Example of Windows 10 Running on KVM (Hypervisor) on Linux Host

jimbo45 · 04 Jun 2019

Hi folks

Here's a recent build of Windows 10 running on the Linux HYPERVISOR (equivalent to Windows HYPER-V) KVM -- it's built into the kernel so all the extra packagres are available to run this. The main problem is to create a network bridge (equivalent to HYPER-V external switch) which you need - otherwise your VM won't have access to anything else on the network other than VM's on the same network.

Example of Windows 10 Running on KVM (Hypervisor) on Linux Host-snapshot4.png

However follow this and it's easy enough (similar on other distros such as ubuntu as well)

Install and Configure KVM (Bridge Net Interface) on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7 – tuxfixer.com

The only other thing left to do is to add the equivalent of VBOX additions etc to optimise video / sound / i/o.

Install the virtio-win package from Fedora and also download the .iso. Attach the .iso to the windows guest and install within the windows guest-- "Seeemples ...."! You need to install both on host and guest - the iso has signed windows binaries.

No probs with sound / networking or adding usb devices.

I'm running this as a test -- the HOST OS is booted from an external SSD via USB, the VM is on another external SSD via usb so not the best way and I've still to add the additions - but the Guest is snappy enough so far.

I'll probably create some more Windows VM's this way as I can probably run a lot more VM's with KVM than using VMWARE workstation

Cheers
jimbo

roy111 · 04 Jun 2019

Hi, what file system are you using for the external SSD?

I found that KVM VM are faster with ext4 FS.

jimbo45 · 04 Jun 2019

roy111 said:

Hi, what file system are you using for the external SSD?

I found that KVM VM are faster with ext4 FS.

Hi there @roy111

I'm using XFS which works just fine -- note that's for the Disk where the virtual machine resides on / storage pool. For the GUEST system the I/O is handled by the virt-io drivers.

To format HDD in XFS format simply as root ensure that /dev/sdx is unmounted and type mkfs.xfs /dev/sdx -f where x is usually a,b,c etc.

If formatting an old Windows HDD you'll probably see /dev/sdx and /dev/sdx1 -- format the whole HDD (/dev/sdx).

when you create the Linux Host you can usually choose "automatic partitioning" or manual -- for the Test system I just simply used a spare SSD connected via USB 3 to an HP laptop (normally running W10 so I didn't want to touch that) and let Linux use LVM with XFS for auto partitioning --spare 256 GB SSD so a good use of it.

Do though install the virt-io stuff and of course when creating the VM it's better to use RAW than the tucows format.

Warning though if you don't "inject" the drivers at Windows Guest install time you will have to create your VHD as an IDE Disk because the SATA /SCSI devices won't have drivers. However I'm still playing around so there's a lot of testing.

So far I'm quite impressed -- I don't know what other distros are like but since Centos is a red hat "clone" and there's decent red hat documentation I find it's a good test bed. You don't need leading edge to test this --stable system is the best and centos is one of the best ones aout there for rock solid stability.

Cheers
jimbo

roy111 · 04 Jun 2019

Hi, I installed win 7 in KVM using ubuntu and it seems the virt-io stuff/win drivers where alredy included, the install was indeed smooth and didn't have to inject anything, probably they are already included in ubuntu at KVM install.
Since you seem to enjoy some linux stuff, keep an eye on Clear Linux (by Intel) optimized for intel cpu, tarketed for dev/ops it has the potential to become a next level rolling relase standard; I tried it on a skyLake and it flies.