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10.3. Installing Drivers during the Windows Installation

This procedure covers installing the virtio drivers during a Windows installation.
This method allows a Windows guest virtual machine to use the virtio drivers for the default storage device.

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.
        Step 5 of 5 of creating a new virtual machine with virt-manager, with a check box selected under Storage to customize configuration before install.

        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.
        The Add new virtual hardware wizard with Storage selected in the Hardware type field.

        Figure 10.17. The Add new virtual hardware wizard

        Ensure the Select managed or other existing storage radio button is selected. Click Browse....
        The Add new virtual hardware wizard with Storage selected in the Hardware type field, and the Select managed or other existing storage radio button selected.

        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.
        The Device type field, set to Floppy Disk.

        Figure 10.19. Change the Device type

      4. Confirm settings

        Review the device settings.
        The virtual machine hardware information window with the target device (Floppy 1) selected.

        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.
        The virtual machine hardware information window with virtual disk Disk 1 selected, with the Remove button available at the bottom right corner of the window.

        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.
        The virtual machine hardware information window with the Floppy 1 target device selected, and the Add Hardware on the left bottom corner of the window.

        Figure 10.22. The virtual machine hardware information window

      6. Ensure settings are correct

        Review the settings for VirtIO Disk 1.
        The virtual machine hardware information window with the Overview option selected, showing Basic Details, Hypervisor Details, plus expandable headings Machine Setting and Security, in the right part of the window.

        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.
      The Windows pre-installation blue screen reads Window Setup at the top in plain text, and "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver..." at the bottom.

      Figure 10.24. The Windows Setup screen

      Press S to install additional device drivers.
      The next Windows pre-installation blue screen reads Window Setup at the top in plain text and details the option to install an additional device. Options at the bottom of the screen include S to "Specify Additional Device", ENTER to continue, or F3 to exit.

      Figure 10.25. The Windows Setup screen

      The next Windows blue screen reads Window Setup at the top in plain text and provides options to select the SCSI Adapter to be installed. Options at the bottom of the screen include ENTER to select, or F3 to exit.

      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.