Create a New KVM on Arch Linux Using virt-manager

Virtualization on Arch Linux doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, you can set up a new virtual machine in minutes. Here’s how to create a new KVM guest using virt-manager, a graphical front end for libvirt.

Why KVM + virt-manager?

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is fast, stable, and built into the Linux kernel. Pair it with virt-manager for a slick GUI that makes VM creation painless. Perfect for testing, sandboxing, or running other OSes without rebooting.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

An Arch Linux host system
Root or sudo access
A CPU with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)

If you haven’t set up KVM yet, follow this guide first:
👉 How to Install a KVM in Arch Linux

Step 1: Install Required Packages

Open a terminal and run:

sudo pacman -S qemu virt-manager virt-viewer dnsmasq vde2 bridge-utils openbsd-netcat

Then enable and start the libvirtd service:

sudo systemctl enable --now libvirtd.service

Add your user to the libvirt group:

sudo usermod -aG libvirt $(whoami)
newgrp libvirt

Log out and back in to apply group changes.

Step 2: Launch virt-manager

Run:

virt-manager

You’ll see the Virtual Machine Manager GUI. The first time it opens, it may ask for authentication—this is normal.

Step 3: Create a New VM

Click the “Create a new virtual machine” icon.
Choose how to install the OS (ISO file, PXE boot, etc.).
Point it to your ISO file (for example, Ubuntu or Fedora).
Allocate RAM and CPU cores.
Create a virtual disk (10–20 GB is a good start).
Name your VM and review the settings.
Click “Finish” to start the installation.

Step 4: Install the Guest OS

The VM will boot from the ISO you selected. Proceed with installing the guest operating system just like you would on a physical machine.

Step 5: Post-Install Tweaks (Optional)

After installation:

Install spice-vdagent in the guest for better display resolution and clipboard sharing.
Take a VM snapshot in case you need to roll back changes.
Configure networking (NAT is default, but bridged is possible for more flexibility).

Wrap-Up

With KVM and virt-manager, Arch Linux becomes a powerful virtualization platform. Whether you’re testing new distros or running development environments, this setup gives you full control without the command-line overhead.

Got questions or want to see how to clone or export a VM next? Drop a comment below.