# Supported configurations of Amazon Linux 2023 for use in non-Amazon EC2 virtualized environments
This section covers the requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 in non-Amazon EC2 virtualized environments such as on KVM, VMware, or and Hyper-V.
The base [AL2023 system requirements](system-requirements.md) apply to all non-Amazon EC2 virtualized environments. A list of supported device models is detailed for each hypervisor environment in the following topics.
KVM, VMware, and Hyper-V provide many configuration options, and care needs to be taken in order to configure them for your security, performance, and reliability needs. For more information, check the documentation provided by your hypervisor.
**Topics**
+ [Requirements for running AL2023 on KVM](kvm-supported-configurations.md)
+ [Requirements for running AL2023 on VMware](vmware-supported-configurations.md)
+ [Requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V](hyperv-supported-configurations.md)
# Requirements for running AL2023 on KVM
This section describes the requirements for running AL2023 on KVM. The KVM images of AL2023 are available for both `aarch64` and `x86-64` architectures. These requirements are in addition to the base [AL2023 system requirements](system-requirements.md) for the KVM images.
**Topics**
+ [KVM host requirements for running AL2023 on KVM](#kvm-host-requirements)
+ [Device support for AL2023 on KVM](#kvm-devices)
+ [Boot mode (UEFI and BIOS) support for AL2023 on KVM](#kvm-boot-modes)
+ [Limitations running AL2023 on KVM](#kvm-limitations)
## KVM host requirements for running AL2023 on KVM
The KVM images are currently qualified on a host running Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS with `qemu` version 6.2\$1dfsg-2ubuntu6.15, provided by this Ubuntu version, using a `q35` machine type for `x86-64` and a `virt` machine type for `aarch64`.
## Device support for AL2023 on KVM
**The `qemu` device models tested for use with AL2023 KVM images (both `aarch64` and `x86-64`) are:**
+ `virtio-blk` (`virtio` block device)
+ `virtio-scsi` (`virtio` SCSI controller with disk device)
+ `virtio-net` (`virtio` network device)
+ `ahci` (for use with the virtual CD-ROM drive)
+ `usb-storage` (over `xhci`)
**Additional `qemu` device models enabled in AL2023 KVM image qualification, but not heavily exercised are:**
+ `VGA` (`qemu` VGA) on `x86-64` only
+ `virtio-rng` (virtual random number generator)
+ legacy AT keyboard and PS/2 mouse devices
+ legacy serial device
## Boot mode (UEFI and BIOS) support for AL2023 on KVM
The `x86-64` image is tested with both legacy BIOS and UEFI boot modes. The `aarch64` images are tested with UEFI boot mode.
**Note**
By default, when using UEFI boot mode, some virtual machine managers will provision the VM with Microsoft Secure Boot keys which enables Secure Boot. This configuration will not boot AL2023.
Because the AL2023 boot loader isn’t signed by Microsoft, the VM must be provisioned either without UEFI keys, or with the AL2023 keys for Secure Boot.
**Important**
Secure Boot support for KVMimages has not been validated yet.
## Limitations running AL2023 on KVM
There are some known limitations in running AL2023 on KVM.
**Note**
Code implementing some of the listed unsupported functionality might exist in AL2023 and function correctly. The list of unsupported functionality exists so that you can make informed decisions about what to rely upon working today, and what the Amazon Linux team will qualify as working as part of future updates.
**Known Limitations with running AL2023 on KVM**
+ The KVM guest agent is not currently packaged or supported.
+ Hot plugging and unplugging CPU, memory, or any other device type is not supported.
+ VM hibernation is not supported.
+ VM migration is not supported.
+ Passthrough of any device such as through PCI Passthrough, or USB Passthrough is not supported.
# Requirements for running AL2023 on VMware
This section describes the requirements for running AL2023 on VMware. The VMware images of AL2023 are available for only the `x86-64` architecture. VMware images for `aarch64` are not available or supported. These requirements are in addition to the base [AL2023 system requirements](system-requirements.md) for the VMware images.
**Topics**
+ [VMware host requirements for running AL2023 on VMware](#vmware-host-requirements)
+ [Device support for AL2023 on VMware](#vmware-devices)
+ [Boot mode (UEFI and BIOS) support for AL2023 on VMware](#vmware-boot-modes)
+ [Limitations running AL2023 on VMware](#vmware-limitations)
## VMware host requirements for running AL2023 on VMware
**The AL2023 VMware OVA images are currently qualified on the following:**
+ VMware Workstation 17.5.0 running on hosts using an Intel(R) Xeon(R) Platinum 8124M processor
+ VMware vSphere 8.0 using an Intel(R) Xeon(R) Platinum 8275CL processor
The AL2023 VMware OVA images specify a *Machine Hardware Version* of 13.
**VMware Machine Hardware Version 13 is supported by:**
+ ESXi 6.5 or later
+ VMware Workstation 14 or later
## Device support for AL2023 on VMware
**The following VMware device models were tested for use with AL2023 VMware OVA images (`x86-64` only):**
+ `vmw_pvscsi` (VMware paravirtualized SCSI controller)
+ `vmxnet3` (VMware paravirtualized network device)
+ `ata_piix` (legacy IDE for use with the virtual CD-ROM drive only)
**Additional VMware device models enabled in AL2023 VMware image qualification, but not heavily exercised:**
+ `vmw_vmci` and related `vsock` interface (virtual socket transport for the VMware guest agent)
+ `vmw_balloon` memory balloon device
+ VMware `SVGA` controller
+ legacy AT keyboard and PS/2 mouse devices
The VMware guest agent package (`open-vm-tools`) is available and installed by default in the AL2023 VMware OVA images.
## Boot mode (UEFI and BIOS) support for AL2023 on VMware
As of the 2023.3.20231211 release, the AL2023 VMware OVA image has been validated in both legacy BIOS and UEFI boot modes. The OVA default configuration is still legacy BIOS but can be changed by the user.
**Important**
Secure Boot support requires UEFI, which has not been validated for AL2023 running on VMware.
## Limitations running AL2023 on VMware
There are some known limitations in running AL2023 on VMware.
**Note**
Code implementing some of the listed unsupported functionality may exist in AL2023 and function correctly. The list of unsupported functionality exists so that customers can make informed decisions about what to rely upon working today, and what the Amazon Linux team will qualify as working as part of future updates.
**Known limitations with running AL2023 on VMware**
+ UEFI Secure Boot is not currently validated with AL2023 on VMware.
+ Hot plugging and unplugging CPU, memory, or any other device type is not supported.
+ VM hibernation is not supported.
+ VM migration is not supported.
+ Passthrough of any device such as through PCI Passthrough, or USB Passthrough is not supported.
# Requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V
This section covers the requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V. The Hyper-V images of AL2023 are available only for the `x86-64` architecture. Hyper-V images for `aarch64` are not available or supported at this time.
This section covers additional requirements on top of the base [AL2023 system requirements](system-requirements.md) for the Hyper-V images.
**Topics**
+ [Hyper-V host requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V](#hyperv-host-requirements)
+ [Device support for Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V](#hyperv-devices)
+ [Limitations running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V](#hyperv-limitations)
## Hyper-V host requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V
The main qualification of Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V happens on Windows Server 2022 running on an EC2 `c5.metal` instance.
## Device support for Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V
Amazon Linux 2023 is tested on both *Generation 1* and *Generation 2* Hyper-V virtual machines with the following set of virtualized hardware:
+ Generation 1 (legacy BIOS boot) VM
+ Generation 2 (UEFI boot - No secure boot) VM
+ The following device models are tested for use with AL2023 Hyper-V images:
+ Hyper-V virtual storage `hv_storvsc` for the root disk and the emulated CD-ROM drive on *Generation 2* VMs
+ Emulated PIIX IDE `ata_piix` for the virtual CD-ROM drive on *Generation 1* VMs
+ Hyper-V virtual ethernet `hv_netvsc`
+ The following device models are enabled but lightly tested:
+ Legacy VGA text mode on *Generation 1* VMs
+ UEFI Firmware based framebuffer `simpledrmfb` on *Generation 2* VMs
+ Hyper-V Balloon `hv_balloon`
+ Hyper-V HID/Mouse `hid_hyperv`
+ The following device modes are *not* enabled in AL2023 at this time:
+ Hyper-V PCI pass-through
+ Hyper-V DRM Graphics
**Important**
For *Generation 2* virtual machines, Secure Boot is not supported and must be disabled prior to launching the virtual machine for a successful boot of Amazon Linux 2023. Hyper-V currently only supports Secure Boot with software components signed by Microsoft's own keys while the Amazon Linux bootloader is signed by an Amazon private key. Hyper-V doesn’t support importing 3rd party keys at this point.
## Limitations running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V
The following are some known limitations in running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V:
**Note**
Code implementing some of the listed unsupported functionality may exist in AL2023 and function correctly. The list of unsupported functionality exists so that customers can make informed decisions about what to rely upon working today, and what the Amazon Linux team will qualify as working as part of future updates.
**Known Limitations with running AL2023 on Hyper-V**
+ UEFI Secure Boot mode is not currently supported nor functional with AL2023 on Hyper-V
+ Hot plugging and unplugging CPU, memory, or any other device type is not supported.
+ Virtual Machine (VM) hibernation is not supported.
+ Virtual Machine (VM) migration is not supported.
+ Passthrough of any device such as through PCI Passthrough, or USB Passthrough is not supported.