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virtualizationqemukvmlibvirt

How to set boot order on KVM (libvirt/virsh)?

How would you set the boot order on KVM when using libvirt/virsh? (Either via config or command)

Solution

  • Please take a look at the section Operation System booting.

    The most common option is the BIOS bootloader where it allows you specifying boot order via changing domain XML. try command virsh edit <your-domain-name> then adjust the boot order with this example (copied from libvirt.org):

    <os>
  <type>hvm</type>
  <loader>/usr/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader</loader>
  <boot dev='network'/>
  <boot dev='cdrom'/>
  <boot dev='hd'/>
  <bootmenu enable='yes'/>
</os>

    Which means the boot order is:

    1. boot from network like PXE boot
    2. boot from CD-ROM if no PXE boot
    3. boot from local hard disk if no PXE boot nor bootable CD