Kimchi — Web Console for KVM Management
What it is
Kimchi is a web-based management interface built for KVM. It was designed to make basic virtualization tasks easier without forcing admins into virsh or virt-manager. Think of it as a lightweight dashboard: you log into a browser, see your VMs, start or stop them, and adjust basic settings. It’s not a full enterprise orchestrator, but for single hosts or small setups it’s quick and simple.
How it works
Kimchi runs as a web service on the host. Under the hood it uses libvirt to control KVM. The interface exposes common actions: create a VM, attach ISO media, configure CPU/memory, manage snapshots, and check health. Storage pools and network bridges can also be managed. Because it’s browser-based, admins can connect remotely without installing extra software on their laptops.
Technical profile
| Area | Details |
| Management type | Web-based UI for KVM |
| Backend | libvirt + KVM |
| Host OS | Linux (RHEL, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE) |
| Guest OS | Windows, Linux, BSD |
| Features | VM lifecycle, storage pools, network bridges, snapshots |
| Remote access | Browser login, no client install |
| License | Open source (GPL) |
| Audience | Admins needing simple GUI for single hosts |
Installation guide
1. On a Linux host, make sure KVM and libvirt are installed.
2. Install Kimchi and its dependencies (package availability varies by distro).
3. Start the service and open the web interface (default port 8001).
4. Log in with system credentials.
5. Create VMs, attach ISO images, and configure resources via the browser.
Usage scenarios
– A small office server where the admin wants a GUI for VM control.
– Remote management of a single KVM host without additional tools.
– Training labs where students need a simple interface to spin up VMs.
– Situations where command-line management is overkill for daily tasks.
Limitations
– Not built for clusters — single-host focus.
– Feature set is limited compared to Proxmox, oVirt, or VMware vCenter.
– Some distributions may ship outdated packages; manual builds sometimes required.
– Development activity has slowed, so updates are less frequent.
Comparison snapshot
| Tool | Strengths | Best fit |
| Kimchi | Lightweight, simple web UI for KVM | Single-host setups, small labs |
| Cockpit + Machines | Broader host management with VM module | Admins wanting more than just VMs |
| Proxmox VE | Full virtualization + clustering + backup | SMBs, multi-node setups |
| oVirt | Enterprise-grade KVM management | Larger Linux environments |