> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.vergeos-demo.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.vergeos-demo.com/learn-the-platform/module-6-virtual-machines/lab.md).

# Lab: Virtual Machine Operations

## Objective

Perform core virtual machine operations in VergeOS, including manual VM creation, recipe-based deployment, GPU passthrough configuration, and VM import from an external platform.

## Prerequisites

* Completed Module 1: Architecture Fundamentals
* Completed Module 4: Networking
* Completed Module 5: Storage
* Completed Module 6 reading (VM Creation, Recipes & Templates, GPU Passthrough, VM Migration)
* A running VergeOS cluster with available compute and storage resources

## Difficulty

**Intermediate** -- Requires understanding of virtualization concepts (CPU, memory, disk, networking)

## Estimated Time

**1.5 hours**

## Steps

### Part 1: VM Creation & Lifecycle

Create a virtual machine from scratch and perform lifecycle operations.

1. Navigate to the Virtual Machines section in the VergeOS UI
2. Create a new VM with the following configuration:
   * Name: "lab-vm-01"
   * CPU: 2 vCPUs
   * Memory: 4 GB
   * Disk: 40 GB on your preferred storage tier
   * Network: Attach to an existing internal network
3. Attach an ISO and install a guest operating system
4. Perform lifecycle operations:
   * Take a snapshot of the running VM
   * Clone the VM to create "lab-vm-02"
   * Stop, start, and restart the cloned VM
5. Verify both VMs are running and accessible on the network

### Part 2: Recipe-Based Deployment

Deploy a VM using a pre-built recipe for standardized provisioning.

1. Browse the available VM recipes in the VergeOS recipe catalog
2. Select a recipe appropriate for your environment (e.g., Linux server template)
3. Deploy a new VM from the recipe:
   * Customize the VM name and resource allocation
   * Review the recipe-defined configuration before deploying
4. Verify the deployed VM matches the recipe specifications
5. Compare the recipe-deployed VM to your manually created VM

### Part 3: GPU Passthrough (Optional)

Configure GPU passthrough for a compute-intensive workload.

1. Identify available GPU devices in the VergeOS hardware inventory
2. Configure PCI passthrough for a GPU device:
   * Select the target VM for GPU assignment
   * Assign the GPU device to the VM
3. Start the VM and verify the GPU is recognized by the guest OS
4. Install appropriate GPU drivers in the guest OS
5. Validate GPU functionality with a basic test (e.g., GPU info query)

> **Note:** This section requires physical GPU hardware in your cluster. Skip if GPUs are not available.

### Part 4: VM Import from VMware

Import a virtual machine from an external platform.

1. Prepare a VM export from VMware (OVA/VMDK) or another hypervisor
2. Use the VergeOS import tools to bring the VM into the platform:
   * Upload the VM image
   * Map the virtual hardware (CPU, memory, disk, network)
   * Review and adjust the import configuration
3. Start the imported VM and verify it boots successfully
4. Validate network connectivity and application functionality
5. Compare performance metrics between the imported VM and a native VergeOS VM

## Verification

Your VM lab is complete when you can answer **yes** to all of the following:

* [ ] A VM was created manually with specified CPU, memory, disk, and network settings
* [ ] Snapshot and clone operations were performed successfully
* [ ] A VM was deployed from a recipe with correct configuration
* [ ] GPU passthrough was configured (or skipped with justification if no GPU hardware)
* [ ] A VM was imported from an external format and boots successfully
* [ ] All VMs are accessible on the network and functioning as expected


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