Tony shares tips, tricks, training, events and news
July 20, 2026
When Start Wont Start: Learning virsh Pays Off
One of the most valuable Linux virtualization skills you can develop is learning the `virsh` command-line utility. While graphical management tools are convenient, they often hide what's happening behind the scenes. Understanding `virsh` gives you direct control over virtual machines, storage, and networking, making it easier to diagnose problems and keep your virtual infrastructure running smoothly.
A common mistake for newcomers is assuming every virtualization issue can be solved with `virsh start`. In reality, virtual machines depend on several supporting components, including virtual networks. If those networks aren't running, the virtual machine may refuse to start or experience connectivity problems. That's where understanding the difference between VM management commands and network management commands becomes critical.
In this video, I encountered an error while attempting to start a virtual machine using the `virsh start` command. Instead of blindly retrying the same command, I investigated the problem and discovered that the virtual network itself needed attention. Using the `virsh net-start` command, I was able to bring the network online and resolve the issue. It's a great example of how a little knowledge of the virtualization stack can save a lot of frustration.
The beauty of `virsh` is that it exposes the inner workings of KVM and libvirt in a straightforward and scriptable way. Whether you're managing a home lab, testing applications, or running production workloads, becoming comfortable with `virsh` will make you a more capable Linux administrator. Sometimes the solution isn't to start the virtual machine—it's to start the network that the virtual machine depends on.
Tony Fortunato is a Senior Network Performance Specialist and founder of The Technology Firm, where he has been designing, implementing, and troubleshooting computer networks since 1989. His company specializes in customized onsite and remote training, live network troubleshooting, packet analysis, and mentoring, helping organizations improve both their network performance and the skills of their technical staff.
Tony has taught thousands of IT professionals at colleges, universities, industry conferences, and private training sessions, with expertise spanning Wireshark, NetAlly tools, Microsoft networking, wireless technologies, and open-source network analysis utilities. He is also a prolific technical author and content creator, publishing hundreds of networking articles, producing educational YouTube videos, and contributing to publications such as NetworkDataPedia, NetAlly, and Network Computing.
Throughout his career, Tony has built a reputation for practical, hands-on troubleshooting, emphasizing methodology, knowledge transfer, and real-world solutions over simply fixing individual problems.
