Linux - Virtual machines in linux without VirtualBox. Using KVM and virt-manager

No need to install Oracles VirtualBox. There's a virtual machine technology built in to your linux distribution already. Here's how you access and use it.

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[LibertyEver]

I've avoided virtual machines but this looks much easier than the last time I looked over a decade ago. Thanks!

[viJ]

I mostly use VirtualBox, out of habit, but this was very informative to those of us that knew KVM was a thing but never got around to looking into it. +1 for synaptic too - I've installed it on every one of my Linux systems over the past 17 years even though I usually install from the command line. It's a nice and easy tool when you want to quickly go look at package details, do searches, or view things by origin without having to figure out the proper apt command and parameters... and always works - unlike some of the "software center of the week" solutions we've seen come and go.

[chipandrews]

Again, another awesome (and timely) informative video Kevin. I was just talking with another Ham about my progress with Linux (running several different single board computers) and he recommended I use Virtual Box to try out some other distros of Linux using a virtual box. Now I have a much better feel for where to go next. Thanks!

[janhenkins]

Thank you Kevin! Throwing my weight behind this video of yours - we use KVM extensively where I work as a powerful, scrip-table hypervisor for our company software platform. It's available in all the mainstream Linux distributions (package names might differ between distributions), and it is absolutely rock solid. If you use it on a server platform, you have access to a lot of command-line tools that can help you with VM management that ranges from basic installations, cloning, replicating, live VM migrations between physical servers and loads of other things besides.

The fact that the basic virtual machine manager GUI is so simple to use is a boon, it lowers the barrier to where everybody can use it. You can also use the virt-manager tool to connect to remote servers running KVM instances, so as a "platform management" tool it is really powerful. Combine this with the ability to script everything in order to automate things, it is actually mind-boggling how useful and flexible it is. I do not know why one would want to use anything else! :-) Yes, we have Docker and Kubernetes stuff too, and we mix it up with KVM to give ourselves a flexible and redundant way to carve up our bare metal servers into usable compute-goo.

Happy new year, all!

[MarkyShaw]

Thank you Obi-Wan! This is definitely often overlooked as a viable VM solution. Really awesome to see how developed it has become over the years. I never knew!

[DM-fzly]

Kevin, It is obvious that you have become very adept and knowledgeable at Linux.
I think you could create a whole series of videos that could be very helpful.
As you were explaining this VM I kept asking "but how did you know that?"
You could start with choosing a base PC hardware. Old laptop or Rpi?
What are the challenges of choosing an Rpi? Then go on to which Linux version, etc etc.
Thanks for sharing this.
I would like to set up a Linux system.

[bahathir_]

I was playing the GNU Linux KVM many years ago with qemu, a very powerful tools to create and runs VM. , I played with Windows's viruses and malwares, runs several light weight GNU Linux image, , runs Windows Server headless...

Thank you... 73.

[davidhamm]

A very nice and clear video
Subscribed.

[astrorad]

Thanx Kevin. I am not knowledgeable about LInux, but I do have a laptop running Ubuntu Mate and I would like to run a virtual Windows 7 machine so I could run the Elecraft KX3 utility on it so I can connect my KX3 for rig control. I just have to find out how to accomplish this.

[CodeMasseur]

For completeness, other *mainstream* Virtualization solutions include VMware, Hyper-V (Microsoft) and Parallels/Boot Camp (Apple). de W3DJS

[WQH]

Not the unibomber.. thanks really needed this video. Usb are an issue with virtual box.

[johngrwf]

Very clearly explained. Agree with you about synaptic package manager...

[dandruff]

Hey like your new look. It gives you an older mature distinguished appearance. I assume it's also advantageous for cold weather.

[DonDegidio]

Hi Kevin,
Happy New Year. The beard is filling in nice. I have two Dell Latitude laptops one with Win7Ultimate and the other with WinXPPro. I think I will try Linux on one of them. Which flavor of Linux would you recommend for someone with no knowledge of the OS? Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[PaulaBean]

Can you run a virtual machine in a virtual machine in a virtual machine in a real machine?

[TheRetiredtech]

Kevin what is your machine.. Just wondering how new powerful.

[derekdowns]

Maybe I could finally use that SDRuno software...

[jeffreyeide]

Yo Kevin!:
Great video! I get lost in some of the hyper realizations. How about a VM IN a VM a couple a times? Just loading down a machine. : )
Great video (as usual : )motor on & 73's!
de seeker/Jeff WA7LFP

[stridermtk]

Who better to teach us about Linux than an original G.I. Joe character from the 1970s?

[kalikatz]

As a long time vbox user, one thing I do alot, is copy from os to VM. Can you do this? How about folder sharing? Drag and drop files?