Create a Windows Virtual Machine on SvHCI

This article is intended for administrators wishing to create and configure a Windows virtual machine on StorMagic SvHCI, including installing the required VirtIO drivers and QEMU guest tools.

Audience: Administrators Product: SvHCI Topic: Virtual Machines Includes: Windows Installation & VirtIO Drivers

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Scenario

This document details the creation and configuration of a Windows guest operating system virtual machine on StorMagic SvHCI.

Video Resource

The following video demonstrates a complete end-to-end deployment.

First upload your Windows installation ISO into SvHCI.

Note: Windows Server 2022 and newer can boot directly from a PVSCSI controller without requiring additional storage drivers during installation.

Next, upload the VirtIO driver ISO into SvHCI using the latest stable release available from Fedora.

VirtIO Driver ISO:
https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso

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Create the Windows Virtual Machine

Create the Windows virtual machine with both the Windows installation ISO and the VirtIO driver ISO attached.

Upload the Windows and VirtIO ISO images.

Create the Windows virtual machine with both ISOs attached.

Power on the virtual machine, boot from the Windows installation ISO, and begin the Windows installation.

Boot the Windows installation media.

During setup, the virtual disk will not initially be visible because Windows requires the VirtIO storage driver.

Select Load driver.

Select Load driver.

Select Browse.

Browse for the VirtIO driver.

Browse to the attached VirtIO ISO and select the vioscsi driver for 2k22, as shown below.

Select the vioscsi 2k22 driver.

Select Next.

Load the VirtIO storage driver.

The driver will now load and install.

Installing the VirtIO driver.

Once the driver has loaded, the virtual disk will become visible and Windows installation can continue normally.

The virtual disk is now visible.

Proceed with the Windows installation as normal.

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Install QEMU Guest Tools

QEMU guest tools can be installed by mounting the VirtIO ISO, browsing to the appropriate MSI installer, and launching the installation.

Install the QEMU Guest Tools.

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Resolve the PCI Device Warning

After Windows installation, Device Manager may display a PCI device warning for an uninstalled device.

PCI device warning in Device Manager.

Select the device and choose to Update Driver.

Update the PCI device driver.

Browse to the previously mounted VirtIO ISO and select the appropriate driver.

Browse to the VirtIO driver.

Once the driver has been installed, the warning icon will be removed.

PCI device warning resolved.

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SvHCI Windows VM Creation

Create a Windows Virtual Machine on SvHCI

Video Resource

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Create a Windows Virtual Machine on SvHCI

Video Resource

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