Kvmtools

kvm-admin

What it does? It offer the possibility to manage a qemu-kvm domain via commandline.

The reason to build was to have a simple tool to manage my own qemu-kvm domains.

Howto use it

Examples:

kvm-admin boot my_guest

kvm-admin status my_guest

kvm-admin status all kvm-admin monitor my_domain

kvm-admin show my_guest

Features

It's add a bridge to a given bridge from guest configuration file.

The bridge(s) have to exists. There can individual bridges on the system and each guest can assign to different bridge. No need to add many script files and scriptdown files. This is set automaticly.

Configuration File Format

The qemu-kvm domain configuration file are placed in the directory 'domains'. The format is taken 1:1 from the command line but separated by new line

To use an qemu-kvm option which doesn't have a parameter you have to use:

 variable = enabled

Global configuration variabales which all qemu-kvm domains should effected, can write in 'config/kvm.cfg' file.

Example:

 # have to set the path to qemu-kvm or name
 # the script generate-kvm-option does update the path
 qemu-kvm = kvm, qemu-kvm

 daemonize = enabled
 localtime = enabled

Example output for a qemu-kvm domain:

 # if name is not set it will use the filename as name 
 name = my_guest
 smp = 2
 m = 1024
 # first drive
 drive = file:/path_to_image_or_lvm,[and other options]
 # second drive
 drive = file:/path_to_image_or_lvm,[and other options]
 cdrom = my_installer.iso
 daemonize = enabled
 localtime = enabled

Only one exception exists. This is only for the '-net tap' option. There have to add an option for the bridge.

An example for tap option when using '-net nic':

 # first network interface
 net = nic,[and other options]
 net = tap,bridge=br0
 # second network interface
 net = nic,[and other options]
 net = tap,bridge=br1

Download

It can be downloaded on the mercurial repository on:

via Webbrowser:

 http://hg.kasten-edv.de/kvm-tools (klick on bzip,gzip or zip link)

via mercurial:

 hg clone http://hg.kasten-edv.de/kvm-tools --insecure

Installation

Please read the README for further information.

Security

To run the kvm process under a unprivileged user.

Add an user 'kvm' and add this in to the qemu-kvm domain configuration file.

 runas = kvm

For each qemu-kvm domain you can assign an individual user.

When all qemu-kvm domains should run as the user 'kvm' then add this in the global configurations file 'config/kvm.cfg'

 runas = kvm

When is set in 'config/kvm.cfg' the qemu-kvm domain configuration file can override it.

ToDo

 * extend the installer script 
 * build a init script
 * build an installation routine
 * add possibility to automatic create and delete guest

Fixes

The ordinary fixes :)