Install and Set Up KVM on Ubuntu with Cockpit (No VM Creation)

In this video, I will show you how to install and set up KVM on Ubuntu, including installing Cockpit for easy web-based management. This guide covers only the installation and basic setup—no VM creation or importing VMs.

👉 Steps Covered:

Install KVM packages

Verify KVM support

Install and configure Cockpit

Enable Cockpit KVM plugin

Access Cockpit via browser

⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
This video is for educational and learning purposes only. Please use this information at your own risk. Always test carefully and follow best practices for production systems
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Setup:~

: Update System
➡️sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Install KVM and Required Packages
➡️sudo apt install -y qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils virt-manager
virtinst
✅ This installs:
👉qemu-kvm: the hypervisor
👉libvirt: for managing KVM
👉bridge-utils: for networking
👉virt-manager: optional GUI (can be skipped on headless)
👉virtinst: command-line VM creation tool
Verify KVM Installation
Check if your system supports virtualization
➡️egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo
Check KVM modules:
➡️lsmod | grep kvm
Check libvirtd is active:
➡️sudo systemctl status libvirtd
Add Your User to libvirt & kvm Groups
➡️sudo usermod -aG libvirt $(whoami)
➡️sudo usermod -aG kvm $(whoami)
👉 Logout and log back in to apply group membership.

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Set up the cockpit :

Install & Enable Cockpit (Web UI)
➡️sudo apt install -y cockpit cockpit-machines
➡️sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket
✅ cockpit-machines gives you GUI to manage KVM virtual machines.
Open Cockpit Web UI
Cockpit runs on port 9090.
Open in browser:
https://your-server-ip:9090
Log in with your Ubuntu user credentials (must be in sudo or libvirt group).
✅ Enable Bridge Network
need to create a Netplan File for bridge adaptor I past on down check ⬇️ at setup files.
Apply the New Network file
➡️sudo netplan apply
Confirm Bridge is Up
➡️ ip a
✅ : Use Host Bridge (recommended for real LAN access)
📁 1. Create XML file
Create a file kvm-bridge-br0.xml
---- I past that file at setup file section check ⬇️
📌 2. Define and Start the Bridge in libvirt
➡️sudo virsh net-define kvm-bridge-br0.xml
➡️sudo virsh net-start br0-net
➡️sudo virsh net-autostart br0-net
✅ Now this network br0-net is:
Using your host’s br0
Auto-starts on boot
Visible in Cockpit and virt-manager
Available in virt-install as --network network=br0-net

-----------------------------------------------------------S-E-T-U-P-F-I-L-S-------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Netplan File for Cockpit + Bridge with NetworkManager
---------------------------------------------------------------------------file start ⬇️
network:
version: 2
renderer: NetworkManager 👈 set network manager for cockpit updates

ethernets:
enp1s0: {} 👈 check your interface

bridges:
br0:
interfaces: [enp1s0] 👈 check your interface like ensp2 . eth0 or many check
addresses:
0.0.0.0/0 👈 enter your IP address to set static IP for your server
nameservers:
addresses:
0.0.0.0 👈insert your DNS server you can also use google DNS like 8.8.8.8
routes:
to: default
via: 0.0.0.0 👈 insert your gateway like firewall or wifi router IP
parameters:
stp: false
forward-delay: 0
dhcp4: no
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file: kvm-bridge-br0.xml
github: https://github.com/Git-Raheman/kvm.git
go to : 👉 setup/kvm-bridge-br0.xml