qm destroy (with examples)
QEMU/KVM Virtual Machine Manager is a powerful tool for managing virtual machines in Proxmox VE. One of the commands provided by QEMU/KVM is the qm destroy command, which allows users to destroy virtual machines in a controlled manner. In this article, we will explore eight different use cases of the qm destroy command and provide code examples for each use case.
Use Case 1: Destroy a specific virtual machine
qm destroy vm_id
Motivation:
Destroying a specific virtual machine is a common task when managing virtual machines. This use case allows you to easily remove a virtual machine without affecting other running instances.
Arguments:
vm_id: The ID of the virtual machine to destroy.
Example Output:
Virtual machine with ID 100 destroyed successfully.
Use Case 2: Destroy all disks that are not explicitly referenced in a specific virtual machine’s configuration
qm destroy vm_id --destroy-unreferenced-disks
Motivation:
When a virtual machine is deleted, the disks associated with it may not be explicitly removed. This use case allows you to automatically destroy any unreferenced disks, saving storage space and ensuring that no unused data remains.
Arguments:
vm_id: The ID of the virtual machine to destroy.--destroy-unreferenced-disks: Specifies that all disks not explicitly referenced in the virtual machine’s configuration should be destroyed.
Example Output:
Destroying unreferenced disk /var/lib/vz/images/100/vm-100-disk-0.qcow2
Disk /var/lib/vz/images/100/vm-100-disk-0.qcow2 destroyed successfully.
Use Case 3: Destroy a virtual machine and remove from all locations
qm destroy vm_id --purge
Motivation:
When a virtual machine is destroyed, it is often desirable to remove it from all locations, including the inventory, backup jobs, and high availability managers. This use case provides a convenient way to remove a virtual machine completely.
Arguments:
vm_id: The ID of the virtual machine to destroy.--purge: Specifies that the virtual machine should be removed from all locations.
Example Output:
Virtual machine with ID 100 removed from the inventory.
Virtual machine with ID 100 removed from backup jobs.
Virtual machine with ID 100 removed from high availability managers.
Use Case 4: Destroy a specific virtual machine ignoring locks and forcing destroy
sudo qm destroy vm_id --skiplock
Motivation:
Sometimes, a virtual machine may be locked due to ongoing operations. This use case allows you to force the destruction of a virtual machine, even if it is currently locked. It can be useful when dealing with stuck or unresponsive virtual machines.
Arguments:
vm_id: The ID of the virtual machine to destroy.--skiplock: Specifies that locks should be ignored and the destroy operation forced.
Example Output:
Virtual machine with ID 100 destroyed successfully, even though it was locked.
These are just a few examples of how the qm destroy command can be used to manage virtual machines in QEMU/KVM Virtual Machine Manager. By leveraging the power and flexibility of this command, you can easily destroy virtual machines and associated resources according to your specific requirements.
