Install PhyOS on Hyper-V

Overview

This guide walks you through running PhyOS 5 as a virtual machine on Hyper-V. PhyOS ships as a ready-made virtual hard disk, so there is no installer to run and no media to write - you attach the disk to a new Generation 2 virtual machine and power it on.

Note

The New Virtual Machine wizard asks for networking before it asks for the virtual hard disk, and it does not ask for a processor count. Set the processor count after the virtual machine is created.

Prerequisites

For PhyOS installation

• Windows with the Hyper-V role enabled: Windows 10 or 11 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows Server 2019 or later
• Host capacity for 4 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, and a 64 GB disk
• About 10 GB of free disk space for the download and the extracted disk
• A Hyper-V virtual switch that provides DHCP and outbound internet access
• Internet connection
• Access to the PhyStack console

Install PhyOS

Extract the virtual hard disk, build a Generation 2 virtual machine around it, then power it on.

Download and extract the PhyOS VHDX

1. Download the latest PhyOS Hyper-V image
2. Open a PowerShell window in the download folder
3. Extract the archive:

   tar -xzf phyos.vhdx.tar.gz

4. Move the extracted .vhdx to the folder where you keep virtual hard disks

Note

Windows 10 version 1803 and later include tar. On older builds, extract the archive with 7-Zip instead.

Create the virtual machine

Caution

Select Generation 2. The generation cannot be changed after the virtual machine is created.

1. Open Hyper-V Manager and select Action > New > Virtual Machine
2. Click Next, enter a name, and click Next
3. On Specify Generation, select Generation 2
4. On Assign Memory, enter 4096 MB
5. On Configure Networking, select a virtual switch that provides DHCP and internet access
6. On Connect Virtual Hard Disk, select Use an existing virtual hard disk and browse to the extracted .vhdx
7. Click Finish

Turn off Secure Boot and set the processor count

Caution

Clear Enable Secure Boot before you start the virtual machine for the first time. The virtual machine must be powered off to change this setting.

1. Select the virtual machine and open Settings
2. Under Security, clear Enable Secure Boot
3. Under Processor, set Number of virtual processors to 4
4. Click Apply, then OK

Or from PowerShell, with the virtual machine powered off:

Set-VMFirmware -VMName NAME -EnableSecureBoot Off
Set-VMProcessor -VMName NAME -Count 4

Power on the virtual machine

1. Select the virtual machine and click Connect
2. Click Start - PhyOS boots to the connection screen in the console window

Connect device to PhyStack

After PhyOS boots:

1. You should see the PhyOS splash screen
2. The device will display a connection screen
3. Note the Serial Number displayed in the top-left corner of the screen
4. In the PhyStack portal, navigate to the device connection section
5. Enter the Serial Number in the Device Serial field
6. Click the Connect device button
7. The device will appear under Installations → Devices

Troubleshooting

Hyper-V installation issues

”Boot Failed. EFI SCSI Device” or “Failed Secure Boot Verification”

• Shut the virtual machine down completely
• Open Settings > Security and clear Enable Secure Boot
• Start the virtual machine again

tar is not recognized as a command

• tar ships with Windows 10 version 1803 and later
• On an older build, extract the archive with 7-Zip

The New Virtual Machine wizard has no processor count

• The wizard does not set the processor count
• Set it in Settings > Processor after the virtual machine is created

The virtual machine was created as Generation 1

• The generation cannot be changed after creation
• Delete the virtual machine, keep the .vhdx, and create a new Generation 2 virtual machine pointed at the same disk

The virtual machine has no network

• Attach the virtual machine to a switch that provides DHCP and outbound internet access
• An External switch is the usual choice

Device-specific notes

Virtual hardware

Generation 2, 4 virtual processors, 4096 MB of memory, and the extracted VHDX as the only disk.

Firmware

Generation 2 virtual machines boot via UEFI. Secure Boot is on by default and must be cleared before the first start.

Networking

The virtual switch is chosen in the wizard, on the step before the virtual hard disk.

Storage

The disk grows as it is used. Leave room for the full 64 GB.

Display output

Use the Virtual Machine Connection window to view the screen.

Important notes

• Attach the virtual machine to a network that provides DHCP and outbound internet access
• The virtual machine must be Generation 2
• Clear Enable Secure Boot before the first start, with the virtual machine powered off
• Keep the extracted .vhdx if you plan to create more devices