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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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 11.28.47 AM.png 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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 11.41.55 AM.png Next
  1. The Virtual Machine Setting tab opens.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 11.43.27 AM.pngVirtual 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
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 11.44.35 AM.png 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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 11.45.54 AM.png Drives
  1. In the Network box, set the NIC Interface to Virtio , and the Attach Network Interface to Internal.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.27.02 PM.png Network
  1. Click Submit.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.28.01 PM.pngVirtual Machine Settings
  1. In the New VM (Windows) page, click Power.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.29.04 PM.png
  1. In the Confirmation box, click Power On.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.29.55 PM.png Power On
  1. Open theConsole by clicking the Console button.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.33.29 PM.png Console Button
  1. When prompted, press any key to begin installation.
  2. The Windows screen opens, click Next.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.35.52 PM.png Windows
  1. ClickInstall Now.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.36.53 PM.png Install Now
  1. Accept the license terms and click Next.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.37.45 PM.png Advanced
  1. Select Custom: Install Windows Only (advanced).Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.39.09 PM.png
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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.40.40 PM.png Load Driver
  1. Click OK.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.41.27 PM.png 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\.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.42.11 PM.png 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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.43.48 PM.png 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.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.44.51 PM.png CD
  1. Double click on virtio-win-gt-x64.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.45.47 PM.png File Name
  1. When the Setup Wizard opens, click Next.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.46.44 PM.png Wizard
  1. Accept the terms and click Next.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.47.44 PM.png Terms 25. Choose all and clickNext. Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.49.07 PM.png Select All
  1. ClickInstall to begin the installation.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.50.14 PM.png Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.51.17 PM.png Progress Bar
  1. Click Finish to complete the Setup Wizard.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.52.08 PM.png Finish
  1. Install Guest tools by clicking on the file virtio-win-guest-tools. Then accept the license terms and click Install.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.52.54 PM.png Install
  1. The progress bar appears.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.53.53 PM.png Progress Bar
  1. Click Close to complete the installation. Windows is now ready for use.
Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 12.54.41 PM.png Close