docker-qemu

QEMU in a docker container using KVM acceleration.

Features

• KVM acceleration
• Graceful shutdown

Usage

Via docker-compose.yml

version: "3"
services:
    qemu:
        container_name: qemu
        image: kroese/docker-qemu:latest
        environment:
            DISK_SIZE: "16G"
            BOOT: "http://www.example.com/image.iso"
        devices:
            - /dev/kvm
        cap_add:
            - NET_ADMIN                       
        ports:
            - 22:22
        volumes:
            - /var/qemu:/storage
        restart: on-failure

Via docker run

$ docker run -it --rm -e "BOOT=http://www.example.com/image.iso" --device=/dev/kvm --cap-add NET_ADMIN kroese/docker-qemu:latest

FAQ

• How do I change the bootdisk?

  You can modify the BOOT setting to specify the URL of any ISO image:

  environment:
    BOOT: "http://www.tinycorelinux.net/13.x/x86/release/Core-13.1.iso"
  

  It will be downloaded only once, during the first run of the container.

• How do I change the size of the data disk?

  By default it is 16GB, but you can modify the DISK_SIZE setting in your compose file:

  environment:
    DISK_SIZE: "16G"
  

  To resize the disk to a capacity of 8 terabyte you would use a value of "8T" for example.

• How do I change the location of the data disk?

  By default it resides inside a docker volume, but you can add these lines to your compose file:

  volumes:
    - /home/user/data:/storage
  

  Just replace /home/user/data with the path to the folder you want to use for storage.

• How do I change the amount of CPU/RAM?

  By default an amount of 512MB RAM and 1 vCPU is allocated to the container.

  To increase this you can add the following environment variabeles:

  environment:
    CPU_CORES: "4"
    RAM_SIZE: "2048M"
  

• How do I give the container a dedicated IP address?

  By default the container uses bridge networking, and is reachable by the IP of the docker host.

  If you want to give it a seperate IP address, create a macvlan network that matches your local subnet:

  $ docker network create -d macvlan \
      --subnet=192.168.0.0/24 \
      --gateway=192.168.0.1 \
      --ip-range=192.168.0.100/28 \
      -o parent=eth0 vlan
  

  And change the network of the container to vlan in your run command:

   --network vlan --ip=192.168.0.100
  

  This has the advantage that you don't need to do any portmapping anymore.