To KVM or not to KVM

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Overall, what is the compatibility with .vbox files? Can KVM or gnome-boxes read them, or is there a significant conversion process required?

The qemu-img command should be able to convert disk images between various formats:

https://docs.openstack.org/image-guide/ ... mages.html

[alamahant]

Buck Fankers
Yes that is correct.
""usermod -aG libvirt $USER"
This I think allows the non root user to use Virtual Manager from the desktop icon and connect to libvirt.
BUT you can also run it from a terminal like this
"sudo virt-manager"
In KVM you do NOT need to explicitly add any packages on the guests.It works out of the box.
I am unaware if this is the case also in gnome-boxes.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

In KVM you do NOT need to explicitly add any packages on the guests.It works out of the box.
I am unaware if this is the case also in gnome-boxes.

For gnome-boxes guests the spice-vdagent package is needed for shared clipboards and automatic resizing of the guest desktop to fit the display window and spice-webdavd is needed for shared folders.

[alamahant]

Buck Fankers
Yes that is correct.
""usermod -aG libvirt $USER"
This I think allows the non root user to use Virtual Manager from the desktop icon and connect to libvirt.
BUT you can also run it from a terminal like this
"sudo virt-manager"
In Virtual Manager you do NOT need to explicitly add any packages on the guests.It works out of the box.
I am unaware if this is the case also in gnome-boxes.

[Buck Fankers]

@{Buck Fankers}: yes, that's right. Just gnome-boxes and the spice packages should do it. MX-19 already has the spice-vdagent package (and I recently requested that they add spice-webdavd).

Thanks, will give it a try!

[Buck Fankers]

Buck Fankers
Yes that is correct.
""usermod -aG libvirt $USER"
This I think allows the non root user to use Virtual Manager from the desktop icon and connect to libvirt.
BUT you can also run it from a terminal like this
"sudo virt-manager"
In Virtual Manager you do NOT need to explicitly add any packages on the guests.It works out of the box.
I am unaware if this is the case also in gnome-boxes.

Thank you for all the info!

[alamahant]

Paul..
You need to transform VirtualBox disks to KVM format.
I think you have to use the "vboxmanage" command..

[gosia]

I think the package is actually called gir1.2-spiceclientgtk-3.0

Ah, now I've found a package gir1.2-spice-client-gtk-3.0

[grelos]

I'd like to ditch Virtualbox and start enjoying KVM but I am facing some issues even for creating my first VM.

I get this error:

Code: Select all

could not start virtual network 'default': internal error: Failed to initialize a valid firewall backend

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/virt-manager/virtManager/netlist.py", line 361, in validate_network
    netobj.start()
  File "/usr/share/virt-manager/virtManager/libvirtobject.py", line 83, in newfn
    ret = fn(self, *args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/share/virt-manager/virtManager/network.py", line 81, in start
    self._backend.create()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/libvirt.py", line 2832, in create
    if ret == -1: raise libvirtError ('virNetworkCreate() failed', net=self)
libvirtError: internal error: Failed to initialize a valid firewall backend

I did a search on the web and found that some fixed it disabling ipv6 but I am not sure it is my case.
My pc is connected with wifi, not ethernet.

[JayM]

https://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Documents