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libvirtd(8) manual
InteractiveCommands
INTERACTIVEOperator consoleLIBVIRTD(8)

QUICKSTART / LIVE OPERATOR CONSOLE

Learn libvirt by operating it.

Start with a working command, trace what it touches, then descend into the exact daemon, network, storage, XML, and security concepts behind it.

$ virsh uri

qemu:///system

$ virsh list --all

Id Name State

- demo01 shut off

Build your first VM

Follow the complete host-to-domain path with copy-ready commands.

Enter path

Understand the architecture

Trace virsh through sockets, daemons, QEMU, storage, and networks.

Enter path

Repair a broken domain

Start from a symptom and work backward without guessing.

Enter path

Practice safely

Edit and inspect domain XML before touching a production guest.

Enter path

REQUEST PATH

Follow one virsh command through the stack.

Open full decoder

virsh

The CLI parses your intent, selects a connection URI, and speaks the libvirt RPC protocol.

SYSTEM OR SESSION?

Connection URI matters.

qemu:///system

System-wide guests, privileged networking, shared storage, service-managed daemons, and policy-controlled access.

qemu:///session

Per-user guests with user-owned storage and narrower networking capabilities. Useful, but not interchangeable with system mode.

COMMAND COMPOSER

Choose an operator intent.

virsh --connect qemu:///system list --all

Connect to the system QEMU driver and list running and inactive domains.

Explore the complete command catalog

FAILURE SIMULATOR

Start from the symptom.

  1. 01Check the URI: virsh uri
  2. 02Inspect socket units: systemctl status virtqemud.socket libvirtd.socket
  3. 03Confirm system versus session mode
  4. 04Review group membership and polkit decisions
Enter operator drills

Storage

Pools, volumes, qcow2, raw disks, permissions, backing chains, and safe snapshots.

Networking

NAT, routed, isolated, bridged, macvtap, dnsmasq, nftables, and interface XML.

Security

SELinux, sVirt labels, polkit, TLS, SASL, SSH transport, sockets, and least privilege.