# How to install QEMU Agent

> The **Install QEMU Agent** function involves setting up a guest-side service that enables enhanced communication between the virtual machine and the host, providing features like IP reporting, shutdown control, and file system freeze for backups.

The **Install QEMU Agent** function involves setting up a guest-side service that enables enhanced communication between the virtual machine and the host, providing features like IP reporting, shutdown control, and file system freeze for backups.

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      instances.md
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      novnc_console.md
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## Install QEMU package during instance creation for Linux {#install-qemu-package-during-instance-creation-for-linux}

To install the QEMU agent during instance creation, navigate to `Base Config > Network Config > System Config`. Click `Expand Advanced Options`, then copy the following code block into the user data field.

```bash
#cloud-config
packages:
 - qemu-guest-agent
```

![/assets/compute/qemu_1.png](/assets/compute/qemu_1.png)

See **[Create Instances](instances.md)** for more info.

### Connect to the VM and verify the QEMU service status {#connect-to-the-vm-and-verify-the-qemu-service-status}

- `sudo systemctl status qemu-guest-agent`

```bash
ubuntu@ubuntu-qemu:~$ sudo systemctl status qemu-guest-agent
● qemu-guest-agent.service - QEMU Guest Agent
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/qemu-guest-agent.service; static)
     Active: active (running) since Tue 2025-04-29 06:48:44 UTC; 5min ago
   Main PID: 1682 (qemu-ga)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 4658)
     Memory: 416.0K (peak: 780.0K)
        CPU: 7ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/qemu-guest-agent.service
             └─1682 /usr/sbin/qemu-ga

Apr 29 06:48:44 ubuntu-qemu systemd[1]: Started qemu-guest-agent.service - QEMU Guest Agent.
```

### Install QEMU package for Windows {#install-qemu-package-for-windows}

1. Download the [QEMU installer](https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso)
2. After the download is completed, double-click on the downloaded ISO file to mount it
3. Navigate to `guest-agent` in the mounted directory
4. Execute the `qemu-ga-x86_64` installer to being installation

![/assets/compute/qemu-1.png](/assets/compute/qemu-1.png)

See **[Connect to Instance by noVNC](novnc_console.md)** for more info.