Setting Up Cockpit for Virtual Machines on Arch Linux

 Setting Up Cockpit for Virtual Machines on Arch Linux

Installing and setting up Cockpit for managing virtual machines on Arch Linux can be a straightforward process, especially with the help of firewall tools like UFW or Firewalld. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive walkthrough on how to set up Cockpit, configure your firewall, and manage virtual machines efficiently.

What is Cockpit?

Cockpit is a web-based interface designed to simplify the management of Linux servers. It offers an intuitive dashboard for monitoring system performance, configuring networks, managing storage, and controlling virtual machines. This makes it an ideal tool for both novice and experienced system administrators.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

- A running Arch Linux system with sudo privileges.

- An active internet connection.

Step 1: Update Your System

Begin by updating your system to ensure all packages are current. Open a terminal and execute:

bash sudo pacman -Syu

Step 2: Install Cockpit and Required Packages

To manage virtual machines, you need to install Cockpit and its related packages. Run the following command:

bash sudo pacman -S cockpit cockpit-machines libvirt qemu virt-install

Step 3: Enable and Start Services

Enable and start the `libvirtd` service, which is essential for managing virtual machines, and the `cockpit.socket` for accessing the Cockpit interface:

bash sudo systemctl enable libvirtd --now sudo systemctl enable cockpit.socket --now

Verify that these services are running:

bash sudo systemctl status libvirtd sudo systemctl status cockpit.socket

Step 4: Configure the Firewall

You can choose between UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) and Firewalld to secure your server. Here’s how to configure each:

Using UFW

1. Install UFW:

   

bash   sudo pacman -S ufw

 

2. Enable UFW:

 Allow SSH connections to prevent being locked out:

   

bash   sudo ufw allow ssh

  

Enable UFW with:

  

bash   sudo ufw enable

   

3. Allow Cockpit through the Firewall:

Open port 9090 for Cockpit:

   

bash   sudo ufw allow 9090/tcp

   

4. Check UFW Status:

Verify UFW is active:

 

bash   sudo ufw status

   

Using Firewalld

1. Install Firewalld:

 

bash   sudo pacman -S firewalld

   

2. Start and Enable Firewalld:

 

bash   sudo systemctl start firewalld   sudo systemctl enable firewalld

   

3. Allow Cockpit through Firewalld:

Open port 9090:

 

bash   sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-service=cockpit --permanent   sudo firewall-cmd --reload

   

Step 5: Access Cockpit Web Interface

With the services running and the firewall configured, access Cockpit by opening a web browser and navigating to:

https://localhost:9090

Log in using your system’s username and password. You may encounter a security warning due to a self-signed SSL certificate; it is safe to proceed.

Step 6: Create and Manage Virtual Machines

Once logged in, go to the "Virtual Machines" section. Here, you can create new virtual machines or manage existing ones:

1. Click "Create VM."

2. Select your installation method, such as using an ISO image.

3. Configure the virtual machine settings, including CPU, memory, and storage.

4. Click "Create" to start the virtual machine.

Or you can use the virt-install command to create a new virtual machine. Replace the placeholders with your specific details:

bash sudo virt-install \   --name=myvm \   --ram=2048 \   --vcpus=2 \   --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/myvm.img,size=20 \   --os-variant=generic \   --network bridge=virbr0 \   --graphics none \   --console pty,target_type=serial \   --location '/path/to/installer.iso' \   --extra-args 'console=ttyS0,115200n8 serial'

This command sets up a virtual machine with 2GB RAM, 2 CPUs, and a 20GB disk, using a specified ISO for installation.

Cockpit provides a graphical console for interacting with your virtual machines, allowing you to perform installations and configurations directly from your browser.

Conclusion

Cockpit is a powerful tool that simplifies virtual machine management on Arch Linux. Its user-friendly interface and extensive features make it accessible for users of all experience levels. By following this guide, you can efficiently set up and manage virtual machines while securing your server with either UFW or Firewalld.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for educational purposes only. The Distrowrite Project is not responsible for any damage or data loss that may occur as a result of following these instructions. Always ensure you have backups of your data before proceeding with system modifications.

Citations:

[1] Cockpit - ArchWiki

[2] Arch Linux: The Cockpit

[3] Managing KVM Virtual Machines with Cockpit Web Console in Linux

[4] How to Install and Configure UFW Firewall on Arch Linux

[5] How to manage virtual machines in Cockpit | Enable Sysadmin

[6] Arch Linux - cockpit-machines 318-1 (any)

[7] Create virtual machines with Cockpit in Fedora

[8] Uncomplicated Firewall - ArchWiki

Gallery (Using the Arch-based CachyOS as host):