1 @node Deprecated features
2 @appendix Deprecated features
4 In general features are intended to be supported indefinitely once
5 introduced into QEMU. In the event that a feature needs to be removed,
6 it will be listed in this appendix. The feature will remain functional
7 for 2 releases prior to actual removal. Deprecated features may also
8 generate warnings on the console when QEMU starts up, or if activated
9 via a monitor command, however, this is not a mandatory requirement.
11 Prior to the 2.10.0 release there was no official policy on how
12 long features would be deprecated prior to their removal, nor
13 any documented list of which features were deprecated. Thus
14 any features deprecated prior to 2.10.0 will be treated as if
15 they were first deprecated in the 2.10.0 release.
17 What follows is a list of all features currently marked as
20 @section System emulator command line arguments
22 @subsection -machine enforce-config-section=on|off (since 3.1)
24 The @option{enforce-config-section} parameter is replaced by the
25 @option{-global migration.send-configuration=@var{on|off}} option.
27 @subsection -no-kvm (since 1.3.0)
29 The ``-no-kvm'' argument is now a synonym for setting ``-accel tcg''.
31 @subsection -usbdevice (since 2.10.0)
33 The ``-usbdevice DEV'' argument is now a synonym for setting
34 the ``-device usb-DEV'' argument instead. The deprecated syntax
35 would automatically enable USB support on the machine type.
36 If using the new syntax, USB support must be explicitly
37 enabled via the ``-machine usb=on'' argument.
39 @subsection -drive file=json:@{...@{'driver':'file'@}@} (since 3.0)
41 The 'file' driver for drives is no longer appropriate for character or host
42 devices and will only accept regular files (S_IFREG). The correct driver
43 for these file types is 'host_cdrom' or 'host_device' as appropriate.
45 @subsection -net ...,name=@var{name} (since 3.1)
47 The @option{name} parameter of the @option{-net} option is a synonym
48 for the @option{id} parameter, which should now be used instead.
50 @subsection -smp (invalid topologies) (since 3.1)
52 CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
55 However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
56 where @math{@var{n} <= @var{sockets} * @var{cores} * @var{threads} < @var{maxcpus}},
57 which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
58 Support for invalid topologies will be removed, the user must ensure
59 topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
60 @math{@var{sockets} * @var{cores} * @var{threads} = @var{maxcpus}}.
62 @subsection -vnc acl (since 4.0.0)
64 The @code{acl} option to the @code{-vnc} argument has been replaced
65 by the @code{tls-authz} and @code{sasl-authz} options.
67 @subsection QEMU_AUDIO_ environment variables and -audio-help (since 4.0)
69 The ``-audiodev'' argument is now the preferred way to specify audio
70 backend settings instead of environment variables. To ease migration to
71 the new format, the ``-audiodev-help'' option can be used to convert
72 the current values of the environment variables to ``-audiodev'' options.
74 @subsection Creating sound card devices and vnc without audiodev= property (since 4.2)
76 When not using the deprecated legacy audio config, each sound card
77 should specify an @code{audiodev=} property. Additionally, when using
78 vnc, you should specify an @code{audiodev=} propery if you plan to
79 transmit audio through the VNC protocol.
81 @subsection -mon ...,control=readline,pretty=on|off (since 4.1)
83 The @code{pretty=on|off} switch has no effect for HMP monitors, but is
84 silently ignored. Using the switch with HMP monitors will become an
87 @subsection -realtime (since 4.1)
89 The @code{-realtime mlock=on|off} argument has been replaced by the
90 @code{-overcommit mem-lock=on|off} argument.
92 @subsection -virtfs_synth (since 4.1)
94 The ``-virtfs_synth'' argument is now deprecated. Please use ``-fsdev synth''
95 and ``-device virtio-9p-...'' instead.
97 @subsection -numa node,mem=@var{size} (since 4.1)
99 The parameter @option{mem} of @option{-numa node} is used to assign a part of
100 guest RAM to a NUMA node. But when using it, it's impossible to manage specified
101 RAM chunk on the host side (like bind it to a host node, setting bind policy, ...),
102 so guest end-ups with the fake NUMA configuration with suboptiomal performance.
103 However since 2014 there is an alternative way to assign RAM to a NUMA node
104 using parameter @option{memdev}, which does the same as @option{mem} and adds
105 means to actualy manage node RAM on the host side. Use parameter @option{memdev}
106 with @var{memory-backend-ram} backend as an replacement for parameter @option{mem}
107 to achieve the same fake NUMA effect or a properly configured
108 @var{memory-backend-file} backend to actually benefit from NUMA configuration.
109 In future new machine versions will not accept the option but it will still
110 work with old machine types. User can check QAPI schema to see if the legacy
111 option is supported by looking at MachineInfo::numa-mem-supported property.
113 @subsection -numa node (without memory specified) (since 4.1)
115 Splitting RAM by default between NUMA nodes has the same issues as @option{mem}
116 parameter described above with the difference that the role of the user plays
117 QEMU using implicit generic or board specific splitting rule.
118 Use @option{memdev} with @var{memory-backend-ram} backend or @option{mem} (if
119 it's supported by used machine type) to define mapping explictly instead.
121 @subsection -mem-path fallback to RAM (since 4.1)
122 Currently if guest RAM allocation from file pointed by @option{mem-path}
123 fails, QEMU falls back to allocating from RAM, which might result
124 in unpredictable behavior since the backing file specified by the user
125 is ignored. In the future, users will be responsible for making sure
126 the backing storage specified with @option{-mem-path} can actually provide
127 the guest RAM configured with @option{-m} and QEMU will fail to start up if
128 RAM allocation is unsuccessful.
130 @subsection RISC-V -bios (since 4.1)
132 QEMU 4.1 introduced support for the -bios option in QEMU for RISC-V for the
133 RISC-V virt machine and sifive_u machine.
135 QEMU 4.1 has no changes to the default behaviour to avoid breakages. This
136 default will change in a future QEMU release, so please prepare now. All users
137 of the virt or sifive_u machine must change their command line usage.
139 QEMU 4.1 has three options, please migrate to one of these three:
140 1. ``-bios none`` - This is the current default behavior if no -bios option
141 is included. QEMU will not automatically load any firmware. It is up
142 to the user to load all the images they need.
143 2. ``-bios default`` - In a future QEMU release this will become the default
144 behaviour if no -bios option is specified. This option will load the
145 default OpenSBI firmware automatically. The firmware is included with
146 the QEMU release and no user interaction is required. All a user needs
147 to do is specify the kernel they want to boot with the -kernel option
148 3. ``-bios <file>`` - Tells QEMU to load the specified file as the firmwrae.
150 @section QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
152 @subsection change (since 2.5.0)
154 Use ``blockdev-change-medium'' or ``change-vnc-password'' instead.
156 @subsection migrate_set_downtime and migrate_set_speed (since 2.8.0)
158 Use ``migrate-set-parameters'' instead.
160 @subsection migrate-set-cache-size and query-migrate-cache-size (since 2.11.0)
162 Use ``migrate-set-parameters'' and ``query-migrate-parameters'' instead.
164 @subsection query-block result field dirty-bitmaps[i].status (since 4.0)
166 The ``status'' field of the ``BlockDirtyInfo'' structure, returned by
167 the query-block command is deprecated. Two new boolean fields,
168 ``recording'' and ``busy'' effectively replace it.
170 @subsection query-block result field dirty-bitmaps (Since 4.2)
172 The ``dirty-bitmaps`` field of the ``BlockInfo`` structure, returned by
173 the query-block command is itself now deprecated. The ``dirty-bitmaps``
174 field of the ``BlockDeviceInfo`` struct should be used instead, which is the
175 type of the ``inserted`` field in query-block replies, as well as the
176 type of array items in query-named-block-nodes.
178 Since the ``dirty-bitmaps`` field is optionally present in both the old and
179 new locations, clients must use introspection to learn where to anticipate
180 the field if/when it does appear in command output.
182 @subsection query-cpus (since 2.12.0)
184 The ``query-cpus'' command is replaced by the ``query-cpus-fast'' command.
186 @subsection query-cpus-fast "arch" output member (since 3.0.0)
188 The ``arch'' output member of the ``query-cpus-fast'' command is
189 replaced by the ``target'' output member.
191 @subsection cpu-add (since 4.0)
193 Use ``device_add'' for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add''. See
194 documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus'' for additional
197 @subsection query-events (since 4.0)
199 The ``query-events'' command has been superseded by the more powerful
200 and accurate ``query-qmp-schema'' command.
202 @subsection chardev client socket with 'wait' option (since 4.0)
204 Character devices creating sockets in client mode should not specify
205 the 'wait' field, which is only applicable to sockets in server mode
207 @section Human Monitor Protocol (HMP) commands
209 @subsection The hub_id parameter of 'hostfwd_add' / 'hostfwd_remove' (since 3.1)
211 The @option{[hub_id name]} parameter tuple of the 'hostfwd_add' and
212 'hostfwd_remove' HMP commands has been replaced by @option{netdev_id}.
214 @subsection cpu-add (since 4.0)
216 Use ``device_add'' for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add''. See
217 documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus'' for additional details.
219 @subsection acl_show, acl_reset, acl_policy, acl_add, acl_remove (since 4.0.0)
221 The ``acl_show'', ``acl_reset'', ``acl_policy'', ``acl_add'', and
222 ``acl_remove'' commands are deprecated with no replacement. Authorization
223 for VNC should be performed using the pluggable QAuthZ objects.
225 @section Guest Emulator ISAs
227 @subsection RISC-V ISA privledge specification version 1.09.1 (since 4.1)
229 The RISC-V ISA privledge specification version 1.09.1 has been deprecated.
230 QEMU supports both the newer version 1.10.0 and the ratified version 1.11.0, these
231 should be used instead of the 1.09.1 version.
233 @section System emulator CPUS
235 @subsection RISC-V ISA CPUs (since 4.1)
237 The RISC-V cpus with the ISA version in the CPU name have been depcreated. The
238 four CPUs are: ``rv32gcsu-v1.9.1``, ``rv32gcsu-v1.10.0``, ``rv64gcsu-v1.9.1`` and
239 ``rv64gcsu-v1.10.0``. Instead the version can be specified via the CPU ``priv_spec``
240 option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
242 @subsection RISC-V ISA CPUs (since 4.1)
244 The RISC-V no MMU cpus have been depcreated. The two CPUs: ``rv32imacu-nommu`` and
245 ``rv64imacu-nommu`` should no longer be used. Instead the MMU status can be specified
246 via the CPU ``mmu`` option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
248 @section System emulator devices
250 @subsection bluetooth (since 3.1)
252 The bluetooth subsystem is unmaintained since many years and likely bitrotten
253 quite a bit. It will be removed without replacement unless some users speaks
254 up at the @email{qemu-devel@@nongnu.org} mailing list with information about
257 @section System emulator machines
259 @subsection pc-0.12, pc-0.13, pc-0.14 and pc-0.15 (since 4.0)
261 These machine types are very old and likely can not be used for live migration
262 from old QEMU versions anymore. A newer machine type should be used instead.
264 @subsection prep (PowerPC) (since 3.1)
266 This machine type uses an unmaintained firmware, broken in lots of ways,
267 and unable to start post-2004 operating systems. 40p machine type should be
270 @subsection spike_v1.9.1 and spike_v1.10 (since 4.1)
272 The version specific Spike machines have been deprecated in favour of the
273 generic ``spike`` machine. If you need to specify an older version of the RISC-V
274 spec you can use the ``-cpu rv64gcsu,priv_spec=v1.9.1`` command line argument.
276 @section Device options
278 @subsection Block device options
280 @subsubsection "backing": "" (since 2.12.0)
282 In order to prevent QEMU from automatically opening an image's backing
283 chain, use ``"backing": null'' instead.
285 @subsubsection rbd keyvalue pair encoded filenames: "" (since 3.1.0)
287 Options for ``rbd'' should be specified according to its runtime options,
288 like other block drivers. Legacy parsing of keyvalue pair encoded
289 filenames is useful to open images with the old format for backing files;
290 These image files should be updated to use the current format.
292 Example of legacy encoding:
294 @code{json:@{"file.driver":"rbd", "file.filename":"rbd:rbd/name"@}}
296 The above, converted to the current supported format:
298 @code{json:@{"file.driver":"rbd", "file.pool":"rbd", "file.image":"name"@}}
300 @section Related binaries
302 @subsection qemu-nbd --partition (since 4.0.0)
304 The ``qemu-nbd --partition $digit'' code (also spelled @option{-P})
305 can only handle MBR partitions, and has never correctly handled
306 logical partitions beyond partition 5. If you know the offset and
307 length of the partition (perhaps by using @code{sfdisk} within the
308 guest), you can achieve the effect of exporting just that subset of
309 the disk by use of the @option{--image-opts} option with a raw
310 blockdev using the @code{offset} and @code{size} parameters layered on
311 top of any other existing blockdev. For example, if partition 1 is
312 100MiB long starting at 1MiB, the old command:
314 @code{qemu-nbd -t -P 1 -f qcow2 file.qcow2}
318 @code{qemu-nbd -t --image-opts driver=raw,offset=1M,size=100M,file.driver=qcow2,file.backing.driver=file,file.backing.filename=file.qcow2}
320 Alternatively, the @code{nbdkit} project provides a more powerful
321 partition filter on top of its nbd plugin, which can be used to select
322 an arbitrary MBR or GPT partition on top of any other full-image NBD
323 export. Using this to rewrite the above example results in:
325 @code{qemu-nbd -t -k /tmp/sock -f qcow2 file.qcow2 &}
326 @code{nbdkit -f --filter=partition nbd socket=/tmp/sock partition=1}
328 Note that if you are exposing the export via /dev/nbd0, it is easier
329 to just export the entire image and then mount only /dev/nbd0p1 than
330 it is to reinvoke @command{qemu-nbd -c /dev/nbd0} limited to just a
333 @subsection qemu-img convert -n -o (since 4.2.0)
335 All options specified in @option{-o} are image creation options, so
336 they have no effect when used with @option{-n} to skip image creation.
337 Silently ignored options can be confusing, so this combination of
338 options will be made an error in future versions.
340 @section Build system
342 @subsection Python 2 support (since 4.1.0)
344 In the future, QEMU will require Python 3 to be available at
345 build time. Support for Python 2 in scripts shipped with QEMU
348 @section Backwards compatibility
350 @subsection Runnability guarantee of CPU models (since 4.1.0)
352 Previous versions of QEMU never changed existing CPU models in
353 ways that introduced additional host software or hardware
354 requirements to the VM. This allowed management software to
355 safely change the machine type of an existing VM without
356 introducing new requirements ("runnability guarantee"). This
357 prevented CPU models from being updated to include CPU
358 vulnerability mitigations, leaving guests vulnerable in the
359 default configuration.
361 The CPU model runnability guarantee won't apply anymore to
362 existing CPU models. Management software that needs runnability
363 guarantees must resolve the CPU model aliases using te
364 ``alias-of'' field returned by the ``query-cpu-definitions'' QMP
368 @node Recently removed features
369 @appendix Recently removed features
371 What follows is a record of recently removed, formerly deprecated
372 features that serves as a record for users who have encountered
373 trouble after a recent upgrade.
375 @section QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
377 @subsection block-dirty-bitmap-add "autoload" parameter (since 4.2.0)
379 The "autoload" parameter has been ignored since 2.12.0. All bitmaps
380 are automatically loaded from qcow2 images.