Method # 1: Command Line Option
Normally, QEMU (/usr/libexec/qemu-kvm) uses SDL to display the VGA output. With the -vnc option option, you can have QEMU listen on VNC display display and redirect the VGA display over the VNC session. When using the VNC display, you must use the -k parameter to set the keyboard layout if you are not using en-us. Valid syntax for the display is as follows:
1 2 3 4 5 6 | -vnc :0 -vnc 192.168.1.5:0 -vnc 0.0.0.0:5 -vnc 0.0.0.0:1 -k en-us #### Require that password based authentication is used for client connections #### -vnc 0.0.0.0:1,password -k en-us |
In the following example start vm0 guest vm using vnc
1 | /usr/libexec/qemu-kvm -S -M rhel5.4.0 -m 1024 -smp 1 -vnc 0.0.0.0:1 -k en-us -name vm0 -monitor pty -boot c -drive file=/var/lib/libvirt/images/vm0.img |
Method # 2: qemu-kvm VM Config File (Recommended)
You need to edit your VM config file which is in XML format. The config file is located at /etc/libvirt/qemu directory.Append the following line before final </devices>:
1 | <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' keymap='en-us'/> |
Here is my sample config file:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 | <domain type='kvm'> <name>vm0</name> <uuid>88d067cf-e5f7-7229-f35f-472a9c884864</uuid> <memory>1048576</memory> <currentMemory>1048576</currentMemory> <vcpu>1</vcpu> <os> <type arch='x86_64' machine='rhel5.4.0'>hvm</type> <boot dev='hd'/> </os> <features> <acpi/> <apic/> <pae/> </features> <clock offset='utc'/> <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff> <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot> <on_crash>restart</on_crash> <devices> <emulator>/usr/libexec/qemu-kvm</emulator> <disk type='file' device='disk'> <driver name='qemu' cache='none'/> <source file='/images/vm0.img'/> <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/> </disk> <interface type='bridge'> <mac address='xx:yy:zz:ee:f4:63'/> <source bridge='br0'/> <model type='virtio'/> </interface> <interface type='bridge'> <mac address='54:52:xx:yy:zz:ee'/> <source bridge='br1'/> <model type='virtio'/> </interface> <serial type='pty'> <target port='0'/> </serial> <console type='pty'> <target port='0'/> </console> <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' keymap='en-us'/> </devices> </domain> |
Finally, restart your libvirtd:
1 2 3 | # systemctl restart libvirtd # virsh shutdown vm0 # virsh start vm0 |
How Do I Find Out Current VNC Setting For Any Given Domain / VM?
Type the following command:
1 2 3 | # virsh vncdisplay domainName # virsh vncdisplay 3 # virsh vncdisplay vm0 |
How Do I Password Protect My VNC Session?
The passwd attribute provides a VNC password in clear text (so make sure your xml config file is only readable by root user). Edit vm0.xml file as follows:
1 | <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' passwd='YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE' keymap='en-us'/> |
OR
1 | <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' listen='127.0.0.1' passwd='YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE' keymap='en-us'/> |
1 2 3 | <graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' listen='127.0.0.1' passwd='YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE' keymap='en-us' sharePolicy='force-shared'> <listen type='address' address='127.0.0.1'/> </graphics> |
Where,
- type=’vnc’: The graphics element has a mandatory type attribute which takes the value “sdl”, “vnc”, “rdp” or “desktop”. In this case it is set to VNC for remote access.
- autoport=’yes’: The autoport attribute is the new preferred syntax for indicating autoallocation of the TCP port to use.
- passwd=’YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE’: The passwd attribute provides a VNC password in clear text.
- keymap=en-us;: The keymap attribute specifies the keymap to use.
- listen=127.0.0.1: The listen attribute is an IP address for the server to listen on.
Save and close the file. Restart services as follows:
1 2 | # systemctl restart libvirtd # virsh start vm0 |