10.3. Installing Drivers during the Windows Installation

Procedure 10.3. Installing virtio drivers during the Windows installation

1. Install the virtio-win package

   Use the following command to install the virtio-win package:

   # yum install virtio-win

2. Create the guest virtual machine

   Important

   Create the virtual machine, as normal, without starting the virtual machine. Follow one of the procedures below.
   Select one of the following guest-creation methods, and follow the instructions.

   1. Create the guest virtual machine with virsh

      This method attaches the virtio driver floppy disk to a Windows guest before the installation.
      If the virtual machine is created from an XML definition file with virsh, use the virsh define command not the virsh create command.
      1. Create, but do not start, the virtual machine. Refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Virtualization Administration Guide for details on creating virtual machines with the virsh command.
      2. Add the driver disk as a virtualized floppy disk with the virsh command. This example can be copied and used if there are no other virtualized floppy devices attached to the guest virtual machine. Note that vm_name should be replaced with the name of the virtual machine.

         # virsh attach-disk vm_name /usr/share/virtio-win/virtio-win.vfd fda --type floppy

         You can now continue with Step 3.

   2. Create the guest virtual machine with virt-manager and changing the disk type

      1. At the final step of the virt-manager guest creation wizard, check the Customize configuration before install check box.
         

         Figure 10.16. The virt-manager guest creation wizard

         Click on the Finish button to continue.

      2. Open the Add Hardware wizard

         Click the Add Hardware button in the bottom left of the new panel.

      3. Select storage device

         Storage is the default selection in the Hardware type list.
         

         Figure 10.17. The Add new virtual hardware wizard

         Ensure the Select managed or other existing storage radio button is selected. Click Browse....
         

         Figure 10.18. Select managed or existing storage

         In the new window that opens, click Browse Local. Navigate to /usr/share/virtio-win/virtio-win.vfd, and click Select to confirm.
         Change Device type to Floppy disk, and click Finish to continue.
         

         Figure 10.19. Change the Device type

      4. Confirm settings

         Review the device settings.
         

         Figure 10.20. The virtual machine hardware information window

         You have now created a removable device accessible by your virtual machine.

      5. Change the hard disk type

         To change the hard disk type from IDE Disk to Virtio Disk, we must first remove the existing hard disk, Disk 1. Select the disk and click on the Remove button.
         

         Figure 10.21. The virtual machine hardware information window

         Add a new virtual storage device by clicking Add Hardware. Then, change the Device type from IDE disk to Virtio Disk. Click Finish to confirm the operation.
         

         Figure 10.22. The virtual machine hardware information window

      6. Ensure settings are correct

         Review the settings for VirtIO Disk 1.
         

         Figure 10.23. The virtual machine hardware information window

         When you are satisfied with the configuration details, click the Begin Installation button.
         You can now continue with Step 3.

   3. Create the guest virtual machine with virt-install

      Append the following parameter exactly as listed below to add the driver disk to the installation with the virt-install command:

      --disk path=/usr/share/virtio-win/virtio-win.vfd,device=floppy

      Important

      If the device you wish to add is a disk (that is, not a floppy or a cdrom), you will also need to add the bus=virtio option to the end of the --disk parameter, like so:

      --disk path=/usr/share/virtio-win/virtio-win.vfd,device=disk,bus=virtio

      According to the version of Windows you are installing, append one of the following options to the virt-install command:

      --os-variant win2k3

      --os-variant win7

      You can now continue with Step 3.

3. Additional steps for driver installation

   During the installation, additional steps are required to install drivers, depending on the type of Windows guest.

   1. Windows Server 2003

      Before the installation blue screen repeatedly press F6 for third party drivers.
      

      Figure 10.24. The Windows Setup screen

      Press S to install additional device drivers.
      

      Figure 10.25. The Windows Setup screen

      

      Figure 10.26. The Windows Setup screen

      Press Enter to continue the installation.

   2. Windows Server 2008

      Follow the same procedure for Windows Server 2003, but when the installer prompts you for the driver, click on Load Driver, point the installer to Drive A: and pick the driver that suits your guest operating system and architecture.