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13.3. Using KVM para-virtualized drivers for existing devices

Modify an existing hard disk device attached to the guest to use the virtio driver instead of virtualized IDE driver. This example edits libvirt configuration files. Alternatively, virt-manager, virsh attach-disk or virsh attach-interface can add a new device using the para-virtualized drivers Section 13.4, “Using KVM para-virtualized drivers for new devices”.
  1. Below is a file-based block device using the virtualized IDE driver. This is a typical entry for a guest not using the para-virtualized drivers.
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
       <source file='/var/lib/libvirt/images/disk1.img'/>
       <target dev='vda' bus='ide'/>
    </disk>
    
  2. Change the entry to use the para-virtualized device by modifying the bus= entry to virtio.
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
       <source file='/var/lib/libvirt/images/disk1.img'/>
       <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>
    </disk>