Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Error while creating a VM using KVM

KVM error fix for Ubuntu 13.04 VM startup issue.

Quick Answer: Use qemu-system-x86_64 instead of kvm binary to resolve the W: kvm binary is deprecated error.

The error message indicates that the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) binary is deprecated and should be replaced with QEMU-system-x86_64. This issue affects users who are using Ubuntu 13.04 Desktop to create virtual machines. The error can be frustrating as it prevents the user from starting their virtual machine, which is a critical step in setting up a development or testing environment.

The workaround for this issue involves replacing the deprecated KVM binary with QEMU-system-x86_64. This change ensures that the virtual machine starts successfully and allows users to utilize their virtualization capabilities.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the KVM binary has been deprecated in favor of QEMU-system-x86_64. This change was made to improve the stability and performance of virtual machines. As a result, any software or scripts that rely on the deprecated KVM binary will no longer function correctly.
  • An alternative cause for this issue could be that the system's RAM allocation is insufficient for the virtual machine. In this case, increasing the amount of available RAM may resolve the error.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Update KVM to QEMU-system-x86_64

  1. Step 1: Open a terminal on your Ubuntu 13.04 Desktop and run the following command: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install qemu-system-x86_64 This will update your package list and install the QEMU-system-x86_64 binary.
  2. Step 2: Once the installation is complete, you can verify that the new binary has been installed by running the command: qemu-system-x86_64 -h This will display a help message with information about the available options and usage.

Increase RAM allocation for virtual machine

  1. Step 1: To increase the amount of available RAM for your virtual machine, you can modify the /etc/default/qemu-system-x86_64 file. Open this file in a text editor and add the following line at the end: RAM=2048 This sets the minimum amount of RAM required for the virtual machine to 2047 MB.
  2. Step 2: After making the changes, save the file and restart your system. You can then try starting your virtual machine again using the virsh command.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error message and successfully start your virtual machine on Ubuntu 13.04 Desktop. Remember to update your KVM binary to QEMU-system-x86_64 and consider increasing the RAM allocation for your virtual machine if necessary.

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