virDepart

virDepart is a command-line utility used with the libvirt virtualization management toolkit. Its primary function is to cleanly shut down and detach a virtual machine or a specific virtual device from a host system. This process ensures that the guest operating system is gracefully halted before its resources are released by the hypervisor.

The command operates by sending a shutdown signal to the virtual machine. If the guest operating system supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) and has the necessary drivers, it will respond to this signal by initiating a proper shutdown procedure, saving its state and exiting cleanly. If the guest does not support ACPI or the shutdown command fails, virDepart may have options to force the shutdown or detach devices, though these can lead to data loss if not used with caution.

Typically, virDepart is used after a virtual machine has completed its tasks or when its resources are no longer needed. It is part of a larger set of libvirt commands that allow for comprehensive management of virtual machines, including starting, stopping, suspending, and migrating them. The correct usage of virDepart contributes to the stability and integrity of both the guest and host systems by preventing abrupt terminations that could corrupt data or leave the system in an inconsistent state.