8.4.3.7. Virtual Machine Boot Options Settings Explained

These settings apply to adding or editing new virtual machines.
The Virtual Machine: Boot Options settings table details the information required on the Boot Options tab of the New or Edit windows.

Table 8.8. Virtual Machine: Boot Options Settings

Field Name
Description
First Device
After installing a new virtual machine, the new virtual machine must go into Boot mode before powering up. Select the first device that the virtual machine must try to boot:
  • Hard Disk
  • CD-ROM
  • Network (PXE)
Second Device
Select the second device for the virtual machine to use to boot if the first device is not available. The first device selected in the previous option does not appear in the options.
Attach CD
If you have selected CD-ROM as a boot device, tick this check box and select a CD-ROM image from the drop-down menu. The images must be available in the ISO domain.
Boot Options
Defines the virtual machine's boot sequence, running options, and source images for installing the operating system and required drivers.
  • Attach Floppy - Attaches a floppy disk image to the virtual machine. Use this option to install Windows drivers. The floppy disk image must reside in the ISO domain.
  • Attach CD - Attaches an ISO image to the virtual machine. Use this option to install the virtual machine's operating system and applications. The CD image must reside in the ISO domain.
  • Boot Sequence - Determines the order in which the boot devices are used to boot the virtual machine. Select either Hard Disk, CD-ROM or Network, and use the arrow keys to move the option up or down.
  • Run Stateless - Deletes all changes to the virtual machine upon shutdown.
  • Start in Pause Mode - Starts then pauses the virtual machine to enable connection to the console, suitable for virtual machines in remote locations.
Linux Boot Options
The following options boot a Linux kernel directly instead of through the BIOS bootloader.
  • kernel path - A fully-qualified path to a kernel image to boot the virtual machine. The kernel image must be stored on either the ISO domain (path name in the format of iso://path-to-image) or on the host's local storage domain (path name in the format of /data/images).
  • initrd path - A fully-qualified path to a ramdisk image to be used with the previously specified kernel. The ramdisk image must be stored on the ISO domain (path name in the format of iso://path-to-image) or on the host's local storage domain (path name in the format of /data/images).
  • kernel params - Kernel command line parameter strings to be used with the defined kernel on boot.