Module 6: Virtual Machines

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Create and manage VMs in VergeOS using the UI and API
• Deploy VMs from recipes and templates to standardize provisioning workflows
• Configure GPU passthrough for specialized workloads (VDI, AI/ML, rendering)
• Import VMs from VMware and other platforms using built-in migration tools

Prerequisites

• Completion of Module 1: Architecture Fundamentals — understanding of VergeOS platform architecture
• Completion of Module 4: Networking — understanding of virtual networks and network configuration
• Completion of Module 5: Storage — understanding of vSAN tiers and storage provisioning

Estimated Time

3 hours (1.5 hours reading + 1.5 hours lab)

VMware Bridge

VergeOS virtual machines are conceptually similar to VMware vSphere VMs, but provisioning and management happen through the VergeOS UI rather than vCenter. VM recipes in VergeOS serve a similar role to VMware templates and customization specs — they define a base image and configuration that can be deployed repeatedly. GPU passthrough in VergeOS works similarly to VMware DirectPath I/O but with a streamlined configuration process.

Nutanix Bridge

VergeOS virtual machines are conceptually similar to Nutanix AHV VMs — both use KVM under the hood. VM provisioning and management happen through the VergeOS UI rather than Prism Central/Element. VM recipes in VergeOS serve a similar role to Nutanix VM templates and Calm blueprints — they define a base image and configuration for repeatable deployment. GPU passthrough works similarly to Nutanix AHV GPU passthrough with a streamlined configuration process.

Topics

VM Creation & Lifecycle

Creating VMs, configuring CPU/memory/disk, managing VM lifecycle (start, stop, snapshot, clone), live migration between nodes, and HA failover.

Recipes & Marketplace

Building reusable VM recipes for standardized deployments, organizing catalogs, Cloud-Init integration, and the VergeOS Marketplace.

GPU & Device Passthrough

Configuring PCI, NVIDIA vGPU, SR-IOV NIC, and USB device passthrough using resource groups and resource rules.

VM Migration & Import

Migrating workloads from VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and physical machines using the VMware Connector, file uploads, NAS volumes, and the Clone Utility.

Lab: Virtual Machine Operations

Create VMs, deploy from recipes, configure GPU passthrough, and import a VM from an external format.

Module Outline

1. VM Creation & Lifecycle — Creating VMs, resource allocation, lifecycle operations (snapshots, clones, live migration, HA)
2. Recipes & Marketplace — Building VM recipes, template catalogs, Cloud-Init, and the VergeOS Marketplace
3. GPU & Device Passthrough — PCI passthrough, NVIDIA vGPU, SR-IOV NICs, USB devices, and tenant-level device sharing
4. VM Migration & Import — VMware Connector, file upload, NAS volume import, Clone Utility, and VM export
5. Lab: Virtual Machine Operations — Hands-on VM creation, recipe deployment, GPU passthrough setup, and VM import exercise