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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.macstadium.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Windows does not include Virtio drivers by default. These drivers need to be installed from a mounted disk during Windows installation. For Windows Server installation, MacStadium highly recommends the use of the Windows Server recipe.
  1. Windows requires additional drivers in order to access Private Cloud’s virtualized storage and network hardware. To install a Windows VM manually, select Machines Dashboard → Virtual Machines.
  2. Click New VM.
Private Cloud Machines Dashboard with New VM button New VM
  1. The Select Type tab opens. The left-hand side of the screen contains a list of options (Operating Systems, Services, and so on.) The right-hand side of the screen contains a list of recipes. Select New VM and click Next.
Private Cloud Select Type tab with New VM option selected Next
  1. The Virtual Machine Setting tab opens.
Private Cloud Virtual Machine Settings tabVirtual Settings Tab
  1. In the VM Recipe Instance box, complete the following fields:
  • Name
  • Cores
  • RAM
  • Cluster (can be left as Default)
  • OS Family = Windows
  • Attach Virtio Drives = checked
Private Cloud VM Recipe Instance fields with Attach Virtio Drives checkbox checked VM Recipe Instance Make sure the Attach Virtio Drivers checkbox is selected. This is required to install the Windows operating system. A Windows Install ISO must be uploaded to Media Images before installation.
  1. In the Drives box, make sure the Create CD-ROM Drive is set to Use Local Media Image. Select an uploaded Windows install ISO.
Private Cloud Drives section with CD-ROM Drive set to Use Local Media Image Drives
  1. In the Network box, set the NIC Interface to Virtio , and the Attach Network Interface to Internal.
Private Cloud Network section with NIC Interface set to Virtio and Internal network selected Network
  1. Click Submit.
Private Cloud Virtual Machine Settings completed and ready to submitVirtual Machine Settings
  1. In the New VM (Windows) page, click Power.
Private Cloud New VM page with Power button highlighted
  1. In the Confirmation box, click Power On.
Private Cloud Power On confirmation dialog Power On
  1. Open the Console by clicking the Console button.
Private Cloud VM page with Console button highlighted Console Button
  1. When prompted, press any key to begin installation.
  2. The Windows screen opens, click Next.
Windows setup language and region screen Windows
  1. Click Install Now.
Windows setup screen with Install Now button Install Now
  1. Accept the license terms and click Next.
Windows setup license terms screen Advanced
  1. Select Custom: Install Windows Only (advanced).Windows setup installation type selection with Custom option
Custom
  1. The installation will fail to find any drives. At this point, the virtio storage drivers need to be loaded to continue the install. Click Load Driver.
Windows setup Where to install screen with no drives found and Load Driver button Load Driver
  1. Click OK.
Windows Load Driver browse dialog OK
  1. Select the driver for the corresponding Windows version, according to the folder name. For example, the Windows 10 driver is located in E:\amd64\w10\.
Windows driver selection list showing Virtio SCSI drivers by OS version Windows 10 Driver
  1. Windows begins to install. Allow the installation to finish. Network connectivity does not work during the install, this is expected, as Windows does not come with Virtio network drivers.
Windows setup installation progress bar Installing Windows
  1. Once installed, additional drivers need to be installed to allow network connectivity. To do this, open Explorer, and navigate to This PC. A CD drive with Virtio drivers should be accessible.
Windows Explorer showing This PC with Virtio drivers CD drive CD
  1. Double click on virtio-win-gt-x64.
Windows Explorer with virtio-win-gt-x64 installer file highlighted File Name
  1. When the Setup Wizard opens, click Next.
Virtio Windows Guest Tools Setup Wizard welcome screen Wizard
  1. Accept the terms and click Next.
Virtio Windows Guest Tools license terms screen Terms 25. Choose all and click Next. Virtio Windows Guest Tools component selection screen with all options selected Select All
  1. Click Install to begin the installation.
Virtio Windows Guest Tools ready to install screen with Install button Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Virtio Windows Guest Tools installation progress bar Progress Bar
  1. Click Finish to complete the Setup Wizard.
Virtio Windows Guest Tools Setup Wizard completion screen with Finish button Finish
  1. Install Guest tools by clicking on the file virtio-win-guest-tools. Then accept the license terms and click Install.
Virtio guest tools installer with Install button Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Virtio guest tools installation progress bar Progress Bar
  1. Click Close to complete the installation. Windows is now ready for use.
Virtio guest tools installation complete screen with Close button Close