How to Create a Windows Hyper-V vCore
Read this topic to understand how to install the vCore image on a Windows hypervisor.
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Like most virtual machines, an image file is required for setup. Download the virtual hard disk image file from the Q-SYS website vCore product page.
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To create a vCore in Windows, you must first start Hyper-V Manager. If Hyper-V is not enabled, see Enable Hyper-V on Windows 10.
Note: The Hyper-V role cannot be installed on Windows 10 Home. See vCore Requirements for more information.
Before creating the vCore, you must first create a new Virtual Network Switch to allow vCore(s) to connect to the Physical Ethernet Network.
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In the Actions pane, select Virtual Switch Manager....
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Under Global Network Settings, select MAC Address Range.
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Make a note of the six least significant MAC address hex digits that will be used in the default vCore name.
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Under Virtual Switches, click New virtual network switch.
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Set the virtual switch type to External.
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Click Create Virtual Switch.
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Name the new virtual switch – for example, “Q-SYS Switch”.
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Set Connection type to External network and, if the PC has multiple NICs, the desired NIC.
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Click OK.
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In the Actions pane, select Quick Create….
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Select Local installation source.
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Click Change installation source... .
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Select the downloaded image file.
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Uncheck the This virtual machine will run Windows checkbox.
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Expand More options.
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Under Name, enter a unique name, for example “Q-SYS vCore Control 1”
Note: This is the Virtual Machine name, not the vCore name.
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Under Network, select the previously created external virtual network switch (“Q-SYS Switch”).
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Click Create Virtual Machine (this may take a few seconds).
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Click Edit settings….
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Under Hardware, select Processor and reduce the Number of virtual processors to 1.
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Under Hardware, select Memory and uncheck the Enable Dynamic Memory checkbox.
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Under Management, select Checkpoints and uncheck the Enable checkpoints checkbox.
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Click OK.
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Close the Create Virtual Machine window.
Note: Do not Connect!
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In the Virtual Machines pane, right-click the new virtual machine and select Start.
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Monitor Uptime and wait for about a minute until the virtual machine reboots.
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Wait for another minute or so to let the initial partial firmware installation complete.
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Use Q-SYS Configurator (within Q-SYS Designer Software) to locate the vCore with a default name based on its six least significant MAC address hex digits.
Note: Optionally use Q-SYS Core Manager to change the vCore name.
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Activate the vCore license. Refer to the instructions in the Licensing topic.
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Use Q-SYS Designer Software to deploy a design to the vCore. This will also install the full Q-SYS firmware.
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Optionally, shut down the virtual Core by right-clicking the virtual machine and selecting Shut Down….
CAUTION: Do not use Turn Off…, as this is equivalent to pulling the power on a physical Core and may result in data loss.
The procedure for Windows Server 2019 contains some additional steps to get the vCore running.
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Before beginning, make a copy of the Windows image file (
qsys_vcore_windows_hyperv_<qsys_version>.vhdx
) and place it inC:\Users\Public\Documents\Hyper-V\Virtual hard disks
(or a location on the server you wish to store vCore images). -
In the Actions pane, select New > Virtual Machine …
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Click Next on Before you Begin.
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Under Name, enter a unique name, for example “Q-SYS vCore Control 1” (this is the Virtual Machine name, not the vCore name) and click Next.
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Select "Generation 2" on Specify Generation and click Next.
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Under Startup memory, specify 2048Mb and make sure Use Dynamic Memory for this virtual machine is unchecked. Click Next.
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On Connection select the virtual switch or network adapter you wish for the vCore to connect and click Next.
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Select Use an existing virtual hard disk and click Browse to select the copy of the vhdx from Step 1. Click on Next.
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Select Finish to create the virtual machine.
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Right-click on the virtual machine in Virtual Machines and click on Settings
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Under Security, disable Enable Secure Boot.
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Under Processor, set the Number of virtual processors to 1.
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Under Checkpoints, disable Enable Checkpoints.
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Click Apply and Ok to close Settings.
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In the Virtual Machines pane, right-click the new virtual machine and select Start.
Note: Do not Connect!
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Monitor Uptime and wait for about a minute until the virtual machine reboots.
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Wait for another minute or so to let the initial partial firmware installation complete.
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Use Q-SYS Configurator to locate the vCore with a default name based on its six least significant MAC address hex digits.
Note: Optionally use Q-SYS Core Manager to change the vCore name.
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Activate the vCore license. Refer to the instructions in the Licensing topic.
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Use Q-SYS Designer Software to deploy a design to the vCore. This will also install the full Q-SYS firmware.
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Optionally, shut down the virtual Core by right-clicking the virtual machine and select Shut Down…
CAUTION: Do not use Turn Off…, as this is equivalent to pulling the power on a physical Core and may result in data loss.