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    Installing Windows

    Run Windows Server on cloud instances with your own license

    Not Officially Supported

    Windows is not officially supported on our cloud platform. You must provide your own license, and some features may not work optimally. Linux is strongly recommended for cloud instances.

    While not officially supported, you can install Windows on cloud instances if you provide your own license (BYOL). This requires manual installation from ISO and configuration.

    Requirements

    Valid Windows License

    Retail or volume license required. OEM licenses typically don't work in virtualized environments.

    Windows Server ISO

    Windows Server 2016, 2019, or 2022 recommended for server workloads.

    Adequate Resources

    Minimum 2 GB RAM, 4 GB+ strongly recommended for stable performance.

    VirtIO Drivers

    Required for optimal network and disk performance in virtualized environment.

    Installation Process

    Step 1: Upload Windows ISO

    1. Obtain a Windows Server ISO from Microsoft
    2. Navigate to Images in the Cloud Control Panel
    3. Upload your ISO file, or contact support to upload it for you
    4. Wait for the upload to complete and status to show "Active"

    Step 2: Create Instance

    1. Create a new instance with at least 4 GB RAM (recommended)
    2. Select the Windows ISO as the boot source
    3. Allocate at least 50 GB disk space
    4. Launch the instance

    Step 3: Install via VNC Console

    1. Access the VNC console from the Cloud Control Panel
    2. Follow the Windows installation wizard
    3. When prompted for disk drivers, load VirtIO drivers (see below)
    4. Complete the installation and set administrator password

    VirtIO Drivers

    Essential for Performance

    VirtIO drivers are required for optimal network and disk performance. Without them, Windows may not detect the disk during installation.

    1. 1

      Download VirtIO drivers ISO from: Fedora VirtIO Downloads

    2. 2

      Upload the VirtIO ISO to your cloud images

    3. 3

      Attach it as a second CD-ROM during Windows installation

    4. 4

      Load drivers from the VirtIO disk when Windows installer asks for disk drivers

    Post-Installation

    Network Setup

    • • Open Network Settings
    • • Configure TCP/IPv4
    • • Set IP, gateway, DNS

    Windows Updates

    • • Run Windows Update
    • • Install all critical updates
    • • Reboot as needed

    Firewall Config

    • • Enable Remote Desktop
    • • Open required ports
    • • Use Security Groups

    Licensing

    BYOL - Bring Your Own License

    Required: You must provide a valid retail or volume Windows license

    Activation: Activate Windows using your license key after installation

    Compliance: Ensure your license allows virtualized use

    No License Included: RamNode does not provide Windows licenses

    Limitations

    Windows on cloud instances has some limitations:

    No Cloud-Init

    Automated configuration doesn't work

    Performance

    Linux typically performs better

    Updates

    May cause unexpected reboots

    Resource Usage

    Requires more RAM and CPU

    Cost

    May require larger instances

    Recommended Alternatives

    Linux + Wine

    Run some Windows applications on Linux using Wine compatibility layer for better performance and resource efficiency.

    Better resource usage

    Cross-Platform Stack

    Use technologies that work on both Windows and Linux (Node.js, Python, Docker) for maximum flexibility.

    Platform independent

    Need Help?

    If you encounter issues installing or running Windows on cloud instances, our support team can provide guidance.

    Contact Support →