Setting up hostname resolution for libvirt/KVM guests

December 12, 2018 / kvm, libvirt, linux

In order to enable hostname resolution for KVM guests, libvirt uses dnsmasq.

To allow both the host and the guests to resolve the hostnames of the guests:

1. Install libnss-libvirt

2. Add libvirt and libvirt_guest to the list of host databases in /etc/nsswitch.conf. For example, the line should read files dns myhostname libvirt libvirt_guest. See the Libvirt NSS module page for more information.

3. Edit /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf and add dns=dnsmasq in the [main] section

4. Restart the network manager service NetworkManager restart

Links

• libvirt
• libvirt NSS module
• dnsmasq