⁠10.7. Editing Virtual Machines

10.7.1. Editing Virtual Machine Properties
10.7.2. Network Interfaces
10.7.3. Virtual Disks
10.7.4. Extending the Available Size of a Virtual Disk
10.7.5. Floating Disks
10.7.6. Associating a Virtual Disk with a Virtual Machine
10.7.7. Changing the CD for a Virtual Machine
10.7.8. Smart card Authentication
10.7.9. Enabling and Disabling Smart cards

⁠10.7.1. Editing Virtual Machine Properties

Changes to storage, operating system, or networking parameters can adversely affect the virtual machine. Ensure that you have the correct details before attempting to make any changes. Virtual machines can be edited while running, and some changes (listed in the procedure below) will be applied immediately. To apply all changes, the virtual machine must be restarted or shut down.
⁠

Procedure 10.10. Editing a virtual machine:

  1. Select the virtual machine to be edited.
  2. Click the Edit button to open the Edit Virtual Machine window.
  3. Change the General, System, Initial Run, Console, Host, High Availability, Resource Allocation, Boot Options, Random Generator, Custom Properties, and Icon fields as required.
    Changes to the following fields are applied immediately:
    • Name
    • Description
    • Comment
    • Optimized for (Desktop/Server)
    • Delete Protection
    • Network Interfaces
    • Use custom migration downtime
    • Highly Available
    • Priority for Run/Migration queue
    • Disable strict user checking
    • Virtual Sockets (On supported guest operating systems only. For more information on hot plugging CPUs, see https://access.redhat.com/articles/1339413)
    To apply changes to all other settings, the virtual machine must be restarted or shut down.
  4. If the Next Restart Configuration pop-up window appears, click OK.
  5. Click OK.
Changes from the list in step 3 are applied immediately. All other changes are applied when you restart your virtual machine. Until then, an orange icon ( ) appears as a reminder of the pending changes.

⁠10.7.2. Network Interfaces

⁠10.7.2.1. Adding and Editing Virtual Machine Network Interfaces

Add network interfaces to virtual machines. Doing so allows you to put your virtual machine on multiple logical networks. You can also edit a virtual machine's network interface card to change the details of that network interface card. This procedure can be performed on virtual machines that are running, but some actions can be performed only on virtual machines that are not running.
⁠

Procedure 10.11. Adding Network Interfaces to Virtual Machines

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Network Interfaces tab in the details pane to display a list of network interfaces that are currently associated with the virtual machine.
  3. Click New to open the New Network Interface window.
    ⁠
    New Network Interface window

    Figure 10.5. New Network Interface window

  4. Enter the Name of the network interface.
  5. Use the drop-down lists to select the Profile and the Type of network interface for the new network interface.The Link State is set to Up by default when the network interface card is defined on the virtual machine and connected to the network.

    Note

    The Profile and Type fields are populated in accordance with the profiles and network types available to the cluster and the network interface cards available to the virtual machine.
  6. Select the Custom MAC address check box and enter a MAC address for the network interface card as required.
  7. Click OK.
The new network interface is listed in the Network Interfaces tab in the details pane of the virtual machine.

⁠10.7.2.2. Editing a Network Interface

Summary
This procedure describes editing a network interface. In order to change any network settings, you must edit the network interface.
⁠

Procedure 10.12. Editing a Network Interface

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Click the Network Interfaces tab of the details pane and select the network interface to edit.
  3. Click Edit to open the Edit Network Interface window. This dialog contains the same fields as the New Network Interface dialog.
  4. Click OK to save your changes once you are finished.
Result
You have now changed the network interface by editing it.

⁠10.7.2.3. Removing a Network Interface

Summary
This procedure describes how to remove a network interface.
⁠

Procedure 10.13. Removing a Network Interface

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Click the Network Interfaces tab of the details pane and select the network interface to remove.
  3. Click Remove and click OK when prompted.
Result
You have removed a network interface from a virtual machine.

⁠10.7.2.4. Explanation of Settings in the Virtual Machine Network Interface Window

These settings apply when you are adding or editing a virtual machine network interface. If you have more than one network interface attached to a virtual machine, you can put the virtual machine on more than one logical network.
⁠

Table 10.15. Add a network interface to a virtual machine entries

Field Name
Description
Name
The name of the network interface. This text field has a 21-character limit and must be a unique name with any combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
Network
Logical network that the network interface is placed on. By default, all network interfaces are put on the rhevm management network.
Link State
Whether or not the network interface is connected to the logical network.
  • Up: The network interface is located on its slot.
    • When the Card Status is Plugged, it means the network interface is connected to a network cable, and is active.
    • When the Card Status is Unplugged, the network interface will be automatically connected to the network and become active.
  • Down: The network interface is located on its slot, but it is not connected to any network. Virtual machines will not be able to run in this state.
Type
The virtual interface the network interface presents to virtual machines. VirtIO is faster but requires VirtIO drivers. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and higher includes VirtIO drivers. Windows does not include VirtIO drivers, but they can be installed from the guest tools ISO or virtual floppy disk. rtl8139 and e1000 device drivers are included in most operating systems.
Specify custom MAC address
Choose this option to set a custom MAC address. The Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager automatically generates a MAC address that is unique to the environment to identify the network interface. Having two devices with the same MAC address online in the same network causes networking conflicts.
Port Mirroring
A security feature that allows all network traffic going to or leaving from virtual machines on a given logical network and host to be copied (mirrored) to the network interface. If the host also uses the network, then traffic going to or leaving from the host is also copied.
Port mirroring only works on network interfaces with IPv4 IP addresses.
Card Status
Whether or not the network interface is defined on the virtual machine.
  • Plugged: The network interface has been defined on the virtual machine.
    • If its Link State is Up, it means the network interface is connected to a network cable, and is active.
    • If its Link State is Down, the network interface is not connected to a network cable.
  • Unplugged: The network interface is only defined on the Manager, and is not associated with a virtual machine.
    • If its Link State is Up, when the network interface is plugged it will automatically be connected to a network and become active.
    • If its Link State is Down, the network interface is not connected to any network until it is defined on a virtual machine.

⁠10.7.2.5. Hot Plugging Network Interfaces

Summary
You can hot plug network interfaces. Hot plugging means enabling and disabling network interfaces while a virtual machine is running.
⁠

Procedure 10.14. Hot plugging network interfaces

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Network Interfaces tab from the details pane of the virtual machine.
  3. Select the network interface you would like to hot plug and click Edit to open the Edit Network Interface window.
  4. Click the Advanced Parameters arrow to access the Card Status option. Set the Card Status to Plugged to enable the network interface, or set it to Unplugged to disable the network interface.
Result
You have enabled or disabled a virtual network interface.

⁠10.7.2.6. Removing Network Interfaces From Virtual Machines

Summary
You can remove network interfaces from virtual machines.
⁠

Procedure 10.15. Removing Network Interfaces From Virtual Machines

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Network Interfaces tab in the virtual machine details pane.
  3. Select the network interface to remove.
  4. Click the Remove button and click OK when prompted.
Result
The network interface is no longer attached to the virtual machine.

⁠10.7.3. Virtual Disks

⁠10.7.3.1. Adding and Editing Virtual Machine Disks

Summary
It is possible to add disks to virtual machines. You can add new disks, or previously created floating disks to a virtual machine. This allows you to provide additional space to and share disks between virtual machines. You can also edit disks to change some of their details.
An Internal disk is the default type of disk. You can also add an External(Direct Lun) disk. Internal disk creation is managed entirely by the Manager; external disks require externally prepared targets that already exist. Existing disks are either floating disks or shareable disks attached to virtual machines.
⁠

Procedure 10.16. Adding Disks to Virtual Machines

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Click the Disks tab in the details pane to display a list of virtual disks currently associated with the virtual machine.
  3. Click Add to open the Add Virtual Disk window.
    ⁠
    Add Virtual Disk Window

    Figure 10.6. Add Virtual Disk Window

  4. Use the appropriate radio buttons to switch between Internal and the External (Direct Lun) disks.
  5. Select the Attach Disk check box to choose an existing disk from the list and select the Activate check box.
    Alternatively, enter the Size, Alias, and Description of a new disk and use the drop-down menus and check boxes to configure the disk.
  6. Click OK to add the disk and close the window.
Result
Your new disk is listed in the Virtual Disks tab in the details pane of the virtual machine.

⁠10.7.3.2. Hot Plugging Virtual Machine Disks

Summary
You can hot plug virtual machine disks. Hot plugging means enabling or disabling devices while a virtual machine is running.
⁠

Procedure 10.17. Hot Plugging Virtual Machine Disks

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Disks tab from the details pane of the virtual machine.
  3. Select the virtual machine disk you would like to hot plug.
  4. Click the Activate button, or click the Deactivate button and click OK when prompted.
Result
You have enabled or disabled a virtual machine disk.

⁠10.7.3.3. Removing Virtual Disks From Virtual Machines

Summary
You can remove virtual disks from virtual machines.
⁠

Procedure 10.18. Removing Virtual Disks From Virtual Machines

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Disks tab in the virtual machine details pane.
  3. Select the virtual disk to remove.
  4. Click the Deactivate button and click OK when prompted.
  5. Click the Remove button and click OK when prompted. Optionally, select the Remove Permanently option to completely remove the virtual disk from the environment. If you do not select this option - for example, because the disk is a shared disk - the virtual disk will remain in the Disks resource tab.
Result
The disk is no longer attached to the virtual machine.

⁠10.7.4. Extending the Available Size of a Virtual Disk

This procedure explains how to extend the available size of a virtual disk while the virtual disk is attached to a virtual machine. Resizing a virtual disk does not resize the underlying partitions or file systems on that virtual disk. Use the fdisk utility to resize the partitions and file systems as required. See How to Resize a Partition using fdisk for more information.
⁠

Procedure 10.19. Extending the Available Size of a Virtual Disk

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. Select the Disks tab in the details pane.
  3. Select a target disk from the list in the details pane.
  4. Click Edit in the details pane.
  5. Enter a value in the Extend size by(GB) field.
  6. Click OK.
The target disk's status becomes locked for a short time, during which the drive is resized. When the resizing of the drive is complete, the status of the drive becomes OK.

⁠10.7.5. Floating Disks

Floating disks are disks that are not associated with any virtual machine.
Floating disks can minimize the amount of time required to set up virtual machines. Designating a floating disk as storage for a VM makes it unnecessary to wait for disk preallocation at the time of a VM's creation.
Floating disks can be attached to virtual machines or designated as shareable disks, which can be used with one or more VMs.

⁠10.7.6. Associating a Virtual Disk with a Virtual Machine

Summary
This procedure explains how to associate a virtual disk with a virtual machine. Once the virtual disk is associated with the virtual machine, the VM is able to access it.
⁠

Procedure 10.20. Associating a Virtual Disk with a Virtual Machine

  1. Click the Virtual Machines tab and select a virtual machine.
  2. In the details pane, select the Disks tab.
  3. Click Add in the menu at the top of the Details Pane.
  4. Type the size in GB of the disk into the Size(GB) field.
  5. Type the disk alias into the Alias field.
  6. Click OK in the bottom right corner of the Add Virtual Disk window.
    The disk you have associated with the virtual machine appears in the details pane after a short time.
Result
The virtual disk is associated with the virtual machine.

Note

No Quota resources are consumed by attaching virtual disks to, or detaching virtual disks from, virtual machines.

Note

Using the above procedure, it is now possible to attach a virtual disk to more than one virtual machine.

⁠10.7.7. Changing the CD for a Virtual Machine

Summary
You can change the CD accessible to a virtual machine while that virtual machine is running.

Note

You can only use ISO files that have been added to the ISO domain of the cluster in which the virtual machine is a member. Therefore, you must upload ISO files to that domain before you can make those ISO files accessible to virtual machines.
⁠

Procedure 10.21. Changing the CD for a Virtual Machine

  1. From the Virtual Machines tab, select a virtual machine that is currently running.
  2. Click Change CD to open the Change CD window.
  3. In the Change CD window do one of the following:
    • Select an ISO file from the list to eject the CD currently accessible to the virtual machine and mount that ISO file as a CD.
      Or,
    • Select [Eject] from the ISO list to eject the CD currently accessible to the virtual machine.
  4. Click OK.
Result
You have ejected the CD previously accessible to the virtual machine, or ejected the CD previously accessible to the virtual machine and made a new CD accessible to that virtual machine

⁠10.7.8. Smart card Authentication

Smart cards are an external hardware security feature, most commonly seen in credit cards, but also used by many businesses as authentication tokens. Smart cards can be used to protect Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization virtual machines.

⁠10.7.9. Enabling and Disabling Smart cards

Summary
The following procedures explain how to enable and disable the Smart card feature for virtual machines.
⁠

Procedure 10.22. Enabling Smart cards

  1. Ensure that the Smart card hardware is plugged into the client machine and is installed according to manufacturer's directions.
  2. Select the desired virtual machine.
  3. Click the Edit button. The Edit Virtual Machine window appears.
  4. Select the Console tab, and select the check box labeled Smartcard enabled, then click OK.
  5. Run the virtual machine by clicking the Console icon or through the User Portal. Smart card authentication is now passed from the client hardware to the virtual machine.
Result
You have enabled Smart card authentication for the virtual machine.

Important

If the Smart card hardware is not correctly installed, enabling the Smart card feature will result in the virtual machine failing to load properly.
⁠

Procedure 10.23. Disabling Smart cards

  1. Select the desired virtual machine.
  2. Click the Edit button. The Edit Virtual Machine window appears.
  3. Select the Console tab, and clear the check box labeled Smartcard enabled, then click OK.
Result
You have disabled Smart card authentication for the virtual machine.