xref: /qemu/docs/about/removed-features.rst (revision 0e259fa5a13a3d0ff65aa4199b1e03832e51e1b2)
1
2Removed features
3================
4
5What follows is a record of recently removed, formerly deprecated
6features that serves as a record for users who have encountered
7trouble after a recent upgrade.
8
9System emulator command line arguments
10--------------------------------------
11
12``-hdachs`` (removed in 2.12)
13'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
14
15The geometry defined by ``-hdachs c,h,s,t`` should now be specified via
16``-device ide-hd,drive=dr,cyls=c,heads=h,secs=s,bios-chs-trans=t``
17(together with ``-drive if=none,id=dr,...``).
18
19``-net channel`` (removed in 2.12)
20''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
21
22This option has been replaced by ``-net user,guestfwd=...``.
23
24``-net dump`` (removed in 2.12)
25'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
26
27``-net dump[,vlan=n][,file=filename][,len=maxlen]`` has been replaced by
28``-object filter-dump,id=id,netdev=dev[,file=filename][,maxlen=maxlen]``.
29Note that the new syntax works with netdev IDs instead of the old "vlan" hubs.
30
31``-no-kvm-pit`` (removed in 2.12)
32'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
33
34This was just a dummy option that has been ignored, since the in-kernel PIT
35cannot be disabled separately from the irqchip anymore. A similar effect
36(which also disables the KVM IOAPIC) can be obtained with
37``-M kernel_irqchip=split``.
38
39``-tdf`` (removed in 2.12)
40''''''''''''''''''''''''''
41
42There is no replacement, the ``-tdf`` option has just been ignored since the
43behaviour that could be changed by this option in qemu-kvm is now the default
44when using the KVM PIT. It still can be requested explicitly using
45``-global kvm-pit.lost_tick_policy=delay``.
46
47``-drive secs=s``, ``-drive heads=h`` & ``-drive cyls=c`` (removed in 3.0)
48''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
49
50The drive geometry should now be specified via
51``-device ...,drive=dr,cyls=c,heads=h,secs=s`` (together with
52``-drive if=none,id=dr,...``).
53
54``-drive serial=``, ``-drive trans=`` & ``-drive addr=`` (removed in 3.0)
55'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
56
57Use ``-device ...,drive=dr,serial=r,bios-chs-trans=t,addr=a`` instead
58(together with ``-drive if=none,id=dr,...``).
59
60``-net ...,vlan=x`` (removed in 3.0)
61''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
62
63The term "vlan" was very confusing for most users in this context (it's about
64specifying a hub ID, not about IEEE 802.1Q or something similar), so this
65has been removed. To connect one NIC frontend with a network backend, either
66use ``-nic ...`` (e.g. for on-board NICs) or use ``-netdev ...,id=n`` together
67with ``-device ...,netdev=n`` (for full control over pluggable NICs). To
68connect multiple NICs or network backends via a hub device (which is what
69vlan did), use ``-nic hubport,hubid=x,...`` or
70``-netdev hubport,id=n,hubid=x,...`` (with ``-device ...,netdev=n``) instead.
71
72``-no-kvm-irqchip`` (removed in 3.0)
73''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
74
75Use ``-machine kernel_irqchip=off`` instead.
76
77``-no-kvm-pit-reinjection`` (removed in 3.0)
78''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
79
80Use ``-global kvm-pit.lost_tick_policy=discard`` instead.
81
82``-balloon`` (removed in 3.1)
83'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
84
85The ``-balloon virtio`` option has been replaced by ``-device virtio-balloon``.
86The ``-balloon none`` option was a no-op and has no replacement.
87
88``-bootp`` (removed in 3.1)
89'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
90
91The ``-bootp /some/file`` argument is replaced by either
92``-netdev user,id=x,bootp=/some/file`` (for pluggable NICs, accompanied with
93``-device ...,netdev=x``), or ``-nic user,bootp=/some/file`` (for on-board NICs).
94The new syntax allows different settings to be provided per NIC.
95
96``-redir`` (removed in 3.1)
97'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
98
99The ``-redir [tcp|udp]:hostport:[guestaddr]:guestport`` option is replaced
100by either ``-netdev
101user,id=x,hostfwd=[tcp|udp]:[hostaddr]:hostport-[guestaddr]:guestport``
102(for pluggable NICs, accompanied with ``-device ...,netdev=x``) or by the option
103``-nic user,hostfwd=[tcp|udp]:[hostaddr]:hostport-[guestaddr]:guestport``
104(for on-board NICs). The new syntax allows different settings to be provided
105per NIC.
106
107``-smb`` (removed in 3.1)
108'''''''''''''''''''''''''
109
110The ``-smb /some/dir`` argument is replaced by either
111``-netdev user,id=x,smb=/some/dir`` (for pluggable NICs, accompanied with
112``-device ...,netdev=x``), or ``-nic user,smb=/some/dir`` (for on-board NICs).
113The new syntax allows different settings to be provided per NIC.
114
115``-tftp`` (removed in 3.1)
116''''''''''''''''''''''''''
117
118The ``-tftp /some/dir`` argument is replaced by either
119``-netdev user,id=x,tftp=/some/dir`` (for pluggable NICs, accompanied with
120``-device ...,netdev=x``), or ``-nic user,tftp=/some/dir`` (for embedded NICs).
121The new syntax allows different settings to be provided per NIC.
122
123``-localtime`` (removed in 3.1)
124'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
125
126Replaced by ``-rtc base=localtime``.
127
128``-nodefconfig`` (removed in 3.1)
129'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
130
131Use ``-no-user-config`` instead.
132
133``-rtc-td-hack`` (removed in 3.1)
134'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
135
136Use ``-rtc driftfix=slew`` instead.
137
138``-startdate`` (removed in 3.1)
139'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
140
141Replaced by ``-rtc base=date``.
142
143``-vnc ...,tls=...``, ``-vnc ...,x509=...`` & ``-vnc ...,x509verify=...`` (removed in 3.1)
144''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
145
146The "tls-creds" option should be used instead to point to a "tls-creds-x509"
147object created using "-object".
148
149``-mem-path`` fallback to RAM (removed in 5.0)
150''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
151
152If guest RAM allocation from file pointed by ``mem-path`` failed,
153QEMU was falling back to allocating from RAM, which might have resulted
154in unpredictable behavior since the backing file specified by the user
155as ignored. Currently, users are responsible for making sure the backing storage
156specified with ``-mem-path`` can actually provide the guest RAM configured with
157``-m`` and QEMU fails to start up if RAM allocation is unsuccessful.
158
159``-net ...,name=...`` (removed in 5.1)
160''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
161
162The ``name`` parameter of the ``-net`` option was a synonym
163for the ``id`` parameter, which should now be used instead.
164
165RISC-V firmware not booted by default (removed in 5.1)
166''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
167
168QEMU 5.1 changes the default behaviour from ``-bios none`` to ``-bios default``
169for the RISC-V ``virt`` machine and ``sifive_u`` machine.
170
171``-numa node,mem=...`` (removed in 5.1)
172'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
173
174The parameter ``mem`` of ``-numa node`` was used to assign a part of guest RAM
175to a NUMA node. But when using it, it's impossible to manage a specified RAM
176chunk on the host side (like bind it to a host node, setting bind policy, ...),
177so the guest ends up with the fake NUMA configuration with suboptiomal
178performance.
179However since 2014 there is an alternative way to assign RAM to a NUMA node
180using parameter ``memdev``, which does the same as ``mem`` and adds
181means to actually manage node RAM on the host side. Use parameter ``memdev``
182with *memory-backend-ram* backend as replacement for parameter ``mem``
183to achieve the same fake NUMA effect or a properly configured
184*memory-backend-file* backend to actually benefit from NUMA configuration.
185New machine versions (since 5.1) will not accept the option but it will still
186work with old machine types. User can check the QAPI schema to see if the legacy
187option is supported by looking at MachineInfo::numa-mem-supported property.
188
189``-numa`` node (without memory specified) (removed in 5.2)
190''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
191
192Splitting RAM by default between NUMA nodes had the same issues as ``mem``
193parameter with the difference that the role of the user plays QEMU using
194implicit generic or board specific splitting rule.
195Use ``memdev`` with *memory-backend-ram* backend or ``mem`` (if
196it's supported by used machine type) to define mapping explicitly instead.
197Users of existing VMs, wishing to preserve the same RAM distribution, should
198configure it explicitly using ``-numa node,memdev`` options. Current RAM
199distribution can be retrieved using HMP command ``info numa`` and if separate
200memory devices (pc|nv-dimm) are present use ``info memory-device`` and subtract
201device memory from output of ``info numa``.
202
203``-smp`` (invalid topologies) (removed in 5.2)
204''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
205
206CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
207possible CPUs.
208
209However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
210where *n* <= *sockets* * *cores* * *threads* < *maxcpus*,
211which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
212Support for invalid topologies is removed, the user must ensure
213topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
214*sockets* * *cores* * *threads* = *maxcpus*.
215
216``-machine enforce-config-section=on|off`` (removed in 5.2)
217'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
218
219The ``enforce-config-section`` property was replaced by the
220``-global migration.send-configuration={on|off}`` option.
221
222``-no-kvm`` (removed in 5.2)
223''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
224
225The ``-no-kvm`` argument was a synonym for setting ``-machine accel=tcg``.
226
227``-realtime`` (removed in 6.0)
228''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
229
230The ``-realtime mlock=on|off`` argument has been replaced by the
231``-overcommit mem-lock=on|off`` argument.
232
233``-show-cursor`` option (removed in 6.0)
234''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
235
236Use ``-display sdl,show-cursor=on``, ``-display gtk,show-cursor=on``
237or ``-display default,show-cursor=on`` instead.
238
239``-tb-size`` option (removed in 6.0)
240''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
241
242QEMU 5.0 introduced an alternative syntax to specify the size of the translation
243block cache, ``-accel tcg,tb-size=``.
244
245``-usbdevice audio`` (removed in 6.0)
246'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
247
248This option lacked the possibility to specify an audio backend device.
249Use ``-device usb-audio`` now instead (and specify a corresponding USB
250host controller or ``-usb`` if necessary).
251
252``-vnc acl`` (removed in 6.0)
253'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
254
255The ``acl`` option to the ``-vnc`` argument has been replaced
256by the ``tls-authz`` and ``sasl-authz`` options.
257
258``-mon ...,control=readline,pretty=on|off`` (removed in 6.0)
259''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
260
261The ``pretty=on|off`` switch has no effect for HMP monitors and
262its use is rejected.
263
264``-drive file=json:{...{'driver':'file'}}`` (removed in 6.0)
265''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
266
267The 'file' driver for drives is no longer appropriate for character or host
268devices and will only accept regular files (S_IFREG). The correct driver
269for these file types is 'host_cdrom' or 'host_device' as appropriate.
270
271Floppy controllers' drive properties (removed in 6.0)
272'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
273
274Use ``-device floppy,...`` instead.  When configuring onboard floppy
275controllers
276::
277
278    -global isa-fdc.driveA=...
279    -global sysbus-fdc.driveA=...
280    -global SUNW,fdtwo.drive=...
281
282become
283::
284
285    -device floppy,unit=0,drive=...
286
287and
288::
289
290    -global isa-fdc.driveB=...
291    -global sysbus-fdc.driveB=...
292
293become
294::
295
296    -device floppy,unit=1,drive=...
297
298When plugging in a floppy controller
299::
300
301    -device isa-fdc,...,driveA=...
302
303becomes
304::
305
306    -device isa-fdc,...
307    -device floppy,unit=0,drive=...
308
309and
310::
311
312    -device isa-fdc,...,driveB=...
313
314becomes
315::
316
317    -device isa-fdc,...
318    -device floppy,unit=1,drive=...
319
320``-drive`` with bogus interface type (removed in 6.0)
321'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
322
323Drives with interface types other than ``if=none`` are for onboard
324devices.  Drives the board doesn't pick up can no longer be used with
325-device.  Use ``if=none`` instead.
326
327``-usbdevice ccid`` (removed in 6.0)
328'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
329
330This option was undocumented and not used in the field.
331Use ``-device usb-ccid`` instead.
332
333``-no-quit`` (removed in 7.0)
334'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
335
336The ``-no-quit`` was a synonym for ``-display ...,window-close=off`` which
337should be used instead.
338
339``--enable-fips`` (removed in 7.1)
340''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
341
342This option restricted usage of certain cryptographic algorithms when
343the host is operating in FIPS mode.
344
345If FIPS compliance is required, QEMU should be built with the ``libgcrypt``
346or ``gnutls`` library enabled as a cryptography provider.
347
348Neither the ``nettle`` library, or the built-in cryptography provider are
349supported on FIPS enabled hosts.
350
351``-writeconfig`` (removed in 7.1)
352'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
353
354The ``-writeconfig`` option was not able to serialize the entire contents
355of the QEMU command line.  It is thus considered a failed experiment
356and removed without a replacement.
357
358``loaded`` property of secret and TLS credential objects (removed in 9.2)
359'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
360
361The ``loaded=on`` option in the command line or QMP ``object-add`` either had
362no effect (if ``loaded`` was the last option) or caused options to be
363effectively ignored as if they were not given.  The property is therefore
364useless and has been removed.
365
366``opened`` property of ``rng-*`` objects (removed in 7.1)
367'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
368
369The ``opened=on`` option in the command line or QMP ``object-add`` either had
370no effect (if ``opened`` was the last option) or caused errors.  The property
371is therefore useless and should simply be removed.
372
373``-display sdl,window_close=...`` (removed in 7.1)
374''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
375
376Use ``-display sdl,window-close=...`` instead (i.e. with a minus instead of
377an underscore between "window" and "close").
378
379``-alt-grab`` and ``-display sdl,alt_grab=on`` (removed in 7.1)
380'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
381
382Use ``-display sdl,grab-mod=lshift-lctrl-lalt`` instead.
383
384``-ctrl-grab`` and ``-display sdl,ctrl_grab=on`` (removed in 7.1)
385'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
386
387Use ``-display sdl,grab-mod=rctrl`` instead.
388
389``-sdl`` (removed in 7.1)
390'''''''''''''''''''''''''
391
392Use ``-display sdl`` instead.
393
394``-curses`` (removed in 7.1)
395''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
396
397Use ``-display curses`` instead.
398
399Creating sound card devices using ``-soundhw`` (removed in 7.1)
400'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
401
402Sound card devices should be created using ``-device`` or ``-audio``.
403The exception is ``pcspk`` which can be activated using ``-machine
404pcspk-audiodev=<name>``.
405
406``-watchdog`` (removed in 7.2)
407''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
408
409Use ``-device`` instead.
410
411Hexadecimal sizes with scaling multipliers (removed in 8.0)
412'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
413
414Input parameters that take a size value should only use a size suffix
415(such as 'k' or 'M') when the base is written in decimal, and not when
416the value is hexadecimal.  That is, '0x20M' should be written either as
417'32M' or as '0x2000000'.
418
419``-chardev`` backend aliases ``tty`` and ``parport`` (removed in 8.0)
420'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
421
422``tty`` and ``parport`` used to be aliases for ``serial`` and ``parallel``
423respectively. The actual backend names should be used instead.
424
425``-drive if=none`` for the sifive_u OTP device (removed in 8.0)
426'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
427
428Use ``-drive if=pflash`` to configure the OTP device of the sifive_u
429RISC-V machine instead.
430
431``-spice password=string`` (removed in 8.0)
432'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
433
434This option was insecure because the SPICE password remained visible in
435the process listing. This was replaced by the new ``password-secret``
436option which lets the password be securely provided on the command
437line using a ``secret`` object instance.
438
439``QEMU_AUDIO_`` environment variables and ``-audio-help`` (removed in 8.2)
440''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
441
442The ``-audiodev`` and ``-audio`` command line options are now the only
443way to specify audio backend settings.
444
445Using ``-audiodev`` to define the default audio backend (removed in 8.2)
446''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
447
448If no audiodev property is specified, previous versions would use the
449first ``-audiodev`` command line option as a fallback.  Starting with
450version 8.2, audio backends created with ``-audiodev`` will only be
451used by clients (sound cards, machines with embedded sound hardware, VNC)
452that refer to it in an ``audiodev=`` property.
453
454In order to configure a default audio backend, use the ``-audio``
455command line option without specifying a ``model``; while previous
456versions of QEMU required a model, starting with version 8.2
457QEMU does not require a model and will not create any sound card
458in this case.
459
460Note that the default audio backend must be configured on the command
461line if the ``-nodefaults`` options is used.
462
463``-no-hpet`` (removed in 9.0)
464'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
465
466The HPET setting has been turned into a machine property.
467Use ``-machine hpet=off`` instead.
468
469``-no-acpi`` (removed in 9.0)
470'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
471
472The ``-no-acpi`` setting has been turned into a machine property.
473Use ``-machine acpi=off`` instead.
474
475``-async-teardown`` (removed in 9.0)
476''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
477
478Use ``-run-with async-teardown=on`` instead.
479
480``-chroot`` (removed in 9.0)
481''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
482
483Use ``-run-with chroot=dir`` instead.
484
485``-singlestep`` (removed in 9.0)
486''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
487
488The ``-singlestep`` option has been turned into an accelerator property,
489and given a name that better reflects what it actually does.
490Use ``-accel tcg,one-insn-per-tb=on`` instead.
491
492``-smp`` ("parameter=0" SMP configurations) (removed in 9.0)
493''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
494
495Specified CPU topology parameters must be greater than zero.
496
497In the SMP configuration, users should either provide a CPU topology
498parameter with a reasonable value (greater than zero) or just omit it
499and QEMU will compute the missing value.
500
501However, historically it was implicitly allowed for users to provide
502a parameter with zero value, which is meaningless and could also possibly
503cause unexpected results in the -smp parsing. So support for this kind of
504configurations (e.g. -smp 8,sockets=0) is removed since 9.0, users have
505to ensure that all the topology members described with -smp are greater
506than zero.
507
508``-global migration.decompress-error-check`` (removed in 9.1)
509'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
510
511Removed along with the ``compression`` migration capability.
512
513``-device virtio-blk,scsi=on|off`` (removed in 9.1)
514'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
515
516The virtio-blk SCSI passthrough feature is a legacy VIRTIO feature.  VIRTIO 1.0
517and later do not support it because the virtio-scsi device was introduced for
518full SCSI support.  Use virtio-scsi instead when SCSI passthrough is required.
519
520``-fsdev proxy`` and ``-virtfs proxy`` (removed in 9.2)
521'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
522
523The 9p ``proxy`` filesystem backend driver was originally developed to
524enhance security by dispatching low level filesystem operations from 9p
525server (QEMU process) over to a separate process (the virtfs-proxy-helper
526binary). However the proxy backend was much slower than the local backend,
527didn't see any development in years, and showed to be less secure,
528especially due to the fact that its helper daemon must be run as root.
529
530Use ``local``, possibly mapping permissions et al by using its 'mapped'
531security model option, or switch to ``virtiofs``.   The virtiofs daemon
532``virtiofsd`` uses vhost to eliminate the high latency costs of the 9p
533``proxy`` backend.
534
535``-portrait`` and ``-rotate`` (removed in 9.2)
536''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
537
538The ``-portrait`` and ``-rotate`` options were documented as only
539working with the PXA LCD device, and all the machine types using
540that display device were removed in 9.2, so these options also
541have been dropped.
542
543These options were intended to simulate a mobile device being
544rotated by the user, and had three effects:
545
546* the display output was rotated by 90, 180 or 270 degrees
547* the mouse/trackpad input was rotated the opposite way
548* the machine model would signal to the guest about its
549  orientation
550
551Of these three things, the input-rotation was coded without being
552restricted to boards which supported the full set of device-rotation
553handling, so in theory the options were usable on other machine models
554to produce an odd effect (rotating input but not display output). But
555this was never intended or documented behaviour, so we have dropped
556the options along with the machine models they were intended for.
557
558``-runas`` (removed in 10.0)
559''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
560
561Use ``-run-with user=..`` instead.
562
563
564User-mode emulator command line arguments
565-----------------------------------------
566
567``-singlestep`` (removed in 9.0)
568''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
569
570The ``-singlestep`` option has been given a name that better reflects
571what it actually does. For both linux-user and bsd-user, use the
572``-one-insn-per-tb`` option instead.
573
574
575QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
576------------------------------------
577
578``block-dirty-bitmap-add`` "autoload" parameter (removed in 4.2)
579''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
580
581The "autoload" parameter has been ignored since 2.12.0. All bitmaps
582are automatically loaded from qcow2 images.
583
584``cpu-add`` (removed in 5.2)
585''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
586
587Use ``device_add`` for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add``.  See
588documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus`` for additional details.
589
590``change`` (removed in 6.0)
591'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
592
593Use ``blockdev-change-medium`` or ``change-vnc-password`` or
594``display-update`` instead.
595
596``query-events`` (removed in 6.0)
597'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
598
599The ``query-events`` command has been superseded by the more powerful
600and accurate ``query-qmp-schema`` command.
601
602``migrate_set_cache_size`` and ``query-migrate-cache-size`` (removed in 6.0)
603''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
604
605Use ``migrate_set_parameter`` and ``info migrate_parameters`` instead.
606
607``migrate_set_downtime`` and ``migrate_set_speed`` (removed in 6.0)
608'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
609
610Use ``migrate_set_parameter`` instead.
611
612``query-cpus`` (removed in 6.0)
613'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
614
615The ``query-cpus`` command is replaced by the ``query-cpus-fast`` command.
616
617``query-cpus-fast`` ``arch`` output member (removed in 6.0)
618'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
619
620The ``arch`` output member of the ``query-cpus-fast`` command is
621replaced by the ``target`` output member.
622
623chardev client socket with ``wait`` option (removed in 6.0)
624'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
625
626Character devices creating sockets in client mode should not specify
627the 'wait' field, which is only applicable to sockets in server mode
628
629``query-named-block-nodes`` result ``encryption_key_missing`` (removed in 6.0)
630''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
631
632Removed with no replacement.
633
634``query-block`` result ``inserted.encryption_key_missing`` (removed in 6.0)
635'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
636
637Removed with no replacement.
638
639``query-named-block-nodes`` and ``query-block`` result dirty-bitmaps[i].status (removed in 6.0)
640'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
641
642The ``status`` field of the ``BlockDirtyInfo`` structure, returned by
643these commands is removed. Two new boolean fields, ``recording`` and
644``busy`` effectively replace it.
645
646``query-block`` result field ``dirty-bitmaps`` (removed in 6.0)
647'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
648
649The ``dirty-bitmaps`` field of the ``BlockInfo`` structure, returned by
650the query-block command is itself now removed. The ``dirty-bitmaps``
651field of the ``BlockDeviceInfo`` struct should be used instead, which is the
652type of the ``inserted`` field in query-block replies, as well as the
653type of array items in query-named-block-nodes.
654
655``object-add`` option ``props`` (removed in 6.0)
656''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
657
658Specify the properties for the object as top-level arguments instead.
659
660``query-sgx`` return value member ``section-size`` (removed in 8.0)
661'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
662
663Member ``section-size`` in the return value of ``query-sgx``
664was superseded by ``sections``.
665
666
667``query-sgx-capabilities`` return value member ``section-size`` (removed in 8.0)
668''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
669
670Member ``section-size`` in the return value of ``query-sgx-capabilities``
671was superseded by ``sections``.
672
673``query-migrate`` return value member ``skipped`` (removed in 9.1)
674''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
675
676Member ``skipped`` of the ``MigrationStats`` struct hasn't been used
677for more than 10 years. Removed with no replacement.
678
679``migrate`` command option ``inc`` (removed in 9.1)
680'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
681
682Use blockdev-mirror with NBD instead. See "QMP invocation for live
683storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD" in
684docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst for a detailed explanation.
685
686``migrate`` command option ``blk`` (removed in 9.1)
687'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
688
689Use blockdev-mirror with NBD instead. See "QMP invocation for live
690storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD" in
691docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst for a detailed explanation.
692
693``migrate-set-capabilities`` ``block`` option (removed in 9.1)
694''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
695
696Block migration has been removed. For a replacement, see "QMP
697invocation for live storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD"
698in docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst.
699
700``migrate-set-parameter`` ``compress-level`` option (removed in 9.1)
701''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
702
703Use ``multifd-zlib-level`` or ``multifd-zstd-level`` instead.
704
705``migrate-set-parameter`` ``compress-threads`` option (removed in 9.1)
706''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
707
708Use ``multifd-channels`` instead.
709
710``migrate-set-parameter`` ``compress-wait-thread`` option (removed in 9.1)
711''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
712
713Removed with no replacement.
714
715``migrate-set-parameter`` ``decompress-threads`` option (removed in 9.1)
716''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
717
718Use ``multifd-channels`` instead.
719
720``migrate-set-capability`` ``compress`` option (removed in 9.1)
721'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
722
723Use ``multifd-compression`` instead.
724
725Incorrectly typed ``device_add`` arguments (since 9.2)
726''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
727
728Due to shortcomings in the internal implementation of ``device_add``,
729QEMU used to incorrectly accept certain invalid arguments. Any object
730or list arguments were silently ignored. Other argument types were not
731checked, but an implicit conversion happened, so that e.g. string
732values could be assigned to integer device properties or vice versa.
733
734QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) events
735----------------------------------
736
737``MEM_UNPLUG_ERROR`` (removed in 9.1)
738'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
739
740MEM_UNPLUG_ERROR has been replaced by the more generic ``DEVICE_UNPLUG_GUEST_ERROR`` event.
741
742``vcpu`` trace events (removed in 9.1)
743''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
744
745The ability to instrument QEMU helper functions with vCPU-aware trace
746points was removed in 7.0.
747
748
749Human Monitor Protocol (HMP) commands
750-------------------------------------
751
752``usb_add`` and ``usb_remove`` (removed in 2.12)
753''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
754
755Replaced by ``device_add`` and ``device_del`` (use ``device_add help`` for a
756list of available devices).
757
758``host_net_add`` and ``host_net_remove`` (removed in 2.12)
759''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
760
761Replaced by ``netdev_add`` and ``netdev_del``.
762
763The ``hub_id`` parameter of ``hostfwd_add`` / ``hostfwd_remove`` (removed in 5.0)
764'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
765
766The ``[hub_id name]`` parameter tuple of the 'hostfwd_add' and
767'hostfwd_remove' HMP commands has been replaced by ``netdev_id``.
768
769``cpu-add`` (removed in 5.2)
770''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
771
772Use ``device_add`` for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add``.  See
773documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus`` for additional details.
774
775``change vnc TARGET`` (removed in 6.0)
776''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
777
778No replacement.  The ``change vnc password`` and ``change DEVICE MEDIUM``
779commands are not affected.
780
781``acl_show``, ``acl_reset``, ``acl_policy``, ``acl_add``, ``acl_remove`` (removed in 6.0)
782'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
783
784The ``acl_show``, ``acl_reset``, ``acl_policy``, ``acl_add``, and
785``acl_remove`` commands were removed with no replacement. Authorization
786for VNC should be performed using the pluggable QAuthZ objects.
787
788``migrate-set-cache-size`` and ``info migrate-cache-size`` (removed in 6.0)
789'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
790
791Use ``migrate-set-parameters`` and ``info migrate-parameters`` instead.
792
793``migrate_set_downtime`` and ``migrate_set_speed`` (removed in 6.0)
794'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
795
796Use ``migrate-set-parameters`` instead.
797
798``info cpustats`` (removed in 6.1)
799''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
800
801This command didn't produce any output already. Removed with no replacement.
802
803``singlestep`` (removed in 9.0)
804'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
805
806The ``singlestep`` command has been replaced by the ``one-insn-per-tb``
807command, which has the same behaviour but a less misleading name.
808
809``migrate`` command ``-i`` option (removed in 9.1)
810''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
811
812Use blockdev-mirror with NBD instead. See "QMP invocation for live
813storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD" in
814docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst for a detailed explanation.
815
816``migrate`` command ``-b`` option (removed in 9.1)
817''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
818
819Use blockdev-mirror with NBD instead. See "QMP invocation for live
820storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD" in
821docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst for a detailed explanation.
822
823``migrate_set_capability`` ``block`` option (removed in 9.1)
824''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
825
826Block migration has been removed. For a replacement, see "QMP
827invocation for live storage migration with ``blockdev-mirror`` + NBD"
828in docs/interop/live-block-operations.rst.
829
830``migrate_set_parameter`` ``compress-level`` option (removed in 9.1)
831''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
832
833Use ``multifd-zlib-level`` or ``multifd-zstd-level`` instead.
834
835``migrate_set_parameter`` ``compress-threads`` option (removed in 9.1)
836''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
837
838Use ``multifd-channels`` instead.
839
840``migrate_set_parameter`` ``compress-wait-thread`` option (removed in 9.1)
841''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
842
843Removed with no replacement.
844
845``migrate_set_parameter`` ``decompress-threads`` option (removed in 9.1)
846''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
847
848Use ``multifd-channels`` instead.
849
850``migrate_set_capability`` ``compress`` option (removed in 9.1)
851'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
852
853Use ``multifd-compression`` instead.
854
855Host Architectures
856------------------
857
858System emulation on 32-bit Windows hosts (removed in 9.0)
859'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
860
861Windows 11 has no support for 32-bit host installs, and Windows 10 did
862not support new 32-bit installs, only upgrades. 32-bit Windows support
863has now been dropped by the MSYS2 project. QEMU also is deprecating
864and dropping support for 32-bit x86 host deployments in
865general. 32-bit Windows is therefore no longer a supported host for
866QEMU.  Since all recent x86 hardware from the past >10 years is
867capable of the 64-bit x86 extensions, a corresponding 64-bit OS should
868be used instead.
869
87032-bit hosts for 64-bit guests (removed in 10.0)
871''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
872
873In general, 32-bit hosts cannot support the memory space or atomicity
874requirements of 64-bit guests.  Prior to 10.0, QEMU attempted to
875work around the atomicity issues in system mode by running all vCPUs
876in a single thread context; in user mode atomicity was simply broken.
877From 10.0, QEMU has disabled configuration of 64-bit guests on 32-bit hosts.
878
879Guest Emulator ISAs
880-------------------
881
882RISC-V ISA privilege specification version 1.09.1 (removed in 5.1)
883''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
884
885The RISC-V ISA privilege specification version 1.09.1 has been removed.
886QEMU supports both the newer version 1.10.0 and the ratified version 1.11.0, these
887should be used instead of the 1.09.1 version.
888
889System emulator CPUS
890--------------------
891
892KVM guest support on 32-bit Arm hosts (removed in 5.2)
893''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
894
895The Linux kernel has dropped support for allowing 32-bit Arm systems
896to host KVM guests as of the 5.7 kernel, and was thus removed from QEMU
897as well.  Running 32-bit guests on a 64-bit Arm host remains supported.
898
899RISC-V ISA Specific CPUs (removed in 5.1)
900'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
901
902The RISC-V cpus with the ISA version in the CPU name have been removed. The
903four CPUs are: ``rv32gcsu-v1.9.1``, ``rv32gcsu-v1.10.0``, ``rv64gcsu-v1.9.1`` and
904``rv64gcsu-v1.10.0``. Instead the version can be specified via the CPU ``priv_spec``
905option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
906
907RISC-V no MMU CPUs (removed in 5.1)
908'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
909
910The RISC-V no MMU cpus have been removed. The two CPUs: ``rv32imacu-nommu`` and
911``rv64imacu-nommu`` can no longer be used. Instead the MMU status can be specified
912via the CPU ``mmu`` option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
913
914``compat`` property of server class POWER CPUs (removed in 6.0)
915'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
916
917The ``max-cpu-compat`` property of the ``pseries`` machine type should be used
918instead.
919
920``moxie`` CPU (removed in 6.1)
921''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
922
923Nobody was using this CPU emulation in QEMU, and there were no test images
924available to make sure that the code is still working, so it has been removed
925without replacement.
926
927``lm32`` CPUs (removed in 6.1)
928''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
929
930The only public user of this architecture was the milkymist project,
931which has been dead for years; there was never an upstream Linux
932port.  Removed without replacement.
933
934``unicore32`` CPUs (removed in 6.1)
935'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
936
937Support for this CPU was removed from the upstream Linux kernel, and
938there is no available upstream toolchain to build binaries for it.
939Removed without replacement.
940
941x86 ``Icelake-Client`` CPU (removed in 7.1)
942'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
943
944There isn't ever Icelake Client CPU, it is some wrong and imaginary one.
945Use ``Icelake-Server`` instead.
946
947Nios II CPU (removed in 9.1)
948''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
949
950QEMU Nios II architecture was orphan; Intel has EOL'ed the Nios II
951processor IP (see `Intel discontinuance notification`_).
952
953CRIS CPU architecture (removed in 9.2)
954''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
955
956The CRIS architecture was pulled from Linux in 4.17 and the compiler
957was no longer packaged in any distro making it harder to run the
958``check-tcg`` tests.
959
960RISC-V 'any' CPU type ``-cpu any`` (removed in 9.2)
961'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
962
963The 'any' CPU type was introduced back in 2018 and was around since the
964initial RISC-V QEMU port. Its usage was always been unclear: users don't know
965what to expect from a CPU called 'any', and in fact the CPU does not do anything
966special that isn't already done by the default CPUs rv32/rv64.
967
968System accelerators
969-------------------
970
971Userspace local APIC with KVM (x86, removed in 8.0)
972'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
973
974``-M kernel-irqchip=off`` cannot be used on KVM if the CPU model includes
975a local APIC.  The ``split`` setting is supported, as is using ``-M
976kernel-irqchip=off`` when the CPU does not have a local APIC.
977
978MIPS "Trap-and-Emulate" KVM support (removed in 8.0)
979''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
980
981The MIPS "Trap-and-Emulate" KVM host and guest support was removed
982from Linux in 2021, and is not supported anymore by QEMU either.
983
984HAXM (``-accel hax``) (removed in 8.2)
985''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
986
987The HAXM project has been retired (see https://github.com/intel/haxm#status).
988Use "whpx" (on Windows) or "hvf" (on macOS) instead.
989
990System emulator machines
991------------------------
992
993Versioned machine types (aarch64, arm, i386, m68k, ppc64, s390x, x86_64)
994''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
995
996In accordance with our versioned machine type deprecation policy, all machine
997types with version |VER_MACHINE_DELETION_VERSION|, or older, have been
998removed.
999
1000``s390-virtio`` (removed in 2.6)
1001''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1002
1003Use the ``s390-ccw-virtio`` machine instead.
1004
1005The m68k ``dummy`` machine (removed in 2.9)
1006'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1007
1008Use the ``none`` machine with the ``loader`` device instead.
1009
1010``xlnx-ep108`` (removed in 3.0)
1011'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1012
1013The EP108 was an early access development board that is no longer used.
1014Use the ``xlnx-zcu102`` machine instead.
1015
1016``spike_v1.9.1`` and ``spike_v1.10`` (removed in 5.1)
1017'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1018
1019The version specific Spike machines have been removed in favour of the
1020generic ``spike`` machine. If you need to specify an older version of the RISC-V
1021spec you can use the ``-cpu rv64gcsu,priv_spec=v1.10.0`` command line argument.
1022
1023mips ``r4k`` platform (removed in 5.2)
1024''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1025
1026This machine type was very old and unmaintained. Users should use the ``malta``
1027machine type instead.
1028
1029mips ``fulong2e`` machine alias (removed in 6.0)
1030''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1031
1032This machine has been renamed ``fuloong2e``.
1033
1034Raspberry Pi ``raspi2`` and ``raspi3`` machines (removed in 6.2)
1035''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1036
1037The Raspberry Pi machines come in various models (A, A+, B, B+). To be able
1038to distinguish which model QEMU is implementing, the ``raspi2`` and ``raspi3``
1039machines have been renamed ``raspi2b`` and ``raspi3b``.
1040
1041Aspeed ``swift-bmc`` machine (removed in 7.0)
1042'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1043
1044This machine was removed because it was unused. Alternative AST2500 based
1045OpenPOWER machines are ``witherspoon-bmc`` and ``romulus-bmc``.
1046
1047ppc ``taihu`` machine (removed in 7.2)
1048'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1049
1050This machine was removed because it was partially emulated and 405
1051machines are very similar. Use the ``ref405ep`` machine instead.
1052
1053Nios II ``10m50-ghrd`` and ``nios2-generic-nommu`` machines (removed in 9.1)
1054''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1055
1056The Nios II architecture was orphan.
1057
1058``shix`` (removed in 9.2)
1059'''''''''''''''''''''''''
1060
1061The machine was unmaintained.
1062
1063Arm machines ``akita``, ``borzoi``, ``cheetah``, ``connex``, ``mainstone``, ``n800``, ``n810``, ``spitz``, ``terrier``, ``tosa``, ``verdex``, ``z2`` (removed in 9.2)
1064'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1065
1066QEMU included models of some machine types where the QEMU code that
1067emulates their SoCs was very old and unmaintained. This code was
1068blocking our ability to move forward with various changes across
1069the codebase, and over many years nobody has been interested in
1070trying to modernise it. We don't expect any of these machines to have
1071a large number of users, because they're all modelling hardware that
1072has now passed away into history. We are therefore dropping support
1073for all machine types using the PXA2xx and OMAP2 SoCs. We are also
1074dropping the ``cheetah`` OMAP1 board, because we don't have any
1075test images for it and don't know of anybody who does.
1076
1077Aspeed ``tacoma-bmc`` machine (removed in 10.0)
1078'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1079
1080The ``tacoma-bmc`` machine was removed because it didn't bring much
1081compared to the ``rainier-bmc`` machine. Also, the ``tacoma-bmc`` was
1082a board used for bring up of the AST2600 SoC that never left the
1083labs. It can be easily replaced by the ``rainier-bmc`` machine, which
1084was the actual final product, or by the ``ast2600-evb`` with some
1085tweaks.
1086
1087ppc ``ref405ep`` machine (removed in 10.0)
1088''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1089
1090This machine was removed because PPC 405 CPU have no known users,
1091firmware images are not available, OpenWRT dropped support in 2019,
1092U-Boot in 2017, and Linux in 2024.
1093
1094Big-Endian variants of ``petalogix-ml605`` and ``xlnx-zynqmp-pmu`` machines (removed in 10.1)
1095'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1096
1097Both the MicroBlaze ``petalogix-ml605`` and ``xlnx-zynqmp-pmu`` machines
1098were added for little endian CPUs. Big endian support was never tested
1099and likely never worked. Starting with QEMU v10.1, the machines are now
1100only available as little-endian machines.
1101
1102
1103linux-user mode CPUs
1104--------------------
1105
1106``tilegx`` CPUs (removed in 6.0)
1107''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1108
1109The ``tilegx`` guest CPU support has been removed without replacement. It was
1110only implemented in linux-user mode, but support for this CPU was removed from
1111the upstream Linux kernel in 2018, and it has also been dropped from glibc, so
1112there is no new Linux development taking place with this architecture. For
1113running the old binaries, you can use older versions of QEMU.
1114
1115``ppc64abi32`` CPUs (removed in 7.0)
1116''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1117
1118The ``ppc64abi32`` architecture has a number of issues which regularly
1119tripped up the CI testing and was suspected to be quite broken. For that
1120reason the maintainers strongly suspected no one actually used it.
1121
1122``nios2`` CPU (removed in 9.1)
1123''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1124
1125QEMU Nios II architecture was orphan; Intel has EOL'ed the Nios II
1126processor IP (see `Intel discontinuance notification`_).
1127
1128TCG introspection features
1129--------------------------
1130
1131TCG trace-events (removed in 7.0)
1132'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1133
1134The ability to add new TCG trace points had bit rotted and as the
1135feature can be replicated with TCG plugins it was removed. If
1136any user is currently using this feature and needs help with
1137converting to using TCG plugins they should contact the qemu-devel
1138mailing list.
1139
1140
1141System emulator devices
1142-----------------------
1143
1144``spapr-pci-vfio-host-bridge`` (removed in 2.12)
1145'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1146
1147The ``spapr-pci-vfio-host-bridge`` device type has been replaced by the
1148``spapr-pci-host-bridge`` device type.
1149
1150``ivshmem`` (removed in 4.0)
1151''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1152
1153Replaced by either the ``ivshmem-plain`` or ``ivshmem-doorbell``.
1154
1155``ide-drive`` (removed in 6.0)
1156''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1157
1158The 'ide-drive' device has been removed. Users should use 'ide-hd' or
1159'ide-cd' as appropriate to get an IDE hard disk or CD-ROM as needed.
1160
1161``scsi-disk`` (removed in 6.0)
1162''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1163
1164The 'scsi-disk' device has been removed. Users should use 'scsi-hd' or
1165'scsi-cd' as appropriate to get a SCSI hard disk or CD-ROM as needed.
1166
1167``sga`` (removed in 8.0)
1168''''''''''''''''''''''''
1169
1170The ``sga`` device loaded an option ROM for x86 targets which enabled
1171SeaBIOS to send messages to the serial console. SeaBIOS 1.11.0 onwards
1172contains native support for this feature and thus use of the option
1173ROM approach was obsolete. The native SeaBIOS support can be activated
1174by using ``-machine graphics=off``.
1175
1176``pvrdma`` and the RDMA subsystem (removed in 9.1)
1177''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1178
1179The 'pvrdma' device and the whole RDMA subsystem have been removed.
1180
1181Related binaries
1182----------------
1183
1184``qemu-nbd --partition`` (removed in 5.0)
1185'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1186
1187The ``qemu-nbd --partition $digit`` code (also spelled ``-P``)
1188could only handle MBR partitions, and never correctly handled logical
1189partitions beyond partition 5.  Exporting a partition can still be
1190done by utilizing the ``--image-opts`` option with a raw blockdev
1191using the ``offset`` and ``size`` parameters layered on top of
1192any other existing blockdev. For example, if partition 1 is 100MiB
1193long starting at 1MiB, the old command::
1194
1195  qemu-nbd -t -P 1 -f qcow2 file.qcow2
1196
1197can be rewritten as::
1198
1199  qemu-nbd -t --image-opts driver=raw,offset=1M,size=100M,file.driver=qcow2,file.file.driver=file,file.file.filename=file.qcow2
1200
1201``qemu-img convert -n -o`` (removed in 5.1)
1202'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1203
1204All options specified in ``-o`` are image creation options, so
1205they are now rejected when used with ``-n`` to skip image creation.
1206
1207
1208``qemu-img create -b bad file $size`` (removed in 5.1)
1209''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1210
1211When creating an image with a backing file that could not be opened,
1212``qemu-img create`` used to issue a warning about the failure but
1213proceed with the image creation if an explicit size was provided.
1214However, as the ``-u`` option exists for this purpose, it is safer to
1215enforce that any failure to open the backing image (including if the
1216backing file is missing or an incorrect format was specified) is an
1217error when ``-u`` is not used.
1218
1219``qemu-img amend`` to adjust backing file (removed in 6.1)
1220''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1221
1222The use of ``qemu-img amend`` to modify the name or format of a qcow2
1223backing image was never fully documented or tested, and interferes
1224with other amend operations that need access to the original backing
1225image (such as deciding whether a v3 zero cluster may be left
1226unallocated when converting to a v2 image).  Any changes to the
1227backing chain should be performed with ``qemu-img rebase -u`` either
1228before or after the remaining changes being performed by amend, as
1229appropriate.
1230
1231``qemu-img`` backing file without format (removed in 6.1)
1232'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1233
1234The use of ``qemu-img create``, ``qemu-img rebase``, or ``qemu-img
1235convert`` to create or modify an image that depends on a backing file
1236now requires that an explicit backing format be provided.  This is
1237for safety: if QEMU probes a different format than what you thought,
1238the data presented to the guest will be corrupt; similarly, presenting
1239a raw image to a guest allows a potential security exploit if a future
1240probe sees a non-raw image based on guest writes.
1241
1242To avoid creating unsafe backing chains, you must pass ``-o
1243backing_fmt=`` (or the shorthand ``-F`` during create) to specify the
1244intended backing format.  You may use ``qemu-img rebase -u`` to
1245retroactively add a backing format to an existing image.  However, be
1246aware that there are already potential security risks to blindly using
1247``qemu-img info`` to probe the format of an untrusted backing image,
1248when deciding what format to add into an existing image.
1249
1250Block devices
1251-------------
1252
1253VXHS backend (removed in 5.1)
1254'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1255
1256The VXHS code did not compile since v2.12.0. It was removed in 5.1.
1257
1258``sheepdog`` driver (removed in 6.0)
1259''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1260
1261The corresponding upstream server project is no longer maintained.
1262Users are recommended to switch to an alternative distributed block
1263device driver such as RBD.
1264
1265Tools
1266-----
1267
1268virtiofsd (removed in 8.0)
1269''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1270
1271There is a newer Rust implementation of ``virtiofsd`` at
1272``https://gitlab.com/virtio-fs/virtiofsd``; this has been
1273stable for some time and is now widely used.
1274The command line and feature set is very close to the removed
1275C implementation.
1276
1277QEMU guest agent
1278----------------
1279
1280``--blacklist`` command line option (removed in 9.1)
1281''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1282
1283``--blacklist`` has been replaced by ``--block-rpcs`` (which is a better
1284wording for what this option does). The short form ``-b`` still stays
1285the same and thus is the preferred way for scripts that should run with
1286both, older and future versions of QEMU.
1287
1288``blacklist`` config file option (removed in 9.1)
1289'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1290
1291The ``blacklist`` config file option has been renamed to ``block-rpcs``
1292(to be in sync with the renaming of the corresponding command line
1293option).
1294
1295.. _Intel discontinuance notification: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/content-details/781327/intel-is-discontinuing-ip-ordering-codes-listed-in-pdn2312-for-nios-ii-ip.html
1296