QEMU in Termux: A Complete Guide with Examples 🚀

Introduction

QEMU (Quick EMUlator) is a powerful open-source emulator that allows you to run different operating systems on various hardware architectures. Its versatility makes it a great tool for developers, testers, and enthusiasts. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to set up and use QEMU in Termux, a terminal emulator and Linux environment for Android devices. 📱

What is Termux? 🤔

Termux is an Android application that provides a powerful terminal emulation environment. It allows you to use a Linux command-line interface without the need for rooting your device. Termux supports a wide range of packages, making it an excellent platform for development, scripting, and running various tools.

Installing QEMU in Termux 🛠️

To get started with QEMU in Termux, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Termux

First, download and install Termux from the Google Play Store or F-Droid. 📥

Step 2: Update Packages

Open Termux and update the package repository:

pkg update && pkg upgrade

Step 3: Install Required Packages

Next, install the necessary packages to run QEMU:

pkg install qemu-utils qemu-system-x86_64

Setting Up a Virtual Machine 🖥️

Once QEMU is installed, you can create and run a virtual machine (VM). Here’s how to set it up step by step.

Step 4: Create a Disk Image 💾

You need a disk image to install an operating system. Create a disk image with the following command:

qemu-img create -f qcow2 disk.img 10G

This command creates a 10GB disk image named disk.img.

Step 5: Download an ISO File 🌐

For this example, we will download a minimal Linux distribution, such as Alpine Linux. You can use wget to download it:

wget https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.15/releases/x86/alpine-standard-3.15.0-x86.iso

Step 6: Boot the Virtual Machine 🚀

Now you can boot the virtual machine using the ISO file and the disk image you created:

qemu-system-x86_64 -hda disk.img -boot d -cdrom alpine-standard-3.15.0-x86.iso -m 512 -smp 2

In this command:

• -hda disk.img specifies the hard drive image.
• -boot d tells QEMU to boot from the CD-ROM (the ISO).
• -cdrom alpine-standard-3.15.0-x86.iso specifies the installation ISO.
• -m 512 allocates 512MB of RAM to the VM.
• -smp 2 assigns 2 CPU cores to the VM.

Step 7: Install the Operating System 🛠️

Once the VM boots up, follow the on-screen instructions to install Alpine Linux on the disk.img. After installation, you can shut down the VM.

Step 8: Boot from the Disk Image 🔄

After installation, you can boot the VM from the disk image:

qemu-system-x86_64 -hda disk.img -m 512 -smp 2

Additional QEMU Commands in Termux 📋

Here are some additional commands you might find useful when working with QEMU in Termux:

• View Disk Image Information:

  qemu-img info disk.img
  

• Convert Disk Image Format:

  qemu-img convert -O vmdk disk.img disk.vmdk
  

• Take a Snapshot:

  qemu-img snapshot -c snapshot_name disk.img
  

• List Snapshots:

  qemu-img snapshot -l disk.img
  

Conclusion 🎉

Using QEMU in Termux opens up a world of possibilities for emulation and testing on your Android device. Whether you want to run a lightweight Linux distribution or test applications in different environments, QEMU provides a flexible solution.

Feel free to explore more about QEMU and experiment with different operating systems. If you have any questions or experiences to share, please leave a comment below! 💬

Thank you for reading! Happy emulating! 🎈