---
name: k8s-kubevirt
description: Virtual machine management with KubeVirt on Kubernetes. Use when creating, managing, or troubleshooting VMs running on Kubernetes clusters.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
author: rohitg00
version: "1.0.0"
tools: 13
category: virtualization
---
# KubeVirt VM Management
Manage virtual machines on Kubernetes using kubectl-mcp-server's KubeVirt tools (13 tools).
## When to Apply
Use this skill when:
- User mentions: "KubeVirt", "virtual machine", "VM", "VirtualMachineInstance", "VMI"
- Operations: starting/stopping VMs, live migration, managing VM lifecycle
- Keywords: "VM on Kubernetes", "virtualization", "data volume", "instance type"
## Priority Rules
| Priority | Rule | Impact | Tools |
|----------|------|--------|-------|
| 1 | Detect KubeVirt installation first | CRITICAL | `kubevirt_detect_tool` |
| 2 | Check VM status before operations | HIGH | `kubevirt_vm_get_tool` |
| 3 | List VMIs for running VMs | HIGH | `kubevirt_vmis_list_tool` |
| 4 | Use instance types for consistency | MEDIUM | `kubevirt_instancetypes_list_tool` |
## Quick Reference
| Task | Tool | Example |
|------|------|---------|
| Detect KubeVirt | `kubevirt_detect_tool` | `kubevirt_detect_tool()` |
| List VMs | `kubevirt_vms_list_tool` | `kubevirt_vms_list_tool(namespace)` |
| Start VM | `kubevirt_vm_start_tool` | `kubevirt_vm_start_tool(name, namespace)` |
| Live migrate VM | `kubevirt_vm_migrate_tool` | `kubevirt_vm_migrate_tool(name, namespace)` |
## Check Installation
```python
kubevirt_detect_tool()
```
## List VMs
```python
# List VirtualMachines
kubevirt_vms_list_tool(namespace="default")
# List VirtualMachineInstances (running VMs)
kubevirt_vmis_list_tool(namespace="default")
```
## Get VM Details
```python
# Get VM definition
kubevirt_vm_get_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
# Shows:
# - Spec (CPU, memory, disks)
# - Running status
# - Conditions
```
## VM Lifecycle
### Start VM
```python
kubevirt_vm_start_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
```
### Stop VM
```python
kubevirt_vm_stop_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
```
### Restart VM
```python
kubevirt_vm_restart_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
```
### Pause/Unpause VM
```python
# Pause (freeze CPU)
kubevirt_vm_pause_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
# Unpause
kubevirt_vm_unpause_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
```
## Live Migration
```python
# Migrate VM to another node
kubevirt_vm_migrate_tool(name="my-vm", namespace="default")
# Check migration status
kubevirt_vmis_list_tool(namespace="default")
# Look for: migrationState
```
## Instance Types
```python
# List available instance types
kubevirt_instancetypes_list_tool()
# Instance types define:
# - CPU count
# - Memory size
# - GPU allocation
```
## Data Volumes
```python
# List data volumes (persistent VM disks)
kubevirt_datavolumes_list_tool(namespace="default")
# List data sources (golden images)
kubevirt_datasources_list_tool(namespace="default")
```
## Create VM
```python
kubectl_apply(manifest="""
apiVersion: kubevirt.io/v1
kind: VirtualMachine
metadata:
name: my-vm
namespace: default
spec:
running: true
template:
metadata:
labels:
kubevirt.io/vm: my-vm
spec:
domain:
cpu:
cores: 2
memory:
guest: 4Gi
devices:
disks:
- name: rootdisk
disk:
bus: virtio
- name: cloudinitdisk
disk:
bus: virtio
volumes:
- name: rootdisk
containerDisk:
image: quay.io/kubevirt/fedora-cloud-container-disk-demo
- name: cloudinitdisk
cloudInitNoCloud:
userData: |
#cloud-config
password: fedora
chpasswd: { expire: False }
""")
```
## Create VM with DataVolume
```python
kubectl_apply(manifest="""
apiVersion: kubevirt.io/v1
kind: VirtualMachine
metadata:
name: vm-with-pvc
namespace: default
spec:
running: true
dataVolumeTemplates:
- metadata:
name: vm-with-pvc-disk
spec:
source:
http:
url: https://cloud.centos.org/centos/7/images/CentOS-7-x86_64-GenericCloud.qcow2
storage:
accessModes:
- ReadWriteOnce
resources:
requests:
storage: 10Gi
template:
spec:
domain:
cpu:
cores: 2
memory:
guest: 4Gi
devices:
disks:
- name: rootdisk
disk:
bus: virtio
volumes:
- name: rootdisk
dataVolume:
name: vm-with-pvc-disk
""")
```
## Troubleshooting
### VM Not Starting
```python
1. kubevirt_vm_get_tool(name, namespace) # Check status/conditions
2. kubevirt_vmis_list_tool(namespace) # Check VMI exists
3. get_events(namespace) # Check events
4. get_pods(namespace, label_selector="kubevirt.io/vm=<name>") # Check virt-launcher
```
### Migration Failed
```python
1. kubevirt_vmis_list_tool(namespace) # Check migrationState
2. get_events(namespace) # Check events
3. # Common issues:
# - No suitable target node
# - Insufficient resources
# - Shared storage required
```
## Related Skills
- [k8s-storage](../k8s-storage/SKILL.md) - Persistent storage
- [k8s-operations](../k8s-operations/SKILL.md) - kubectl operations
