Creating a New SBC SWe Instance on KVM Hypervisor

To install SBC on a virtual machine (VM), you must first create a VM and allocate its resources (for example CPU, memory, and NICs), as well as configure a datastore to contain the SBC operating system and application software.

To create a new SBC SWe KVM instance, perform the following steps.

1. Perform the following to export the display on your desktop if you are remotely accessing the KVM host system.

   1. Log on to KVM host system through SSH and telnet client such as PuTTY using the following command:

      export DISPLAY=<system_IP>:0.0

      where <system_IP> is the system IP address where GUI is exported for display.
      
      

   2. Enter the following command to launch the virtual machine manager (virt manager) on your system.

      virt-manager

      Ensure Xserver is running on the host system to import the display on your desktop.

2. Click New to create a new VM.

   Virtual Machine Manager

   

    

   
   The Create new virtual machine window displays.

    

3. In Step 1 of Create a new virtual machine window:
   

   1. Select Local install media (ISO image or CDROM).

   2. Click Forward.

      Create New Virtual Machine

      

      
      The locate your install media window displays.

       

4. In Step 2 of Create a new virtual machine window:

   1. Select Use ISO image and click Browse.

      Locate Install Media

      

      
      The Locate ISO media volume window displays.

       

   2. Click Browse Local.

      The ISO location could be /var/lib/libvirt/images or /root/.

      Locate ISO media volume

      

      
      The Locate ISO media window displays.

       

5. In Step 2 of Create a new virtual machine window: 
   1. Click the OS type drop-down list and select Linux.
   2. Click the Version drop-down list and select Debian Jessie.

   3. Click Forward.

      OS Selection

      

      
      The memory and CPU settings window displays.
      

       

6. In Step 3 of Create a new virtual machine window:
   
   1. In the Memory (RAM) field enter 10240 MiB as the RAM size.
   2. In the CPUs field enter 4 as the number of vCPUs.

   3. Click Forward.

      A minimum of 10 GB of RAM and 4 vCPUs is required for optimal performance.

      Memory and CPU Settings

      

      
      The storage details window displays.

      Refer to SBC SWe Performance Metrics for more information on memory required for different call capacities.

      
      

       

7. In Step 4 of Create a new virtual machine window:

   1. Select the Enable storage for this virtual machine option.

   2. Select the Create a disk image for the virtual machine option and enter 100 GiB as the hard drive space.

   3. Click Forward.

      A minimum of 65 GiB is required for optimum performance.

      VM Storage Information

      

      
      The ready to begin installation window displays.

       

8. In Step 5 of Create a new virtual machine window:

   1. Select the Customize configuration before install checkbox.

   2. Click Finish.
      

      VM Installation Information

      

      
      The VM configuration screen displays.
      

       

9. Perform the following steps to configure the VM settings
   1. In the left pane, click CPUs. The corresponding processor options are displayed.
      
      1. In CPUs section,
         
         1. Type the required number of CPUs in for Current allocation field.

         2. Type the required number of CPUs in for  Maximum allocation field.

            By default the Current allocation and Maximum allocation fields are set to 1, change them accordingly to the requirement.

            The Model field displays the host CPU configuration running on the host system like SandyBridge or Nehalem.

      2. In Configuration section, choose SandyBridge as model.
      3. In Topology section:
         
         1. Select Manually set CPU topology checkbox.
         2. In the Sockets field enter 1 as the number of sockets required for the instance.
         3. In the Cores field enter 4 as the number of cores required for the instance.

         4. In the Threads field enter 1 as the number of threads required for the instance.

         5. Click Apply. 
            
            

            VM Configuration Screen

            
   2. In the left pane, click IDE Disk 1. 

      1. In Advanced options drop-down, choose IDE as Disk bus.

      2. Click Apply. 
         

         Disk Options Information

         

          

      3. In the left pane, click NIC :xx:xx:xx.   
      4. In Network source drop-down, choose MGT bridge. 
      5. In Device model drop-down, choose virtio.

      6. Click Apply.

         To add HA, PKT0, and PKT1 bridges, click Add Hardware and follow steps from i to iii.

         Virtual Network Interface

         

   3. Configure the VM for CPU pinning to optimize performance. Complete the following steps:

      1. Force off the instance.
      2. Complete the CPU pinning procedure. 

      3. Return to the VM Configuration screen and select Boot Options in the left pane. 

         Boot Options

         

      4. Update the Boot device order so that IDE CDROM1 is first, followed by VirtIO Disk 1.

      5. Click Apply.

      
      

10. Click Begin Installation.

    VM Basic Details

    

    The installation window displays.