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This tutorial will show how to install an OS distributed with as an ISO image. In this example we will use a very simple Linux distribution, ArchLinux. This distribution is perfect for cloud environments because of its minimalist approach. You can download the ISO image from the download page.

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To create a new VM click the New button on the main screen.

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The Create New Virtual Machine Wizard will open.

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Enter a name for the virtual machine, archlinux, for example. You must also choose Linux as the Operating System and Arch Linux as the Version in the combo boxes. Click Next to continue.

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Assign Memory to the VM

Now select the amount of memory needed by the operating system. 512 MB should be enough. Click Next to continue.

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Hard drive

Select "Create a

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virtual hard drive now" and click Create.

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Select the Hard Disk Format

Select a format that is compatible with your hypervisors. See Template Compatibility Table.
For example, for KVM hypervisors, you could select QCOW; for VMware hypervisors, you could select VMDK; and for Hyper-V, you could select VHD. 

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If required, select dynamic or fixed disk.

• Fixed Size will convert to other hypervisor formats more quickly than dynamically allocated.
• Dynamically allocated will produce a smaller disk file when the disk is not very full.

Click Next to continue.

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Enter the name of the virtual disk, archlinux-disk.vdi would be a good name (.vdi is the extension used by VirtualBox.) VirtualBox will add an extension). You can also change the default path by clicking on the icon to the right of the textboxtext box.

This disk will be the disk the Operating System will use. We will now create a Virtual Disk of 2 GB; this is enough for basic tasks in an operating system. If you need to perform more complex tasks, do not hesitate to create bigger disks. Remember that disks of more than 2GB must be manually uploaded to Abiquo outside of the GUI due to a browser limitation2 GB will be broken into multiple parts by the browser upload in the UI. If you use manual upload for a large larger disk, then you will need to create an OVF file for your disk.

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Enter 2.00 GB. Click on Next Click Create to continue.

Select the Hard Disk Format

Select a format that is compatible with your hypervisors. See Template Compatibility Table.
For example, VDI format is suitable for use with VirtualBox.
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Select the Disk Size

Select dynamic or fixed disk.

• Fixed Size will convert to other hypervisor formats more quickly than dynamically allocated.
• Dynamically allocated will produce a smaller disk file when the disk is not very full.

Click on Next to continue.

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Check the Details and Create the Virtual Machine

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Click Create Image Added
A VM summary may display. If required, click Create to continue.

Modify the VM for maximum hypervisor compatibility

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Select the archlinux virtual machine from the list in the left pane and click Settings.

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Disable the Floppy

Now in the left pane click System. In Boot Order, disable Floppy and Network.

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Enable the SCSI Controller

In the left pane click on Hard Disks. Check Enable Additional Controller and select SCSI (LsiLogic).

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Mount the ISO

Below Hard Disks in the left pane click on CD/DVD ROM. Mark the Mount CD/DVD Drive checkbox and select ISO Image File. Select the ISO image downloaded at the beginning of the process in the combo box.

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Optionally Disable Audio

If you do not require audio, click Audio and uncheck Enable Audio

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Add Bridged Adapter

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Now go to Adapter 2 tab and REPEAT the same steps. You can choose the same Name for the Network Adapter Type.

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Optionally disable USB

Then Optionally go to USB and uncheck Enable USB Controller. (You don't need a USB driver in the Cloud either!)

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For valid settings choose a non-USB pointing device on the System tab.

Click OK to finish.

Install the operating system

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• Configure the network to get all the configuration from DHCP. Remember to remove the MAC address from network scripts.
• Install openssh daemons. Users will probably not have console access to the OS.
• Do not install X WindowsXWindows. Install the OS to run in text mode.

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• Using the UI:
  
  • supplying a virtual machine disk, and completing the template details, such as CPU, RAM and disk capacity
  • supplying an OVA diskfile
  • uploading an ISO file and reinstalling your virtual machine with the operating system from the ISO
• Manually, as a virtual machine disk with an OVF file containing the template details required by Abiquo

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In the main menu go to File > Export Appliance and select your appliance (In this example, archlinux). Click Next to continue.

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Now you can choose where VirtualBox will store the OVF descriptor and the compressed Virtual Disk.

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Change the file extension from .ova to .ovf.
Do not mark select the options to Write Legacy OVF 0.9 or Write manifest file.
Click Next to continue.

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The next screen allows you to enter the virtual machine details.

If you are using manual template upload, then you should complete at least the description. If possible, you should complete the other Product details too.
VirtualBox will add these details to the OVF descriptor. Abiquo will read these details and display them to users of the appliance library.

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Click Export to start the conversion. The process can take several minutes, so please be patient.

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    <ProductSection>
    	<Info>Abiquo - Flexserver machine</Info>
        <Product>Abiquo - Flexserver machine</Product>
        <Icon ovf:fileRef="httphttps://rs.bcn.abiquo.com:9000443/public/icons/q.png" ovf:mimeType="image/jpeg" ovf:width="32" ovf:height="32" />        
    </ProductSection>

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