Windows 8 - Setup, XML, etc. w/o passthrough

[EdgarWallace]

I didn't wanted the hijack any of the other Windows KVM related threads, so though it's a better idea to open a new one.

 

For me the starting points to migrate my Windows VM were jonp's "unRAID 6.0 Beta 7 - KVM-Specific Updates" and of course peter_sm's "Sample xml file for windows 8.1 and GPU/USB passthrough" threads.

 

Well it wasn't a migration, I basically installed Windows 8.1 from scratch but with the examples mentioned above it was really a walk in the park. I had an issue at the very beginning of the installation where no disc was found. I changed the following line in my win8.xml:

<target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>

 

...and used this instead:

<target dev='hda'/> this was working well

 

Can anyone explain the difference or possible downside of how I implemented my stuff?

 

Another important item that I might have overlooked was to add two additional drivers from virtio-win-0.1-81.iso (can be downloaded from here:https://alt.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/virtio-win/latest/images/bin/). This was needed for the network and to implement the VirtIO balloon driver. Afterwards, the Win8 device manager wasn't showing any issues.

 

I was starting w/o any passthrough. At some point in time I need my DVD ROM up and running but this is handled in another thread.

 

For those who are interested - here is my xml:

domain type='kvm' xmlns:qemu='http://libvirt.org/schemas/domain/qemu/1.0'>
  <name>win8</name>
  <uuid>cc411d70-4463-4db7-bf36-d364c0cdaa9d</uuid>
  <memory unit='GB'>2</memory>
  <currentMemory unit='GB'>2</currentMemory>
  <vcpu placement='static'>2</vcpu>

  <resource>
    <partition>/machine</partition>
  </resource>

  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64' machine='q35'>hvm</type>
    <boot dev='cdrom'/>
  </os>

  <features>
    <acpi/>
    <apic/>
  </features>

  <cpu mode='host-passthrough'>
  </cpu>

  <clock offset='localtime'/>

  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>

  <devices>
    <emulator>/usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64</emulator>

<!-- VIRTUAL DISK (QCOW2)-->
    <disk type="file" device="disk">
      <driver name='qemu' type='qcow2' />
      <source file='/mnt/cache/.VMs/win8/win8.qcow2' />
      <target dev='hda'/>
    </disk>

<!-- VIRTUAL CD-ROM Windows Install ISO -->
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/cache/.VMs/win8/win8_Enterp.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdc' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
    </disk>

<!-- VIRTUAL CD-ROM: virtIO Driver for Windows ISO -->
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/cache/.VMs/win8/virtio-win-0.1-81.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdd' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
    </disk>

    <controller type='sata' index='0'>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pcie-root'/>
    <controller type='pci' index='1' model='dmi-to-pci-bridge'>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='2' model='pci-bridge'>
    </controller>
    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='none'>
    </controller>

    <interface type='bridge'>
      <source bridge='br0'/>
      <mac address='02:16:3e:1a:b3:4a'/>
      <model type='virtio'/>
    </interface>

    <graphics type='vnc' port='5900'>
      <listen type='address' address='0.0.0.0'/>
    </graphics>

    <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
    <memballoon model='virtio'/>

  </devices>

  <qemu:commandline>
  
  </qemu:commandline>

</domain>

[peter_sm]

Hi,

 

Go back and change to this..

 

<target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>

 

During install.. where you not see any drives .... install drivers from virtio CD ... then your install drive (virtio) shows up, and you can continue install 

 

//Peter 

[EdgarWallace]

Thanks Peter. I have found this link: https://www.bfccomputing.com/converting-a-windows-vista-kvm-virtual-machine-to-redhat-virtio-drivers/.

 

This might help in avoiding a reinstall.