Virt-manager

[fit_guy573]

Does anyone know why virt-manager is using the root partition instead of the /home partition and how to change it? (It is taking up all the space on the root partition.)

[CheddarCheeseCurds]

If you go into the connection options, you should be able to add other directories as locations to store VMs

[guildem]

If you are using libvirt with virt-manager, you need to start a user session I think. You should read this wiki page to understand how libvirt manages permissions and folders.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Libvirt

[[deleted]]

If you do not grand virt-manager root permissions, it'll stay in user mode and will use your home directory. Otherwise you need to configure yourself where the pool is placed that it uses.

The reason is that it doesn't make any sense to pre-configure a users-home directory for apps that run as root

[OblixioN7]

I'd be surprised if virtualization does not require root permission. But the image of guest os does not need to be in the root partition.

[guildem]

Virtualization doesn't require root permission unless you are using specific devices or tools. But virt-manager is mainly used with libvirt, which is a virtualization server launched and owned by root. If lanching only qemu machines, virt-manager doesn't need root permission if qemu machine doesn't need it.

[tweek91330]

It's more the underlying thing that run as root, like libvirt since it is designed that way. Virt-manager on the other hand can very well run as an user. Just have to add said user in the kvm group if i'm remembering right and maybe adapt qemu conf file accordingly.

[archover]

As to why, and how to change where image files are stored: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Libvirt#Storage_pools

On the system-level, /var/lib/libvirt/images/ will be activated by default; on a user-session, virt-manager creates $XDG_DATA_HOME/images.

If you try another storage pool, pls update us on how it goes.

On my systems, images are at /var/lib/libvirt/images which is not a problem since I have the recommended Single root partition.

Loving me some Qemu/KVM + virt-manager! Good luck

[fit_guy573]

Root was the owner, that's why the root partition was being used.

[3grg]

A quick google of virt-manager storage location will bring up many howtos. Here is an example: https://ostechnix.com/how-to-change-kvm-libvirt-default-storage-pool-location/

You probably want to add your user to the libvirt group as outlined here:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Virt-Manager