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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.
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.
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
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.
Drives
  1. In the Network box, set the NIC Interface to Virtio, and the Attach Network Interface to Internal.
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.
  1. In the Confirmation box, click Power On.
Power On
  1. Open the Console by clicking the Console button.
Console Button
  1. When prompted, press any key to begin installation.
  2. The Windows screen opens, click Next.
Windows
  1. Click Install Now.
Install Now
  1. Accept the license terms and click Next.
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.
Load Driver
  1. Click OK.
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 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.
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.
CD
  1. Double click on virtio-win-gt-x64.
File Name
  1. When the Setup Wizard opens, click Next.
Wizard
  1. Accept the terms and click Next.
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.
Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Progress Bar
  1. Click Finish to complete the Setup Wizard.
Finish
  1. Install Guest tools by clicking on the file virtio-win-guest-tools. Then accept the license terms and click Install.
Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Progress Bar
  1. Click Close to complete the installation. Windows is now ready for use.
Close

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Windows 2022 InstallationVM Creation and OS InstallationCreating a New VM ManuallyMacStadium VDI 1.0 release notesNetwork Firewalls Mac Mini Connect