How to Use Virt-Manager on Linux Mint/Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

• TLDR
• Context
  • Why Virt-Manager?
• Steps
  • 1. Installing Virt-Manager
  • 2. Adding Your User to Relevant Groups
  • 3. Using Virt-Manager
  • 4. Managing Virtual Machines
• Troubleshooting
  • 1. Unable to Connect to libvirt qemu:///system Error on Linux Mint/Ubuntu
  • Steps to solve
    • 1. Ensure libvirt Service is Active
    • 2. Check libvirt Configuration
    • Reboot the System
• References

TLDR

This article guides you through the installation and usage of Virt-Manager on Linux Mint or Ubuntu, providing an easy way to manage virtual machines (VMs).

Context

Virt-Manager is a graphical tool for managing virtual machines via libvirt. It's user-friendly and supports KVM/QEMU and Xen virtualization.

Why Virt-Manager?

• Graphical Interface : Easy for beginners.
• Wide Support : Works with KVM, QEMU, and Xen.
• Linux Compatibility : Ideal for Linux Mint and Ubuntu users.

Steps

1. Installing Virt-Manager

1. Open Terminal : You can press Ctrl + Alt + T or search for terminal in the start menu.
2. Update Repositories :

sudo apt update

1. Install Virt-Manager :

sudo apt install virt-manager

2. Adding Your User to Relevant Groups

1. Add Your User to the libvirt Group :

sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER

1. Add Your User to the kvm Group :

sudo usermod -aG kvm $USER

1. Reload Groups :

newgrp libvirt 
newgrp kvm

3. Using Virt-Manager

1. Open Virt-Manager : You can search for virt-manager in the start menu or run the following command in the terminal:

virt-manager

1. Create a New Virtual Machine : Click on the Create a new virtual machine button.
2. Select Installation Method : Choose Local install media (ISO image or CDROM).
3. Select ISO Image : Click on the Browse button and select the ISO image you want to use. You can downlaod Ubuntu server from here: Ubuntu Server.
4. Follow the Wizard : Choose the installation method and configure your VM.

4. Managing Virtual Machines

• Start/Stop VMs : Right-click on the VM and select Start or Shut Down.
• Access VM Console : Double-click the VM.
• Edit VM Settings : Right-click and choose Open.

Troubleshooting

1. Unable to Connect to libvirt qemu:///system Error on Linux Mint/Ubuntu

Steps to solve

1. Ensure libvirt Service is Active

1. Check Status :

sudo systemctl status libvirtd

1. Start Service :

sudo systemctl start libvirtd

1. Verify user group permissions:

# check groups for user
groups $(whoami)
# add required groups if missing
sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER
sudo usermod -aG kvm $USER
# reload groups or log out and log in again
newgrp libvirt 
newgrp kvm

2. Check libvirt Configuration

1. Open libvirt Configuration File :

sudo nano /etc/libvirt/libvirtd.conf

1. Enable TCP Connections: Uncomment listen_tcp = 1.
2. Restart libvirtd Service:

sudo systemctl restart libvirtd

Note: Sometimes just rebooting the service also works.

Reboot the System

Sometimes, even in linux, rebooting the system can solve the problem.

References

• Virt-Manager Official Website
• Ubuntu Community Help Wiki
• Linux Mint Documentation