TURNONKVM.md

Turning on local KVM module

Chances are your host system KVM functionality is turned off by default. These directions are for ubuntu linux.

1. Check if KVM modules are available

lsmod | grep kvm

2. Load the KVM modules (Intel CPU = kvm_intel, AMD = kvm_amd)

sudo modprobe kvm
sudo modprobe kvm_intel    # For Intel CPUs

OR

sudo modprobe kvm_amd      # For AMD CPUs

3. Verify /dev/kvm now exists

ls -la /dev/kvm

4. Check permissions (your user needs access)

Option A: Add yourself to the kvm group

sudo usermod -aG kvm $USER

Then log out and back in, or:

newgrp kvm

Option B: Or temporarily fix permissions

sudo chmod 666 /dev/kvm

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If modprobe kvm_intel fails, check if virtualization is disabled in BIOS/UEFI:

Check for error messages

dmesg | grep -i kvm

Common issues:

• "kvm: disabled by bios" → Enable VT-x/AMD-V in BIOS
• "kvm: already loaded" → Module loaded but /dev/kvm missing

If you're running in a VM (nested virtualization), the hypervisor must enable it:

Check if you're in a VM

systemd-detect-virt

If it says vmware, virtualbox, kvm, etc. - you need nested virt enabled

VMware: VM Settings → CPU → "Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT"
Proxmox/KVM: CPU type must be "host" and nested=1

To make KVM load at boot:

Add to modules

echo "kvm" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
echo "kvm_intel" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules  # or kvm_amd

Or create a conf file

echo -e "kvm\nkvm_intel" | sudo tee /etc/modules-load.d/kvm.conf