How to install Virtual Machine Manager (KVM) in Manjaro and Arch Linux

Linux users don’t need to have VMware or VirtualBox to run virtual machines. KVM is a Kernel-based Virtual Machine built with-in the Linux kernel. Using KVM, one can run several virtual operating systems including Linux, Microsoft Windows, and any other operating system.

In this article, let’s take a look at how to install KVM on Arch Linux and Manjaro Linux.

Installing KVM in Arch Linux and Manjaro Linux

Before installing KVM, you need to first check if your computer has the necessary hardware support to run virtual machines. KVM requires VT-x for Intel processors and AMD-V for AMD processors. Here is how to check:

Checking Hardware Support

Launch ‘Terminal’ and enter the following command:

LC_ALL=C lscpu | grep Virtualization

If your computer supports virtualization, you should see the output as “Virtualization: VT-x” or “Virtualization: AMD-V”.

For example, if my Intel-based test PC, I see the following output in the Terminal.

Check Virtualization Capability

If nothing is displayed, it means your PC can’t be used to install Virtual machines. This is not the end of the world. Manufacturers sometimes disable the feature by default settings. To make sure, boot your computer’s BIOS and check. Refer to your computer maker and model manual for how to boot into BIOS.

Checking Kernel Support

Apart from hardware support, you also need a necessary kernel module to be installed on your computer to support KVM.

Launch Terminal and enter the following command to check:

zgrep CONFIG_KVM /proc/config.gz

Check the output. You should see CONFIG_KVM_INTEL or CONFIG_KVM_AMD as ‘m’ or ‘y’. Here is output in my test PC.

CONFIG_KVM_GUEST=y
# CONFIG_KVM_DEBUG_FS is not set
CONFIG_KVM_MMIO=y
CONFIG_KVM_ASYNC_PF=y
CONFIG_KVM_VFIO=y
CONFIG_KVM_GENERIC_DIRTYLOG_READ_PROTECT=y
CONFIG_KVM_COMPAT=y
CONFIG_KVM=m
CONFIG_KVM_INTEL=m
CONFIG_KVM_AMD=m
CONFIG_KVM_MMU_AUDIT=y

Installing KVM (Virtual Machine Manager)

STEP 1: Launch Terminal and enter the following command to install KVM and necessary dependencies.

sudo pacman -S virt-manager qemu vde2 ebtables dnsmasq bridge-utils openbsd-netcat

STEP 2: The next two steps are very important and often ignored by many users. Make sure to complete it else, you will get error “adduser: The group `libvirtd’ does not exist” when you run the Virtual Machine Manager after installation is complete!

Enable the service by entering the below command:

sudo systemctl enable libvirtd.service

STEP 3: Start the service using below command:

sudo systemctl start libvirtd.service

Virtual Machine manager should now be installed on your computer. You can launch it from ‘Applications’. Look for ‘Virtual Machine Manager’, not KVM!

Virtual Machine Manager running in Manjaro Linux