Create a Windows VM from ISO image in Google Distributed Cloud

This document shows you how to create a Windows virtual machine (VM) that boots from an ISO using VM Runtime on GDC. When the VM boots, you manually complete the Windows setup routine.

You can also create a Windows VM from a prepared disk image using an HTTP source or from Cloud Storage .

Before you begin

To complete this document, you need access to the following resources:

• Access to Google Distributed Cloud version 1.12.0 ( anthosBareMetalVersion: 1.12.0 ) or higher cluster. You can use any cluster type capable of running workloads. If needed, try Google Distributed Cloud on Compute Engine or see the cluster creation overview .
• The virtctl client tool installed as a plugin for kubectl . If needed, install the virtctl client tool .

Create a virtual disk for the ISO image

To successfully create a Windows VM, follow the steps and sections in this document in order.

To boot from a Windows ISO image, first create a VirtualMachineDisk with diskType of cdrom . Use your Windows ISO as the source for this disk.

1. Create a VirtualMachineDisk manifest, such as windows-iso.yaml , in the editor of your choice:

    nano  
   windows-iso.yaml 
   

2. Copy and paste the following YAML manifest:

     apiVersion 
    : 
     
    vm.cluster.gke.io/v1 
    kind 
    : 
     
    VirtualMachineDisk 
    metadata 
    : 
     
    name 
    : 
     
    windows-iso 
    spec 
    : 
     
    source 
    : 
     
    http 
    : 
     
    url 
    : 
     
     IMG_URL 
    
     
    size 
    : 
     
    10Gi 
     
    diskType 
    : 
     
    cdrom 
    
   

   Replace IMG_URL with the HTTP path to your Windows ISO. You can also create and use credentials to import an ISO from Cloud Storage .

3. Save and close the manifest in your editor.

4. Create the VirtualMachineDisk using kubectl :

    kubectl  
   apply  
   -f  
   windows-iso.yaml 
   

Create a VM drivers disk

To successfully boot from a Windows ISO and complete the install process, the VM needs access to the virtio drivers . To provide the virtio drivers to the VM, complete the following steps:

1. Create a VirtualMachineDisk manifest, such as virtio-driver.yaml , in the editor of your choice:

    nano  
   virtio-driver.yaml 
   

2. Copy and paste the following YAML manifest:

     apiVersion 
    : 
     
    vm.cluster.gke.io/v1 
    kind 
    : 
     
    VirtualMachineDisk 
    metadata 
    : 
     
    name 
    : 
     
    virtio-driver 
    spec 
    : 
     
    size 
    : 
     
    1Gi 
     
    source 
    : 
     
    registry 
    : 
     
    url 
    : 
     
    docker://quay.io/kubevirt/virtio-container-disk:latest 
     
    diskType 
    : 
     
    cdrom 
    
   

   This manifest pulls the latest virtio drivers from a public Docker repo and sets the diskType as cdrom . Your VM uses this disk during the install process.

3. Save and close the manifest in your editor.

4. Create the VirtualMachineDisk using kubectl :

    kubectl  
   apply  
   -f  
   virtio-driver.yaml 
   

Create a Windows VM

Create a VM that boots from the Windows ISO VirtualMachineDisk , and attaches the virtio drivers disk:

1. Create a manifest that defines a VirtualMachineDisk for the boot volume and a VirtualMachine , such as windows-vm.yaml , in the editor of your choice:

    nano  
   windows-vm.yaml 
   

2. Copy and paste the following YAML manifest:

     apiVersion 
    : 
     
    vm.cluster.gke.io/v1 
    kind 
    : 
     
    VirtualMachineDisk 
    metadata 
    : 
     
    name 
    : 
     
     VM_NAME 
    
   -boot-dv spec 
    : 
     
    size 
    : 
     
    100Gi 
    --- 
    apiVersion 
    : 
     
    vm.cluster.gke.io/v1 
    kind 
    : 
     
    VirtualMachine 
    metadata 
    : 
     
    name 
    : 
     
     VM_NAME 
    
    spec 
    : 
     
    osType 
    : 
     
    Windows 
     
    disks 
    : 
     
    - 
     
    virtualMachineDiskName 
    : 
     
     VM_NAME 
    
   -boot-dv  
    boot 
    : 
     
    true 
     
    - 
     
    virtualMachineDiskName 
    : 
     
    windows-iso 
     
    - 
     
    virtualMachineDiskName 
    : 
     
    virtio-driver 
     
    compute 
    : 
     
    cpu 
    : 
     
    vcpus 
    : 
     
    2 
     
    memory 
    : 
     
    capacity 
    : 
     
    4Gi 
     
    interfaces 
    : 
     
    - 
     
    name 
    : 
     
    eth0 
     
    networkName 
    : 
     
    pod-network 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name that you want for your VM.

   This manifest creates a 100 Gibibyte (GiB) boot volume. As this boot volume is empty when the VM first starts, the VM boots from ISO as a CD-ROM device to start the setup routine. The virtio drivers are also attached to complete the install process.

3. Save and close the manifest in your editor.

4. Create the VirtualMachineDisk and VirtualMachine using kubectl :

    kubectl  
   apply  
   -f  
   windows-vm.yaml 
   

Connect to Windows VM and complete OS install

The VM starts and boots from the Windows ISO in the previous section. Connect to your VM and complete the Windows install process and configure your VM:

1. Connect to your Windows VM:

    kubectl  
   virt  
   vnc  
    VM_NAME 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name of your Windows VM.

   When prompted, enter your Windows guest OS user credentials for your VM.

   For more information about using kubectl virt vnc to connect to your VM, see Connect directly using VNC .

2. In the Windows setup, choose to perform a Custom install.

3. Select Load driver, browse to the viostordirectory on the virtio disk, then select the directory that matches the version of Windows you want to install.

   For more information, see KubeVirt Windows virtio drivers .

4. With the storage and network drivers from virtio now available, complete the rest of the Windows install process.

   We recommend that you enable Remote Desktop Protocol so you can connect directly to the VM after install.

Detach the ISO image and drivers disk

After the Windows install is complete, remove the virtio drivers disk and Windows ISO image from the VM:

1. Stop your Windows VM:

    kubectl  
   virt  
   stop  
    VM_NAME 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name of your Windows VM.

2. Use kubectl to edit the VM:

    kubectl  
   edit  
   gvm  
    VM_NAME 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name of your Windows VM.

3. In your editor, update the spec.disks section to remove the Windows ISO and virtio disks, as shown in the following example. The only disk left attached to the VM should be the VM_NAME -boot-dv :

     apiVersion 
    : 
     
    vm.cluster.gke.io/v1 
    kind 
    : 
     
    VirtualMachine 
    metadata 
    : 
     
    name 
    : 
     
    windows-vm 
    spec 
    : 
     
    osType 
    : 
     
    Windows 
     
    disks 
    : 
     
    - 
     
    virtualMachineDiskName 
    : 
     
    windows-vm-boot-dv 
     
    boot 
    : 
     
    true 
     
    interfaces 
    : 
    ... 
    
   

4. Save and close the VM manifest.

5. Start your Windows VM:

    kubectl  
   virt  
   start  
    VM_NAME 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name of your Windows VM.

6. Check the STATUS of your VM:

    kubectl get gvm VM_NAME 
    
   

   Replace VM_NAME with the name of your Windows VM.

   Make sure that your VM is in a Running state. If the VM isn't in a Running state, check your VirtualMachine resource manifest to make sure you only removed the Windows ISO and virtio disk. Check that the host has enough compute resources to start your VM.

What's next

• Connect to VMs
• Manage the power state of a VM