KVM Desktop Setup Ideas
-
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
OK so i've added the 2nd hard drive to Fedora, formatted and mounted.
I'm now struggling on how to manage the system and VM's.
I'm using Cockpit and it's ok for basic maintenance. But can't get it create the VM on the 2nd drive.I've installed virt-manager but not sure how to "connect" to it from my machine.
Where did you install virt-manager? I think that has to be on the machine you are working from, not on the KVM machine.
It can be on both, if the KVM Hypervisor has a desktop that can be operated from.
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Last edit for clarity: Virt-Manager can and often does come preinstalled with the KVM role and automatically manages itself. Wanting to use this host in a headless state would require remote management tools to be installed on a laptop or desktop running Linux (likely Fedora Workstation).
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
OK so i've added the 2nd hard drive to Fedora, formatted and mounted.
I'm now struggling on how to manage the system and VM's.
I'm using Cockpit and it's ok for basic maintenance. But can't get it create the VM on the 2nd drive.I've installed virt-manager but not sure how to "connect" to it from my machine.
Where did you install virt-manager? I think that has to be on the machine you are working from, not on the KVM machine.
It can be on both, if the KVM Hypervisor has a desktop that can be operated from.
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc. (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
aww - true true - Like you the other day - after the conversation I assumed he was admin'ing this box completely remotely (even if it is just on the other side of the room).
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
-
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You can't install virt-manager on Windows as far as I know. Virt-Viewer is available, but that literally is just a guest console utility.
-
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You can install Virt-Manager on Windows 10 via Cygwin... But I will say running Virt-Manager from a Linux VM actually runs better.
I can look up the Cygwin instructions if you want.
-
@dafyre said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You can install Virt-Manager on Windows 10 via Cygwin... But I will say running Virt-Manager from a Linux VM actually runs better.
I can look up the Cygwin instructions if you want.
What about Virt-manager in the Linux on windows or whatever it's called theses days that comes with Windows 10?
-
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You could use Hyper-V on Win 10 (assuming it's Pro) to install a Fedora VM, and use Virt-Manager from that locally on the Win10 machine.
-
This conversation started with ambiguity and confusion and people making wide ranging assumptions based on what @hobbit666 wanted to do with this.
I get Windows 10 is great for day to day things, especially if this is also your gaming device (assuming you game) and you don't want to wipe it out and reload it.
So to ask the question, why not just install VirtualBox on this Windows 10 system, create a small Fedora Workstation installation for just managing your KVM box.
-
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You could use Hyper-V on Win 10 (assuming it's Pro) to install a Fedora VM, and use Virt-Manager from that locally on the Win10 machine.
That too is another option. Not a path I would go down for this project. But still an option.
This is his lab, adding a separate hypervisor to manage (or even Windows to manage KVM) just complicates things.
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
So to ask the question, why not just install VirtualBox on this Windows 10 system, create a small Fedora Workstation installation for just managing your KVM box.
With all that pre ample you start by suggeting VirtualBox? instead of asking if he has Windows 10 Pro or Home - then suggesting as the situation dictates?
-
These are the instructions I've written. This is a first draft, so if you want to give them a try, check them out at -- no login required.
https://stack.wellston.biz/books/configuring-virt-manager-to-run-on-windows
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You could use Hyper-V on Win 10 (assuming it's Pro) to install a Fedora VM, and use Virt-Manager from that locally on the Win10 machine.
That too is another option. Not a path I would go down for this project. But still an option.
This is his lab, adding a separate hypervisor to manage (or even Windows to manage KVM) just complicates things.
What - what? You suggested that he add a hypervisor (VirtualBox).
-
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
So to ask the question, why not just install VirtualBox on this Windows 10 system, create a small Fedora Workstation installation for just managing your KVM box.
With all that pre ample you start by suggeting VirtualBox? instead of asking if he has Windows 10 Pro or Home - then suggesting as the situation dictates?
Hyper-V is more complex as it shifts his daily driver off of the hardware and onto the hypervisor. It's more complex for something he may use for a a day, a week or a month.
It's never not an option, but it isn't an option I'd recommend out of the gate since Vbox doesn't reshape his daily driver.
-
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You could use Hyper-V on Win 10 (assuming it's Pro) to install a Fedora VM, and use Virt-Manager from that locally on the Win10 machine.
That too is another option. Not a path I would go down for this project. But still an option.
This is his lab, adding a separate hypervisor to manage (or even Windows to manage KVM) just complicates things.
What - what? You suggested that he add a hypervisor (VirtualBox).
A Type 2, not a Type 1.
Type 1's as Daily Drivers are more complex and take more to manage.
-
Sorry should of been clearer on what i've got/using and the goals
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
So to ask the question, why not just install VirtualBox on this Windows 10 system, create a small Fedora Workstation installation for just managing your KVM box.
With all that pre ample you start by suggeting VirtualBox? instead of asking if he has Windows 10 Pro or Home - then suggesting as the situation dictates?
Hyper-V is more complex as it shifts his daily driver off of the hardware and onto the hypervisor. It's more complex for something he may use for a a day, a week or a month.
It's never not an option, but it isn't an option I'd recommend out of the gate since Vbox doesn't reshape his daily driver.
But the Windows 10 install becomes a Dom0 - so sure, it does shift things a bit - but if you never look at Hyper-V manager again, it's not something that almost anyone would ever notice. As long as all the VM's are off - it's basically like Hyper-V isn't there.
-
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@Dashrender said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
@DustinB3403 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
Otherwise, yes it would need to be installed on a management pc(running linux of course). (Think of it a lot like Hyper-V with Windows 10 Hyper-V Manager)
Ah i be using Win10 as the daily driver
You could use Hyper-V on Win 10 (assuming it's Pro) to install a Fedora VM, and use Virt-Manager from that locally on the Win10 machine.
That too is another option. Not a path I would go down for this project. But still an option.
This is his lab, adding a separate hypervisor to manage (or even Windows to manage KVM) just complicates things.
What - what? You suggested that he add a hypervisor (VirtualBox).
A Type 2, not a Type 1.
Type 1's as Daily Drivers are more complex and take more to manage.
We'll simply agree to disagree I guess.
-
This is a lab setup. For testing new VM and VM Restores from backups.
Using a Linux VM on my machine is fine with Virtual Box. I'll also look at @dafyre guide.
I'm also looking at Kimchi and other Web based options.This is widely a learning project to be "up to speed" with hypervisor options as i've never looked at KVM before.
-
But that was a root component of the previous discussion. If you're going to use virtualization on your daily driver - the only real choices today are KVM or Hyper-V, with the exception being - you already have one or more Virtualbox/VMWare workstation, etc, container that you need to continue using.
I can't speak for KVM - but Hyper-V doesn't require any management on Windows 10. You simply enable it and it's done. If you never setup a VM - it's barely using any resources - likely non that would effect your playing games, etc.
-
@hobbit666 said in KVM Desktop Setup Ideas:
This is a lab setup. For testing new VM and VM Restores from backups.
Using a Linux VM on my machine is fine with Virtual Box. I'll also look at @dafyre guide.
I'm also looking at Kimchi and other Web based options.This is widely a learning project to be "up to speed" with hypervisor options as i've never looked at KVM before.
but something that we learned during the long long long discussion the other day was - you have two machines (the fact that it's desktop hardware isn't really relevant, other than you don't have OOB options for managing the hardware - most likely).
So setup the KVM host as you would a server in a Datacenter - where you basically don't expect to have physical access to it, and do what it takes to manage it fully from your remote PC (your WIndows 10 machine).
