QEMU Guest Agent

Install and configure the QEMU Guest Agent on your VPS for improved performance and management

The QEMU Guest Agent is an essential component for communication between the host and QEMU-based virtual machines. It enables features like proper shutdown, filesystem freeze for snapshots, and improved VM management.

Prerequisites

• A VPS with OnetSolutions
• SSH or console access to your server
• Root or sudo privileges

Installation Instructions

Debian/Ubuntu

1. Update package lists

   sudo apt update
   
2. Install the QEMU Guest Agent

   sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent
   
3. Start the service

   sudo systemctl start qemu-guest-agent
   
4. Enable automatic startup

   sudo systemctl enable qemu-guest-agent
   
5. Verify the installation

   sudo systemctl status qemu-guest-agent
   

   You should see a message indicating the service is active and running.

CentOS/Rocky/Alma

1. Install the QEMU Guest Agent

   sudo yum install qemu-guest-agent
   

   Or on newer systems with dnf:

   sudo dnf install qemu-guest-agent
   
2. Start the service

   sudo systemctl start qemu-guest-agent
   
3. Enable automatic startup

   sudo systemctl enable qemu-guest-agent
   
4. Verify the installation

   sudo systemctl status qemu-guest-agent
   

   You should see a message indicating the service is active and running.

Windows Server

1. Download the installer

   Download the QEMU Guest Agent installer from virtio-win releases.

2. Run the installer

   Execute the downloaded qemu-ga-x86_64.msi file and follow the on-screen instructions. Accept the license agreement when prompted.

3. Verify the installation

   Open Task Manager and look for the qemu-ga.exe process. If it’s running, the agent is installed correctly.

Configuration (Optional)

On Linux systems, you can customize the QEMU Guest Agent behavior by editing its configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/qemu/qemu-guest-agent.conf

The default configuration works well for most use cases. Only modify this file if you have specific requirements.

Troubleshooting

Service fails to start

Ensure the QEMU Guest Agent channel is enabled on your VM. Contact OnetSolutions support if the issue persists.

Agent not communicating with host

Restart the service and check the logs:

sudo systemctl restart qemu-guest-agent
sudo journalctl -u qemu-guest-agent