Installing Ubuntu Server on Qemu without the GUI

Nested virtualisation is a thing. The desire to install an X server and all its components just to install a nested guest may not be there for you. Fortunately the good people at <insert FOSS project>¹ have you covered.

Assuming you've got the iso ready, and are familar with Qemu.

1. Mount the ISO

$ fuseiso ubuntu-24.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso iso

2. Append the relevant lines to your Qemu command line

$ qemu-system-x86_86 -serial mon:stdio -nographic -display curses -append 'console=ttyS0,115200,8n1' -kernel iso/casper/vmlinuz -initrd iso/casper/initrd

Easy peasy!



¹ Mostly Qemu