virt-manager is a free software virtualization solution for Linux. virt-manager has a more complex interface than VirtualBox or GNOME Boxes but it also has a more complete set of features.

Terminologia

virt-manager is based on a set of lower level virtualization tools, going from the user interface to the hardware interactions with the processor. This terminology is a bit confusing and other documentation might mention the following tools:

• KVM è il modulo del kernel Linux che interagisce con le funzioni di virtualizzazione del processore.
• QEMU è il software di virtualizzazione che emula processori virtuali e periferiche e che avvia e spegne macchine virtuali basato su KVM .
• libvirt è una libreria che consente a virt-manager di interagire con le capacità di virtualizzazione fornite da QEMU.
• SPICE è un protocollo che permette di visualizzare il desktop delle macchine virtuali.
• virt-manager è l'interfaccia grafica che consente di creare, configurare ed avviare macchine virtuali.

Installazione

Per installare virt-manager in Debian, esegui il seguente comando:

…sudo apt install virt-manager libvirt-daemon-system

Per installare virt-manager su Ubuntu, esegui il seguente comando:

…sudo apt install virt-manager libvirt-bin qemu-kvm

Avviare Tails da un'immagine ISO

1. Avvia virt-manager.
2. Double-click on localhost (QEMU) to connect to the QEMU system of your host.
3. To create a new virtual machine, choose File ▸ New Virtual Machine.
4. In step 1, choose Local install media (ISO image or CDROM).
5. In step 2, choose:
   • Use ISO image, then Browse..., and Browse Local to browse for the ISO image that you want to start from.
   • OS type: Linux.
   • Version: Debian Stretch.
6. In step 3, allocate at least 2048 MB of RAM.
7. In step 4, disable storage for this virtual machine.
8. In step 5:
   • Type a name for the new virtual machine.
   • Click Finish to start the virtual machine.

Avviare Tails su una chiavetta USB

To run Tails from a USB stick using virt-manager, first create a virtual machine running from an ISO image as described above.

Then do the following:

1. From the virtual machine window, choose Virtual Machine ▸ Shut Down ▸ Force Off to shut down the virtual machine.
2. Inserite la chiavetta USB su cui volete avviare Tails.
3. Choose View ▸ Details to edit the configuration of the virtual machine.
4. Click on the Add Hardware button on the bottom of the left pane.
5. Selezionate USB Host Device nel riquadro a sinistra.
6. Nel riquadro a destra, clicca sul dispositivo da cui vuoi avviare Tails e clicca su Finish.

You can keep the original ISO image connected as a virtual DVD to install Tails onto the USB stick if needed.

You can also disconnect the original ISO image and start directly from the USB stick once Tails is already installed on it. To do so:

1. Spegni la macchina virtuale.
2. In the configuration of the virtual machine, click on IDE CDROM 1 in the left pane.
3. Click on the Disconnect button in the right pane.
4. To enable the USB stick as a boot option:
   1. Click on Boot Options in the left pane.
   2. Select the USB boot option corresponding to your USB device.
   3. Click Apply.
5. To start the virtual machine choose View ▸ Console and then Virtual Machine ▸ Run.

Una volta avviato il dispositivo USB potete creare un volume persistente.

Running Tails from a virtual USB storage

You can also run Tails from a virtual USB storage, saved as a single file on the host operating system.

To run Tails from a virtual USB device using virt-manager, first create a virtual machine running from an ISO image as described above.

Then do the following to create a virtual USB storage:

1. From the virtual machine window, choose Virtual Machine ▸ Shut Down ▸ Force Off to shut down the virtual machine.
2. Choose View ▸ Details to edit the configuration of the virtual machine.
3. Click on the Add Hardware button on the bottom of the left pane.
4. Selezionate Storage nel riquadro di sinistra.
5. In the right pane, change the Bus type to USB and click Finish.
6. Selezionate USB Disk 1 nel riquadro di sinistra.
7. Nel riquadro di destra, selezionate l'opzione Removable e cliccate su Apply.

Then start the virtual machine from the virtual DVD to install Tails onto the virtual USB storage using Tails Installer. The virtual USB storage appears in Tails Installer as QEMU HARDDISK.

After that you can disconnect the original ISO image and start directly from the virtual USB stick as described in the previous section.

Once you started from the virtual USB device you can create a persistent volume on it.

Troubleshooting

Graphics issues

Issues with graphics support in Tails running inside a virtual machine with virt-manager are common. The best solution can vary depending on the version of the virtualization solution and on the virtual machine configuration. For example:

• La funzione Auto resize VM with window non funziona con tutte le configurazioni.
• The video device that provides optimal graphics performance can be different depending on the version of the host operating system.

To troubleshoot such issues:

1. Ensure the virtual machine has a Spice display and a Spice channel configured, as opposed to VNC ones.

2. Try various virtual video device models.

   Start with Virtio and QXL video devices: they generally give the best results. If they don't perform well for you, try every other video device model.