Linux KVM and VNC: Keep Your Pointer Straight

KVM allows you to run virtual machines on a Linux machine.  One of the great features is provided by the ‘-vnc’ flag, which allows you to run a virtual machine headless, i.e., without a graphics adapter, while still being able to connect to it through VNC.  One issue that I have encountered, especially on Windows virtual machines, is that the mouse pointer in the VM does not always line up with your actual mouse pointer.  Luckily, this is easily correctable.  To fix it, add the following flag to your kvm command when starting the virtual machine: ‘-usbdevice tablet’.