New Windows (client) appliance

[branzo]

Apparently Microsoft released Windows 11 test VMs (to replace the long gone ModernIE, I guess).

https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/virtual-machines/

Would it be possible to have it added to the templates?

[eantowne]

I will try to build this over the long weekend.

A couple of observations, totally just my opinion.

24GB .vmdk "By using the virtual machines, you are accepting the EULAs for all the installed products listed above" - That is pretty open ended.

[grossmj]

If this is of any help, I was able to install Windows 11 in a Qemu VM using the following commands on Ubuntu Jammy:

Install the TPM emulator swtpm

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stefanberger/swtpm-jammy
sudo apt update
sudo apt install swtpm

Install OVMF:

sudo apt install ovmf

Run swtpm:

swtpm socket --tpm2 --tpmstate dir=/tmp/emulated_tpm --ctrl type=unixio,path=/tmp/emulated_tpm/swtpm.sock

Run Qemu:

qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -m 4096 -smp 2 -cpu host -device ac97 -audiodev alsa,id=snd0,out.buffer-length=500000,out.period-length=726 -usb -device usb-tablet -device virtio-keyboard-pci -net nic -net user -cdrom Win11_22H2_English_x64v1.iso -hda win11.img -machine q35,smm=on -global driver=cfi.pflash01,property=secure,value=on -drive if=pflash,format=raw,unit=0,file=/usr/share/ovmf/OVMF.fd,readonly=on -drive if=pflash,format=raw,unit=1,file=OVMF_VARS.fd -chardev socket,id=chrtpm,path="/tmp/emulated_tpm/swtpm.sock" -tpmdev emulator,id=tpm0,chardev=chrtpm -device tpm-tis,tpmdev=tpm0 

[eantowne]

This request is actually on my todo list for tonight. Just have to finish configuring this FortiGate in preparation for an ADVPN project and a dedicated Factorio Server :). I should hopefully have something tonight.

I am hoping that the VM's do not require TPM. If they do, then it will require additional instructions beyond just a simple appliance with 25GB virtual disk.

[eantowne]

Of course MS also does not provide a .qcow2, because no one would use KVM, right?

[grossmj]

I am hoping that the VM's do not require TPM.

Hopefully not. If they do then we have a plan to add a TPM option in GNS3 to make things easier: https://github.com/GNS3/gns3-gui/issues/3402

[eantowne]

Realistically, it would be a good thing to add for the future anyway. Additionally, with the Windows local server going away, that will make it a bit easier I would think.

[eantowne]

Looking at the .ovf file, I am going to need to create a new appliance file. The current windows.gns3a only uses 1GB RAM and 1 core. The .ovf specifies 4 cores and 4096 GB RAM.

[eantowne]

@grossmj What is the current recommended appliance schema? I see a lot of the appliances are using v4, but there is also a v5 and v6 schema.

[grossmj]

@grossmj What is the current recommended appliance schema? I see a lot of the appliances are using v4, but there is also a v5 and v6 schema.

I think you can use v4 for now. v5 and v6 add a few settings.

[eantowne]

Ok, thanks!

[eantowne]

@grossmj I do not think this is going to work.

• After converting the 24GB .vmdk to .qcow2, new .qcow2 size is 46GB!
• Neither the .vmdk nor the .qcow2 are able to boot. "Boot failed: could not read the boot disk"

• 

[eantowne]

Could this be an EFI issue? I thought the current versions of ovmf include tianocore to allow for EFI booting? Or is there an option needed to be added to specify EFI?

[eantowne]

Figured out tianocore, still working through this.

[eantowne]

Got it working, final testing in progress. Should have a PR in a few minutes.

[eantowne]

PR 723 submitted.

@grossmj @branzo

[eantowne]

@grossmj Recommend to "close as completed"