# kvm-manager

> Manage KVM/libvirt virtual machines with comprehensive lifecycle operations. Use when working with VMs for: (1) Listing or checking VM status, (2) Starting, stopping, or rebooting VMs, (3) Creating new VMs with images and configuration, (4) Deleting VMs with optional backup, (5) Viewing VM specs (CPU, memory, disk, network), or (6) Managing storage pools. All operations use virsh with sudo for system-level libvirt (qemu:///system).

- Author: Atsushi Yasui @ baldrs
- Repository: a-yasui/my-openclaw-skills
- Version: 20260206123010
- Stars: 0
- Forks: 0
- Last Updated: 2026-02-06
- Source: https://github.com/a-yasui/my-openclaw-skills
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@a-yasui/my-openclaw-skills~kvm-manager:20260206123010

---

---
name: kvm-manager
description: "Manage KVM/libvirt virtual machines with comprehensive lifecycle operations. Use when working with VMs for: (1) Listing or checking VM status, (2) Starting, stopping, or rebooting VMs, (3) Creating new VMs with images and configuration, (4) Deleting VMs with optional backup, (5) Viewing VM specs (CPU, memory, disk, network), or (6) Managing storage pools. All operations use virsh with sudo for system-level libvirt (qemu:///system)."
---

# KVM Manager

Comprehensive KVM/libvirt virtual machine management using virsh commands.

## Quick Reference

**List VMs:**
```bash
sudo virsh list --all
```

**Start/Stop VM:**
```bash
sudo virsh start <vm-name>
sudo virsh shutdown <vm-name>
sudo virsh destroy <vm-name>  # force shutdown
```

**VM Info:**
```bash
sudo virsh dominfo <vm-name>
sudo virsh domblklist <vm-name>  # disk info
sudo virsh domiflist <vm-name>  # network info
```

## Core Operations

### 1. List and Status

**List all VMs:**
```bash
sudo virsh list --all
```

**Check VM details:**
```bash
sudo virsh dominfo <vm-name>
```

**List storage pools:**
```bash
sudo virsh pool-list --all
```

### 2. Start and Stop

**Start VM:**
```bash
sudo virsh start <vm-name>
```

**Graceful shutdown:**
```bash
sudo virsh shutdown <vm-name>
```

**Force shutdown (like power button):**
```bash
sudo virsh destroy <vm-name>
```

**Reboot:**
```bash
sudo virsh reboot <vm-name>
```

### 3. Create VM

When creating a VM, always confirm required parameters interactively:

1. **Check available images:**
   ```bash
   sudo virsh vol-list default  # or other pool name
   ls -lh /var/lib/libvirt/images/
   ```

2. **Confirm with user:**
   - VM name
   - Base image or ISO to use
   - CPU count
   - Memory (GB)
   - Disk size (GB)
   - Network config (default: NAT bridge)

3. **Create using virt-install:**
   ```bash
   sudo virt-install \
     --name <vm-name> \
     --memory <memory-mb> \
     --vcpus <cpu-count> \
     --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/<vm-name>.qcow2,size=<size-gb> \
     --os-variant <os-variant> \
     --network network=default \
     --graphics vnc,listen=0.0.0.0 \
     --cdrom <iso-path>  # or --location for network install
   ```

   Common os-variants: `debian11`, `ubuntu22.04`, `centos8`, `generic`
   
   See full list: `virt-install --os-variant list`

**Alternative: Clone existing VM:**
```bash
sudo virt-clone \
  --original <source-vm> \
  --name <new-vm-name> \
  --file /var/lib/libvirt/images/<new-vm-name>.qcow2
```

### 4. Delete VM

**Safety workflow:**

1. **Ask user about backup:**
   - "Do you want to backup this VM before deletion?"
   - If yes, create snapshot or export disk

2. **Backup (if requested):**
   ```bash
   # Option A: Snapshot
   sudo virsh snapshot-create-as <vm-name> backup-before-delete
   
   # Option B: Copy disk
   sudo cp /var/lib/libvirt/images/<vm-name>.qcow2 \
          /var/lib/libvirt/images/<vm-name>.qcow2.backup
   ```

3. **Delete VM:**
   ```bash
   # Stop VM if running
   sudo virsh destroy <vm-name>
   
   # Undefine (remove config)
   sudo virsh undefine <vm-name>
   
   # Delete disk
   sudo virsh vol-delete <vm-name>.qcow2 --pool default
   # or manually: sudo rm /var/lib/libvirt/images/<vm-name>.qcow2
   ```

**Complete removal with all storage:**
```bash
sudo virsh undefine <vm-name> --remove-all-storage
```

### 5. VM Specifications

**View full specs:**
```bash
sudo virsh dominfo <vm-name>
```

**View disks:**
```bash
sudo virsh domblklist <vm-name>
```

**View network interfaces:**
```bash
sudo virsh domiflist <vm-name>
```

**Edit VM config (XML):**
```bash
sudo virsh edit <vm-name>
```

### 6. Console Access

**Connect to serial console:**
```bash
sudo virsh console <vm-name>
```

**VNC access:**
```bash
# Check VNC port
sudo virsh vncdisplay <vm-name>

# Connect with VNC client to: localhost:<port>
```

## Storage Management

**List pools:**
```bash
sudo virsh pool-list --all
```

**List volumes in pool:**
```bash
sudo virsh vol-list <pool-name>
```

**Create new pool:**
```bash
sudo virsh pool-define-as <pool-name> dir --target /path/to/storage
sudo virsh pool-start <pool-name>
sudo virsh pool-autostart <pool-name>
```

## Common Patterns

**Check if VM is running:**
```bash
sudo virsh list | grep <vm-name>
```

**Get VM state:**
```bash
sudo virsh domstate <vm-name>
```

**Resize VM disk (offline):**
```bash
sudo virsh shutdown <vm-name>
sudo qemu-img resize /var/lib/libvirt/images/<vm-name>.qcow2 +10G
sudo virsh start <vm-name>
# Then resize partition inside guest OS
```

## Troubleshooting

**VM won't start - check logs:**
```bash
sudo journalctl -u libvirtd -n 50
```

**Check network bridges:**
```bash
sudo virsh net-list --all
sudo virsh net-info default
```

**Restart libvirt:**
```bash
sudo systemctl restart libvirtd
```