QEMU/x86
This page lists arguments that QEMU can use.
Devices
CPUs
Type | OS | Description |
---|---|---|
host | Various | The Host CPU. If KVM is enabled, this will clone your host's CPU ID and flags to the VM. |
max | Various | The Host CPU. If KVM is enabled, this will clone your host's CPU ID and flags, and also enable every KVM subfeature. |
kvm32 | Windows 10 | Generic KVM 32-bit CPU. |
kvm64 | Windows 10 | Generic KVM 64-bit CPU. |
qemu32 | Windows 10 | Generic KVM 32-bit CPU. |
qemu64 | Windows 10 | Generic KVM 64-bit CPU. |
486 | Windows 2000 | Intel 80486. Not recommended for use unless you are running a DOS VM. |
pentium | Windows XP | Pentium Pro. Recommended for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows Me VMs. Note: If you are running a Windows NT 3.x VM, this CPU is essential to get past the setup. |
pentium2 | Windows 7 | Pentium II. This can run Windows 7 but is not recommended for anything above 2000. |
pentium3 | Windows 7 | Pentium III. This can run Windows 7 but is not recommended for anything above 2000. |
Broadwell | Windows 7 | Intel Broadwell Microprocessor |
Broadwell-noTSX | Windows 7 | Intel Broadwell Microprocessor (without Intel TSX) |
Conroe | Windows 7 | Intel Celeron 4x0 (Conroe/Merom Class Core 2) CPU |
Haswell | Windows 10 | Intel Haswell CPU |
Haswell-noTSX | Windows 10 | Intel Haswell CPU (without Intel TSX) |
IvyBridge | Windows 10 | Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2 (codename Ivy Bridge) |
Nehalem | Windows 10 | Intel Core i7 950 |
Opteron_G1 | Windows 10 | AMD Opteron 240 |
Opteron_G2 | Windows 10 | AMD Opteron 22xx |
Opteron_G3 | Windows 10 | AMD Opteron 23xx |
Opteron_G4 | Windows 10 | AMD Opteron 62xx |
Opteron_G5 | Windows 10 | AMD Opteron 63xx |
Penryn | Windows 10 | Intel Core 2 Duo P9xxx (Penryn) |
SandyBridge | Windows 10 | Intel Xeon E312xx |
Skylake-Client | Windows 10 | Skylake generation CPU |
Westmere | Windows 10 | Intel Westmere E56xx/L56xx/X56xx |
core2duo | Windows 10 | Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7700, 2.40 GHz |
coreduo | Windows 10 | Intel Core Duo CPU T2600, 2.16 GHz |
n270 | Windows 10 | Intel Atom CPU N270 at 1.60 GHz. Note: This CPU can run Windows Vista/7/8/10, but it is not recommended to run anything above XP due to how paltry the CPU is. |
Network cards
Add -net user at the end to make sure the network works.
- -net nic,model=rtl8139
- Device: Realtek 8139C+ Fast Ethernet
- Description: Realtek 8139 card, 10/100Mb/s. This card is built into Windows XP+ and almost every modern Linux and BSD distribution. There is a packet driver for MS-DOS and drivers for Windows 95 and above.
- -net nic,model=e1000
- Device: Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter
- Description: Intel 1Gb/s card, recommended for use in modern Windows and Linux hosts. This driver is built into Vista and up, and is also downloadable for Windows XP.
- -net nic,model=pcnet
- Device: AMD PCNet-Fast III Ethernet Adapter
- Description: AMD PCnet card. Recommended for Windows 9x, NT 4 and Windows 2000. There is also a driver available for Windows 3.1.
- -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
- Device: Novell NE2000
- Description: PCI NE2000 network card. Useful for older hosts, like Windows 3.x and MS-DOS.
- -net nic,model=ne2k_isa
- Device: Novell NE2000
- Description: ISA NE2000 network card.
- -net nic,model=virtio
- Device: Red Hat Virtio Network Card
- Description: The Virtio network card is the fastest network card available for QEMU, performing better than 1Gb/s. Modern Linux has a built in driver but Windows requires installation of a special driver (but regardless, is still usable).
- -net nic,model=i82551
- Device: Intel i82551 ethernet
- Description: Intel i82551 ethernet card.
- -net nic,model=i82557b
- Device: Intel i82557b ethernet
- Description: Intel i82557b ethernet card.
- -net nic,model=i82559er
- Device: Intel i82559er ethernet
- Description: Intel i82559er ethernet card.
Machines
- -M pc
- Machine: Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996)
- Description: This is the default machine in QEMU. This machine emulates a PC from circa 1996, although this doesn't hinder its ability to run newer operating systems or emulate newer CPUs. If you want more stability, it is recommended to use this, although if you want faster boot times and better performance on Windows 7 or modern Linux, choose q35.
- -M q35
- Machine: Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009)
- Description: This is another machine in QEMU which emulates a PC from circa 2009. This machine is faster and more efficient, and takes up less resources but at a slight cost of stability (occasionally Windows 7 or Linux will crash at startup, but it will usually boot back up). This is recommended for Windows 10 as it makes it much faster. Note: Windows XP and below cannot be ran or installed on q35 (BSODing immediately on startup or the setup).
VGA cards
- -vga cirrus
- Device: Cirrus CLGD 5446 PCI
- Description: Cirrus Logic card, from the mid 1990s. This is recommended for use in Windows 9x, NT 4.0, and Windows 2000.
- -vga std
- Device: Standard Graphics Card
- Description: This card is recommended for Windows XP and above and Linux, BSD, etc. This supports high resolutions.
- -vga vmware
- Device: VMWare SVGA-II
- Description: This card is unrecommended due to its semi-buggy nature, but it is recommended for DOS VMs as it can be used in Windows 3.1. This works in nearly all editions of Windows and most distributions of Linux.
- -vga qxl
- Device: QXL Paravirtual Graphics Adapter
- Description: This does not have a built in driver in Windows, but does in Linux and BSD. This allows very high resolutions to be used, although it is unrecommended since CollabVM nor Guacamole is not designed for very high resolutions. Recommended to use in Linux VMs if you don't want to use standard (Cirrus works in most distributions but is buggy).
- -vga none
- Device: None
- Description: This disables the VGA card, but it should not be used as CollabVM does not support text mode VMs at this time.
Mouse
- -usbdevice tablet
- Device: QEMU HID Tablet
- Description: This simulates a "tablet" mouse, and it is synced with the host mouse as it is absolute. This is highly recommended to use and it is supported in nearly all modern Windows, Linux, BSD, and other hosts. Driver is included by default in Windows 2000 and is also possible to use on NT 4.0, 98, 98 SE, and Me.
- -serial msmouse
- Device: Microsoft Serial Mouse
- Description: This emulates a Microsoft Serial Mouse from the 1990s. Although this type of serial mouse is still supported in modern Windows, it is unrecommended and only recommended for Windows 3.x VMs.