ZRS
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Create and manage a VM

Create a VM from an installer ISO or disk image, edit its resources and boot order, or remove it from libvirt.

Before creating a VM #

VM creation requires an active storage pool for the disk. For an OS installation, upload an installer ISO to the image library. A qcow2 image in the library can also be used as the initial disk.

For networking, use an existing virtual network or host bridge. A VM can also be created without a network interface.

Create a VM #

  1. Open VMs and select New VM.
  2. Enter a Name. Enable Start on host boot if the VM should start automatically with the server.
  3. Check Architecture and Firmware against the operating system or image requirements. Available choices depend on the host’s QEMU emulators and firmware.
  4. Under Resources, set vCPUs and Memory. Check the memory unit before entering the amount.
  5. Under Storage, choose a Storage pool and Disk size. Configure the installation source as described below.
  6. Under Network, select the virtual network or host bridge for each NIC. Remove the NIC entry for a VM without networking.
  7. Select Create & start to create and boot the VM, or Create only to create it powered off.

Creation runs as a job. Wait for it to finish before changing the VM’s configuration.

Install from an ISO or copy a disk image #

  • For an installer ISO, set Disk image to None, new blank disk and select the ISO under Installer ISO. Creating the VM does not install the operating system. Complete the installer through the graphical console.
  • For a library disk image, select the qcow2 image under Disk image. ZRS creates an independent disk copy in the selected storage pool. Its size cannot be smaller than the source image.

After an ISO installation, eject the installer from the CD-ROM’s current and saved configuration as applicable.

Change CPU or memory #

  1. Stop the VM and wait for Shutdown.
  2. In Hardware, select Edit resources.
  3. Change vCPUs or Memory. For a specific CPU layout, expand Advanced CPU topology and enable Custom CPU topology.
  4. Select Save, then start the VM.

Rename a VM #

Stop the VM, select the pencil icon labeled Rename VM beside its name, enter the new name, and select Save.

Change boot order #

  1. Stop the VM and find Boot order on its page.
  2. Use the up and down controls to reorder entries. Use Add to include another available boot device, or remove an entry to exclude it from the boot order.
  3. Keep at least one entry and select Save.

Removing a boot-order entry does not detach the disk or network interface.

Delete a VM #

  1. Stop the VM for a clean shutdown. Deleting a running VM force-stops it.
  2. Open More actions (the three-dot menu) and select Delete.
  3. Also delete VM disk images permanently deletes the VM’s writable disk images, including snapshot images. Read-only and shareable disks are excluded. Leave this off to keep the disk images.
  4. Also delete webhooks targeting this VM removes webhooks configured to target this VM.
  5. Confirm with Delete VM.

Deleting removes the VM from libvirt.

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