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Hyper-V

This article refers to Platform v2.9.0. The current Platform version is v3.2.0.

Overview​

This guide walks you through installing Barbara OS on a Hyper-V virtual machine running on a Windows host. Barbara OS ships as a .vhdx image that you attach to a Generation 2 VM. Because Barbara OS is not signed against the Microsoft Secure Boot keys, you also need to disable Secure Boot on the VM.

warning

Hyper-V is only available on Windows Professional and Windows Server 2019 or newer.

Pre-requisites​

  1. Enable the Hyper-V feature on your Windows host. Microsoft and your hardware vendor publish detailed instructions — for example, this Dell guide for Windows 11.
  2. Download the Hyper-V Barbara OS image from Barbara Panel as a .zip, then extract it to a folder you can reach from Hyper-V Manager.
Download the Hyper-V image from Barbara Panel

Download the Hyper-V image from Barbara Panel

Hardware requirements​

Minimum​

  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Disk: 32 GB
  • CPU: 1 socket / 2 cores
  • Network: 1 × Ethernet interface
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Disk: 64 GB
  • CPU: 2 sockets / 2 cores
  • Network: 2 × Ethernet interfaces

Create the virtual machine​

  1. Open Hyper-V Manager and choose New → Virtual Machine.
New Virtual Machine option in Hyper-V Manager

New Virtual Machine option in Hyper-V Manager

  1. Name the VM (for example, Barbara-Edge-Node) and click Next.
Specify a name for the VM

Specify a name for the VM

  1. Select Generation 2. This is required for UEFI boot.
Select Generation 2

Select Generation 2

  1. Assign memory. Use at least 2048 MB. Keep Dynamic Memory enabled and click Next.
Assign memory

Assign memory

  1. Configure the network. Select Default Switch (or any virtual switch that gives the VM access to Barbara Panel).
Select the Default Switch

Select the Default Switch

  1. Connect the virtual disk. Choose Use an existing virtual hard disk and select the .vhdx you downloaded from Panel.
Select the Barbara OS VHDX

Select the Barbara OS VHDX

  1. Review the configuration and click Finish.
Review the VM configuration

Review the VM configuration

Disable Secure Boot​

Right-click the newly created VM and open Settings → Security. Uncheck Secure Boot.

Disable Secure Boot on the VM

Disable Secure Boot on the VM

warning

If Secure Boot is left enabled, Barbara OS will not boot.

Boot Barbara OS​

  1. From Hyper-V Manager, Connect to the VM.
  2. Click Start to power it on.
Connect to the VM

Connect to the VM

Barbara OS boots on the VM. The console eventually displays the Barbara ID and a QR code.

Barbara OS booting in Hyper-V

Barbara OS booting in Hyper-V

Summary​

You have created a Hyper-V Generation 2 VM, attached the Barbara OS VHDX, disabled Secure Boot, and booted Barbara OS. The next step is to retrieve the Barbara ID of the node — see Get the Barbara ID of the node — and register it in Panel.