These days, virtualization has never been easier. Whether you're using enterprise-grade solutions like Proxmox or VMware ESXi, or desktop-friendly platforms like VirtualBox or Hyper-V, spinning up virtual machines is more accessible than ever.

But for command-line lovers like myself, there's something special about using tools that don’t require a GUI. Call it a personal motto: the hard way, or no way at all. That’s where QEMU comes in.

For over a decade, I’ve used QEMU to create quick, reliable VMs for short-term projects, directly from the terminal.

📚 Table of Contents

What is QEMU?

QEMU (Quick Emulator) is a flexible, open-source hypervisor that uses software emulation to run operating systems for a variety of hardware architectures.

  • Want to run an ARM-based OS on an x86 machine? QEMU can do that.
  • Need to test out a PowerPC distro or legacy OS? It’s got you covered.
  • It supports both headless operation and graphical interfaces.
  • VMs are stored in disk image formats like qcow2, which are easy to back up, copy, or migrate between machines.
  • Need compatibility with another format? QEMU includes tools to convert between image types.

Whether you're emulating different hardware or just need a fast local VM for testing, QEMU offers unmatched flexibility—right from your command line.

Why Use QEMU?

You might be wondering—why bother with QEMU when I already have a Proxmox server or access to cloud-based VMs?

For me, QEMU is all about speed, portability, and simplicity:

  • I can create a VM, close my laptop, toss it in my backpack, and pick up exactly where I left off.
  • Once the VM is up, no constant network connection is needed.
  • It uses fewer resources than full-featured hypervisors.
  • Backing up or moving VMs is as simple as copying a few files.
  • Many distros, like Kali Linux, even provide ready-to-use qcow2 images, which can be running in minutes.

Recently, I used QEMU to run a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL8) PowerPC image and an x86_64 OpenBSD VM on an Apple Silicon MacBook Pro (M3/M4)—no extra hardware needed.

QEMU also powers many of the hypervisors we use today behind the scenes. It's been around a long time, and its reliability and versatility keep it relevant in modern workflows.

Wrapping Up

QEMU is an incredibly powerful tool for developers, sysadmins, and tinkerers alike. Whether you're running quick test environments or exploring new OS architectures, it’s a great addition to your toolbox.

I'll be diving deeper into how to set up and optimize QEMU environments in future posts. Stay tuned!

Need help with Linux or virtualization? Feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to chat.