--- title: Linux family description: published: true date: 2021-11-26T21:07:25.649Z tags: editor: markdown dateCreated: 2021-11-12T15:27:40.366Z --- # Deploy RPM-based Linux distributions automatically `virt-install` is a command-line utility that can be used to create virtual machines. It comes preinstalled with Phyllome OS. * For Fedora, you can install it using the following command as *root*: ``` dnf install virt-install ``` ## Automated installation using an ISO file and a local kickstart file * Use the following `wget` command to fetch the official Fedora Server ISO file and to put it in the current working directory ``` wget https://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/35/Server/x86_64/iso/Fedora-Server-dvd-x86_64-35-1.2.iso ``` > Please [verify your download](https://getfedora.org/en/security/) if you intent to use this virtual machine in production {.is-info} Move the file to `/var/lib/libvirt/iso`: ``` mv Fedora-Server-dvd-x86_64-35-1.2.iso /var/lib/libvirt/iso ``` * Use the following `wget` command to fetch a standalone kickstart file made to deploy a stripped down desktop based on GNOME Shell, and put it in the working directory ``` wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PhyllomeOS/phyllomeos/main/leaves/virtual-desktop.cfg ``` > Please verify the content of the script if you intent to use this virtual machine in production, for instance by using the following command `cat virtual-desktop.cfg` {.is-info} > If you use a custom kickstart script, make sure it does include the `cdrom` option. {.is-warning} * Deploy a UEFI-based machine with Fedora Server using the relative path of the local kickstart file ``` virt-install \ --connect qemu:///session \ --os-variant detect=off \ --virt-type kvm \ --arch x86_64 \ --machine q35 \ --name virtual-desktop \ --boot uefi \ --cpu host-model,topology.sockets=1,topology.cores=2,topology.threads=1 \ --vcpus 2 \ --memory 4096 \ --video virtio \ --graphics spice,listen=none \ --channel spicevmc \ --channel unix,target.type=virtio,target.name=org.qemu.guest_agent.0 \ --autoconsole none \ --console pty,target.type=virtio \ --sound none \ --network type=user,model=virtio \ --controller type=virtio-serial \ --controller type=usb,model=none \ --controller type=scsi,model=virtio-scsi \ --input type=keyboard,bus=virtio \ --input type=tablet,bus=virtio \ --rng /dev/urandom,model=virtio \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/virtual-desktop.img,format=raw,bus=virtio,cache=writeback,size=10 \ --location=/var/lib/libvirt/iso/Fedora-Server-dvd-x86_64-35-1.2.iso \ --initrd-inject virtual-desktop.cfg --extra-args "inst.ks=file:/virtual-desktop.cfg" ``` ## Automated installation using a local kickstart file * Fetch a kickstart script using wget and put it in the current working directory ``` $ wget https://git.phyllo.me/home/kickstart/raw/branch/main/leaves/vmd.cfg ``` > If using a custom kickstart script, make sure it includes repo information {.is-warning} ``` $ virt-install \ --connect qemu:///system \ --virt-type kvm \ --arch x86_64 \ --machine q35 \ --name vmd \ --boot uefi \ --cpu host-model,topology.sockets=1,topology.cores=2,topology.threads=2 \ --vcpus 4 \ --memory 8192 \ --video virtio \ --channel spicevmc \ --autoconsole none \ --sound none \ --controller type=virtio-serial \ --controller type=usb,model=none \ --controller type=scsi,model=virtio-scsi \ --network network=default,model=virtio \ --input type=keyboard,bus=virtio \ --input type=tablet,bus=virtio \ --rng /dev/urandom,model=virtio \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/vmd.img,format=raw,bus=virtio,cache=writeback,size=5 \ --location=https://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/34/Everything/x86_64/os/ \ --initrd-inject bmd.cfg --extra-args "inst.ks=file:/bmd.cfg" ``` ### Remote installation with remote kickstart * Alternatively, same as above but without fetching the kickstart file. The last line has to be swapped with : ``` virt-install \ --connect qemu:///session \ --os-variant detect=off \ --virt-type kvm \ --arch x86_64 \ --machine q35 \ --name virtual-desktop \ --boot uefi \ --cpu host-model,topology.sockets=1,topology.cores=2,topology.threads=1 \ --vcpus 2 \ --memory 4096 \ --video virtio \ --graphics spice,listen=none \ --channel spicevmc \ --channel unix,target.type=virtio,target.name=org.qemu.guest_agent.0 \ --autoconsole none \ --console pty,target.type=virtio \ --sound none \ --network type=user,model=virtio \ --controller type=virtio-serial \ --controller type=usb,model=none \ --controller type=scsi,model=virtio-scsi \ --input type=keyboard,bus=virtio \ --input type=tablet,bus=virtio \ --rng /dev/urandom,model=virtio \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/phyllome-desktop.img,format=raw,bus=virtio,cache=writeback,size=10 \ --location=https://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/35/Everything/x86_64/os/ \ --extra-args="inst.ks=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PhyllomeOS/phyllomeos/main/leaves/virtual-desktop.cfg" ``` ### Local deployment without installation The idea here is to define a virtual machine and use the netboot.xyz.iso as a way to boot into an installer. ``` virt-install \ --connect qemu:///system \ --virt-type kvm \ --arch x86_64 \ --machine q35 \ --name live-with-netboot-xyz \ --boot uefi \ --cpu host-model,topology.sockets=1,topology.cores=1,topology.threads=1 \ --vcpus 1 \ --memory 2048 \ --video virtio \ --channel spicevmc \ --autoconsole none \ --sound none \ --controller type=virtio-serial \ --controller type=usb,model=none \ --controller type=scsi,model=virtio-scsi \ --network network=default,model=virtio \ --input type=keyboard,bus=virtio \ --input type=tablet,bus=virtio \ --rng /dev/urandom,model=virtio \ --disk none \ --cdrom=/var/lib/libvirt/iso/netboot.xyz.iso \ --install no_install=yes ``` ### Built-in unattended mode virt-install can rely on libosinfo's unattended install support to deploy fedora34 without any user intervention: `virt-install --install fedora32 --unattended` ### Cloud-init Cloud-init may be used alongside virt-install: `virt-install --install fedora34,cloud=yes --cloud-init root-password-generate=on ssh-key=/home/user/.ssh/test_rsa.pub disable=on`