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
3. 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
4. The Virtual Machine Setting tab opens.
Virtual Settings Tab
5. 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.
6. 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
7. In the Network box, set the NIC Interface to Virtio, and the Attach Network Interface to Internal.
Network
8. Click Submit.
Virtual Machine Settings
9. In the New VM (Windows) page, click Power.
10. In the Confirmation box, click Power On.
Power On
11. Open the Console by clicking the Console button.
Console Button
12. When prompted, press any key to begin installation.
13. The Windows screen opens, click Next.
Windows
14. Click Install Now.
Install Now
15. Accept the license terms and click Next.
Advanced
16. Select Custom: Install Windows Only (advanced).
Custom
17. 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
18. Click OK.
OK
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. Double click on virtio-win-gt-x64.
File Name
23. When the Setup Wizard opens, click Next.
Wizard
24. Accept the terms and click Next.
Terms
25. Choose all and click Next.
Select All
26. Click Install to begin the installation.
Install
27. The progress bar appears.
Progress Bar
28. Click Finish to complete the Setup Wizard.
Finish
29. Install Guest tools by clicking on the file virtio-win-guest-tools. Then accept the license terms and click Install.
Install
30. The progress bar appears.
Progress Bar
31. Click Close to complete the installation. Windows is now ready for use.
Close