How to Install a KVM in Arch Linux

If you’re running Arch Linux and want to set up a virtualization environment, KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is the way to go. It’s fast, efficient, and integrates tightly with the Linux kernel. Here’s how to install and configure KVM on Arch—no fluff, just facts.

What You Need

Before we dive in, make sure your system supports hardware virtualization:

egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo

Output 0? You’re out of luck—your CPU doesn’t support virtualization.
Output 1 or more? You’re good to go.

Also, make sure virtualization is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI.

1. Install KVM and Dependencies

Open a terminal and install the required packages:

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

Enable the libvirt service:

sudo systemctl enable --now libvirtd

2. Add Your User to the libvirt Group

To avoid using sudo every time:

sudo usermod -aG libvirt $(whoami)
newgrp libvirt

You may need to log out and back in for group changes to apply.

3. Start and Test libvirtd

Make sure libvirtd is running:

sudo systemctl status libvirtd

Then test the connection:

virsh list --all

If it doesn’t throw an error, you’re connected to the default QEMU/KVM hypervisor.

4. Launch virt-manager

This is your graphical interface for managing virtual machines:

virt-manager

From here, you can create new VMs, assign resources, mount ISOs, and configure networking.

5. Optional: Enable Bridged Networking

If you want VMs on the same network as your host:

Create a bridge interface manually or using netctl/systemd-networkd.
Edit /etc/libvirt/qemu.conf and /etc/libvirt/libvirtd.conf if needed.
Restart libvirtd:

sudo systemctl restart libvirtd

ArchWiki has great in-depth guides if you need custom network setups.

Final Tips

Use virtio drivers for better disk and network performance.
Store VM images under /var/lib/libvirt/images or set a custom path.
Use snapshots when testing risky changes inside your VMs.

Wrapping Up

KVM on Arch Linux gives you a powerful virtualization setup with minimal overhead. Once installed, managing VMs through virt-manager is smooth and user-friendly—even for complex setups.

If you run into issues, check logs with:

journalctl -xeu libvirtd

And always keep the ArchWiki KVM page bookmarked—it’s gold.

Got questions or tips? Drop them in the comments.