Arch Headless Virt Install

virt-install ubuntu16.04

Create the disk image

qemu-img create -f qcow2 /var/lib/libvirt/images/xenial.qcow2 20G

Command to run the install

virt-install \
    --name xenial \
    --ram 4096 \
    --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/xenial.qcow2,size=20 \
    --vcpus 4 \
    --os-type linux \
    --os-variant ubuntu16.04 \
    --network bridge=br0 \
    --graphics none \
    --console pty,target_type=serial \
    --location ./ubuntu-16.04.3-server-amd64.iso \
    --extra-args 'console=ttyS0,115200n8 serial'

virt-install Arch Linux

The --extra-args option lets you use a serial console. But the --extra-args option only works if you also use an --location option. But the --location option can only be used with certain isos. So use --cdrom instead of --location, drop the --extra-args, and instruct the kernel to boot with a serial console with a parameter at the boot splash screen.

qemu-img create -f qcow2 /var/lib/libvirt/images/arch.qcow2 20G

virt-install --name arch --ram 4096 \
  --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/arch.qcow2,size=20 \
  --vcpus 2 \
  --os-type linux \
  --os-variant ubuntu16.04 \ 
  --network bridge=virbr0 \
  --graphics none \ 
  --console pty,target_type=serial \
  --cdrom /var/lib/libvirt/images/archlinux-2018.02.01-x86_64.iso

the arch boot splash screen will appear in your terminal and you can tap the "tab" key to edit boot parameters

add "console=ttyS0" to kernel command line parameters

before

> .linux boot/x86_64/vmlinuz archisobasedir=arch archisolabel=ARCH_201802 initrd=boot/intel_ucode.img,boot/x86_64/archiso.img

after

> .linux boot/x86_64/vmlinuz archisobasedir=arch archisolabel=ARCH_201802 initrd=boot/intel_ucode.img,boot/x86_64/archiso.img console=ttyS0


arch boots ...
...
...
...

root@archiso ~ # lsblk
NAME  MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
loop0   7:0    0  432M  1 loop /run/archiso/sfs/airootfs
sr0    11:0    1  539M  0 rom  /run/archiso/bootmnt
vda   254:0    0   20G  0 disk 
root@archiso ~ #