHCP range to assign to this vnet.
• forward {none|nat|route} interface <name> - Configure the type of forwarding.
• ip address <ip> <netmask> - Configure the IP address of this vnet.
• vbridge name <name> - Create a virtual bridge.

To manage virtual storage volumes:

virt volume {create|fetch|file}

• create disk file <name> size-max <MB> - Create an empty virtual disk image.
• fetch <url> - Fetch a virtual disk image (*.img) or a CD ROM image (*.iso) from the URL.
• file {create|copy|move|upload} - Perform basic file operations.