Installation guide

You can use the vi rt-i nstal l command to create guest virtual machines from the command line.

vi rt-i nstal l is used either interactively or as part of a script to automate the creation of virtual

machines. Using vi rt-i nstal l with Kickstart files allows for unattended installation of virtual

machines.

The vi rt-i nstal l tool provides a number of options that can be passed on the command line. To

see a complete list of options run the following command:

# virt-install --help

Note that you need root privileges in order for vi rt-i nstal l commands to complete successfully.

The vi rt-i nstal l man page also documents each command option and important variables.

q emu-i mg is a related command which may be used before vi rt-i nstal l to configure storage

options.

An important option is the --graphics option which allows graphical installation of a virtual

machine.

Example 6 .1. Usin g virt -in st all t o in st all a Red Hat En t erp rise Lin u x 5 g u est virt u al

mach in e

This example creates a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 guest:

virt-install \

--name=guest1-rhel5-64 \

--file=/var/lib/libvirt/images/guest1-rhel5-64.dsk \

--file-size=8 \

--nonsparse --graphics spice \

--vcpus=2 --ram=2048 \

--location=http://example1.com/installation_tree/RHEL5.6-Server-

x86_64/os \

--network bridge=br0 \

--os-type=linux \

--os-variant=rhel5.4

Ensure that you select the correct os-type for your operating system when running this command.

Refer to man vi rt-i nstal l for more examples.

Note

When installing a Windows guest with vi rt-i nstal l , the --o s-type= windows option is

recommended. This option prevents the CD -ROM from disconnecting when rebooting during

the installation procedure. The --o s-vari ant option further optimizes the configuration for a

specific guest operating system.

6.3. Creat ing guest s wit h virt -manager

vi rt-manag er, also known as Virtual Machine Manager, is a graphical tool for creating and

managing guest virtual machines.

⁠Chapt er 6 . G uest virt ual machine inst allat ion overview