This is literally perfect timing for me. I needed a cheap way to virtualise windows server on a cloud hosted Linode VM, and was considering using Virt-Manager to do this.
excellent, thank you. I like libvirt and qemu its so good to see how much it is improved over time. I'd say its a contender for other commercial options right now. Good you covered windows as that could be the way to contain it as the AI and recall start to take over. Lets hope.
One thing I'd add to the setup is installation of all the virtio and spice drivers, it takes only a little extra effort to setup during installation and makes VM more responsive and nicer to use
Incredible timing! Great video, thanks! I am ditching VMware Pro after being a loyal client since 7.0 versión and definitely since 17.5 is hurting my productivity because all the issues that it has, slownesses and the poor driver performance/stability with the recent Linux kernels (6.5+). My last working version was 16.2.5 but unfortunately I couldn’t make it to compile with kernel 6.8. So I am going with QEMU/VirtManager for desktop (I already use Proxmox) and it is awesome.
Great video. Stupid question -- in your opinion -- why would someone use virt-manager rather than Proxmox? Both are running Linux underneath, and both -- you can set up a VM with a GUI. (I am trying to think of a use case for this vs. running Linux Mint as an LXC/VM inside of Proxmox.)
@@ewenchan1239 typically it's due to hardware passthrough. Native Linux will work pretty much out of the gate, virtual Linux on Proxmox with passthrough is more complex. I'm not proposing people replace Proxmox with this setup, it's a completely different use case. This is more for testing and convenience. Server is for permanence.
@@Jims-Garage "virtual Linux on Proxmox with passthrough is more complex." Can you expand, a little bit further, on what you mean by "virtual Linux"? I thought that Debian 11/12 runs under Proxmox (i.e. Proxmox is middleware much like how TrueNAS Scale is also, likewise, middleware that also runs on top of Debian 11/12). Furthermore, pursuant to the statements that you made in your video where if you want to get PCIe passthrough working with virt-manager, to get the host set up for that, the instructions are similar to that of Proxmox. So, I am not 100% sure what you mean by this statement. "I'm not proposing people replace Proxmox with this setup" I understand that. That's why I am, in my head, trying to map out the pros/cons of each solution, and where it might be potentially deployed, based on a certain need. "it's a completely different use case. This is more for testing and convenience. Server is for permanence." I would imagine though, that with Debian 11/12 running underneath Proxmox, (and I think that Linux Mint is also a Debian-derivative), that there are a LOT of similarities between this method (via virt-manager) and Proxmox. (e.g. for my own use case, the one that I am thinking about is actually deploying this in Rocky Linux 9/9.3 because Rocky Linux, being a RHEL derivative, supports NFSoRDMA for my 100 Gbps Infiniband system interconnect network, and also, the opensm for it might also support virtualisation, which can mean that I might be able to enable SRIOV on my Mellanox ConnectX-4 dual port 100 Gbps IB NICs, so that I can pass virtual 100 Gbps IB NICs into my VMs. This is why I am trying to figure out which solution works for which case.)
NAT is quite slower, since it incurs quite a lot of CPU overhead. Also I suggest downloading VirtIO ISO and install guest tools, which installs virtio net and storage drivers, spice video drivers and guest tools for dynamic resolution change and clipboard.
This is something along the lines of doing so that i can finally change to Linux because the ONLY thing keeping me on windows is the game Destiny 2 because Bungo doesn't allow linux support.
@ I just really hate the idea of sticking to windows and running linux through VM's. I guess the only compromise for now would be to somehow get a dual boot going. Maybe have 2 NVME's: 1 with Linux and 2nd with Win 10.
@ I was a thousands of hour D2 player, I just dropped the game. I've Been getting myself used to not playing Live service games that require an anti cheat. I highly doubt it will ever change so I'm changing my gaming habbits. Only other option is to just build a PC dedicated to Windows AC games? You probs wont miss much in D2 Bro its always the same crap lol.
I don't suppose you would happen to know of a way to be able for a VM to communicate with the host WITHOUT going through some kind of virtual network bridge, would you? (i.e. right now, in Proxmox, I can get at least some of my VMs talking directly to the host that it is running on, via virtio-fs. I am wondering if virt-manager has anything similar to that.) The reason why I am asking is because I am thinking of a very specific potential use case for this, but I figure that I would at least ask this question first. Thank you.
@@Jims-Garage "you could pass a NIC to the VM and communicate over a traditional switch and router." I'm trying to bypass the network stack entirely, if at all possible.
Nice, I was talking with a friend about the fact that I need to jump into Virt-Manager really soon and poof! A couple days later, this video pops up in my feed. TY again!
I would have said this wasn’t possible but it appears people have done it (well, kind of). Their approach still uses KVM under the hood and generally it seems inferior to the approach in this video. From a very quick look, id have some security concerns with the docker approach.
I don't get the Windows obsession. It's like dining at a 5-Star restaurant, and asking the chef to prepare a Big Mac to McDonalds' standards. Or having a fling with your divorced ex, whom you detested.
@@talismanna the whole series focuses on moving from windows to Linux. Having the convenience of windows helps that transition. Plus, unfortunately there are still plenty of apps that don't have an equal on Linux yet.
Thanks for the demo and info. This is awesome. Have a great day Jim
Another excellent video. Thanks Jim.
Thanks Jim great content. Spinning up a VM now to play with some PCI pass though tests
@@maxdiamond55 nice, I might do a video on it
Great video, Jim! Don't forget to install the virtio drivers for better performance!
Thanks, yes, that's a good tip!
This is literally perfect timing for me. I needed a cheap way to virtualise windows server on a cloud hosted Linode VM, and was considering using Virt-Manager to do this.
Great, let me know how it works out.
excellent, thank you. I like libvirt and qemu its so good to see how much it is improved over time. I'd say its a contender for other commercial options right now. Good you covered windows as that could be the way to contain it as the AI and recall start to take over. Lets hope.
One thing I'd add to the setup is installation of all the virtio and spice drivers, it takes only a little extra effort to setup during installation and makes VM more responsive and nicer to use
Good point. I'm going to cover remote desktops soon, I quite like remmina so far.
Thank you for your videos.
You're welcome
Libvirt is the library that provides the API for interacting with KVM, QEMU handles hardware emulation.
Incredible timing! Great video, thanks! I am ditching VMware Pro after being a loyal client since 7.0 versión and definitely since 17.5 is hurting my productivity because all the issues that it has, slownesses and the poor driver performance/stability with the recent Linux kernels (6.5+). My last working version was 16.2.5 but unfortunately I couldn’t make it to compile with kernel 6.8. So I am going with QEMU/VirtManager for desktop (I already use Proxmox) and it is awesome.
Good info, Thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Great Overview Jim, how did you get over the Windows 11 TPU Issue?
It just works by default thankfully. Virt manager sorts out the key enrollment for virtual TPM (a bit like Proxmox does).
Great video.
Stupid question -- in your opinion -- why would someone use virt-manager rather than Proxmox?
Both are running Linux underneath, and both -- you can set up a VM with a GUI.
(I am trying to think of a use case for this vs. running Linux Mint as an LXC/VM inside of Proxmox.)
@@ewenchan1239 typically it's due to hardware passthrough. Native Linux will work pretty much out of the gate, virtual Linux on Proxmox with passthrough is more complex.
I'm not proposing people replace Proxmox with this setup, it's a completely different use case. This is more for testing and convenience. Server is for permanence.
@@Jims-Garage
"virtual Linux on Proxmox with passthrough is more complex."
Can you expand, a little bit further, on what you mean by "virtual Linux"?
I thought that Debian 11/12 runs under Proxmox (i.e. Proxmox is middleware much like how TrueNAS Scale is also, likewise, middleware that also runs on top of Debian 11/12).
Furthermore, pursuant to the statements that you made in your video where if you want to get PCIe passthrough working with virt-manager, to get the host set up for that, the instructions are similar to that of Proxmox.
So, I am not 100% sure what you mean by this statement.
"I'm not proposing people replace Proxmox with this setup"
I understand that.
That's why I am, in my head, trying to map out the pros/cons of each solution, and where it might be potentially deployed, based on a certain need.
"it's a completely different use case. This is more for testing and convenience. Server is for permanence."
I would imagine though, that with Debian 11/12 running underneath Proxmox, (and I think that Linux Mint is also a Debian-derivative), that there are a LOT of similarities between this method (via virt-manager) and Proxmox.
(e.g. for my own use case, the one that I am thinking about is actually deploying this in Rocky Linux 9/9.3 because Rocky Linux, being a RHEL derivative, supports NFSoRDMA for my 100 Gbps Infiniband system interconnect network, and also, the opensm for it might also support virtualisation, which can mean that I might be able to enable SRIOV on my Mellanox ConnectX-4 dual port 100 Gbps IB NICs, so that I can pass virtual 100 Gbps IB NICs into my VMs.
This is why I am trying to figure out which solution works for which case.)
NAT is quite slower, since it incurs quite a lot of CPU overhead. Also I suggest downloading VirtIO ISO and install guest tools, which installs virtio net and storage drivers, spice video drivers and guest tools for dynamic resolution change and clipboard.
This is something along the lines of doing so that i can finally change to Linux because the ONLY thing keeping me on windows is the game Destiny 2 because Bungo doesn't allow linux support.
Unfortunately it will likely detect that it's a Windows VM and still not work due to anti-cheat. Let me know if it does though, that would be cool.
Wont work sadly Bro I tried it, Jims right the anti cheat...
@ I just really hate the idea of sticking to windows and running linux through VM's. I guess the only compromise for now would be to somehow get a dual boot going. Maybe have 2 NVME's: 1 with Linux and 2nd with Win 10.
@ I was a thousands of hour D2 player, I just dropped the game. I've Been getting myself used to not playing Live service games that require an anti cheat.
I highly doubt it will ever change so I'm changing my gaming habbits. Only other option is to just build a PC dedicated to Windows AC games?
You probs wont miss much in D2 Bro its always the same crap lol.
@ Yeah Bungo really ballzed up D2 this season with lots of bugs and cheaters in trials pvp. Bungo should have named it Season of the glitch.
I don't suppose you would happen to know of a way to be able for a VM to communicate with the host WITHOUT going through some kind of virtual network bridge, would you?
(i.e. right now, in Proxmox, I can get at least some of my VMs talking directly to the host that it is running on, via virtio-fs. I am wondering if virt-manager has anything similar to that.)
The reason why I am asking is because I am thinking of a very specific potential use case for this, but I figure that I would at least ask this question first.
Thank you.
@@ewenchan1239 you could pass a NIC to the VM and communicate over a traditional switch and router.
@@Jims-Garage
"you could pass a NIC to the VM and communicate over a traditional switch and router."
I'm trying to bypass the network stack entirely, if at all possible.
You don't need to restart. Just start the service using systemctl
Thanks, I should probably have done that (I'm used to it on Proxmox).
Nice, I was talking with a friend about the fact that I need to jump into Virt-Manager really soon and poof! A couple days later, this video pops up in my feed. TY again!
Hope it helps you out.
Why this instead of Docker?
Can you run Windows in a docker container? If so, I wasn't aware 👀
I would have said this wasn’t possible but it appears people have done it (well, kind of). Their approach still uses KVM under the hood and generally it seems inferior to the approach in this video. From a very quick look, id have some security concerns with the docker approach.
@panthonyy dockur/windows its in the docker hub
In a nutshell, because it's proven to work and it's portable. Sure, you can get it to work in Docker (kind of), but it's a headache waiting to happen.
I don't get the Windows obsession. It's like dining at a 5-Star restaurant, and asking the chef to prepare a Big Mac to McDonalds' standards. Or having a fling with your divorced ex, whom you detested.
@@talismanna the whole series focuses on moving from windows to Linux. Having the convenience of windows helps that transition. Plus, unfortunately there are still plenty of apps that don't have an equal on Linux yet.
In my opinion windows vms hosted in Linux is the correct way. Stability, and privacy without renouncing to windows apps.
I'd agree, unless you want online gaming that require anticheats (LoL, Valorant etc). This is the only thing still keeping me dual-booting.
That's a fair point and unfortunately there's no avoiding it at the moment.
First !