8.2. Create a Windows Virtual Machine

You already know how to create a Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machine from scratch. The procedure for creating a Windows virtual machine is similar, except that it requires additional virtio drivers. This example uses Windows 7, but you can also use other Windows operating systems. You will perform a normal attended installation using a virtual DVD.

To create a Windows server

  1. Navigate to the Tree pane and click Expand All. Click the VMs icon in the Default cluster under the Default data center. On the Virtual Machines tab, click New Desktop.
    Create new Windows desktop

    Figure 8.1. Create new Windows desktop


    You only need to fill in the Name field and select Windows 7 as your Operating System. You may alter other settings, but this example retains the defaults. Click OK to create the virtual machine.
  2. A New Virtual Machine - Guide Me window opens. This allows you to define networks for the virtual machine. Click Configure Network Interfaces.
    New Network Interface configurations

    Figure 8.2. New Network Interface configurations


    Retain all the default settings and click OK.
  3. You are returned to the Guide Me window. This time, click Configure Virtual Disks to add storage to the virtual machine.
    New Virtual Disk configurations

    Figure 8.3. New Virtual Disk configurations


    In the Size (GB) field, enter 15. Retain all other default settings and click OK.
  4. Close the Guide Me window. Your new Windows 7 virtual machine displays in the Virtual Machines tab.
You have now created your first Windows desktop virtual machine. Before you can use your virtual machine, install an operating system on it.

To install the Windows guest operating system

  1. Right click the virtual machine and select Run Once. Configure the following options:
    • Attach Floppy: virtio-win
    • Attach CD: Your Windows installation media
    • Boot sequence: CD-ROM
    • Display protocol: SPICE
    Retain the default settings for the other options and click OK to start the virtual machine.
  2. Select the virtual machine and click the Console ( ) icon. If this is your first time connecting to the virtual machine, allow the installation of SPICE ActiveX and the SPICE client.
  3. After the SPICE plugins have been installed, select the virtual machine and click Console again. This displays a window to the virtual machine, where you will be prompted to begin the installation process.
  4. Accept the default settings and enter the required information as necessary. The only change you must make is to manually install the VirtIO drivers from the virtual floppy disk (vfd) image. To do so, select the Custom (advanced) installation option and click Load Driver. Press Ctrl and select:
    • Red Hat VirtIO Ethernet Adapter
    • Red Hat VirtIO SCSI Controller
  5. The installation process commences, and the system will reboot itself several times.
    When the virtual machine has finished installing, it is time to install RHEV-tools which provide some required features including optimizing SPICE display resolution. Press F12 to release the mouse and click on the SPICE symbol on the upper left hand corner of the SPICE window. In the menu, select Change CD → RHEV-toolsSetup to attach the Guest Tools ISO to the virtual machine.
  6. On the virtual machine, locate the CD drive (usually D drive) and install the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Application provisioning tool. This tool checks for RHEV-tools updates on every reboot.
  7. After the installation of the tool, wait for a few minutes. During this time, you will not see any apparent activity because the tool runs as a service. The guest will automatically reboot to apply changes.
You have completed the installation of your Windows virtual machine. You can now log in and start using it. In the next lab you will convert this machine into a template from which you will be able to provision multiple similar machines.