KVM Installation Guide

KVM clients have two ways to install their server operating system through the SolusVM control panel.

Option 1: Install a Pre-made SolusVM Template

The fastest way to get started is using one of our pre-configured OS templates. These templates are optimized and ready to use immediately.

Log into SolusVM

Navigate to SolusVM Control Panel

Click Reinstall Tab

Find and click the Reinstall option

Select Template

Choose your desired template from the dropdown list

Click Reinstall Button

Your new root password will be displayed once installation begins

Monitor Progress

Use VNC to watch the installation progress

Important

• Save your new root password immediately - it won't be shown again
• The installation will overwrite all existing data on your VPS
• Check network configuration after installation if needed

Option 2: Install from ISO

For more control over your installation or to use operating systems not available as templates, you can install from an ISO image.

Navigate to CD-ROM Tab

In SolusVM, go to the CD-ROM section

Mount ISO

Select and mount your desired ISO from the dropdown

Change Boot Order

Go to Settings → Boot Order and ensure CD-ROM is listed before Hard Disk

Reboot VPS

Return to General tab and click Reboot

Open VNC Console

Click VNC to access the console

Follow Installation Wizard

Complete the installation for your chosen OS

Post-Installation Cleanup

Unmount the ISO, reset Boot Order (Hard Disk first), and reboot

Network Configuration

Most modern OS templates configure networking automatically via DHCP. However, some installations may require manual configuration.

Network Information Location

• SolusVM Control Panel → General tab
• VPS Information Email sent upon provisioning
• Client Area → Services → Your VPS

Manual Network Setup

If your OS doesn't configure networking automatically, you'll need:

• IP Address: Your primary VPS IP
• Netmask: Typically 255.255.255.0
• Gateway: Listed in SolusVM and your information email
• DNS Servers: Use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)

Missing Swap Space

Some KVM templates don't configure swap correctly. If you find your VPS has no swap:

Create swap space

# Check current swap
free -h

# If no swap, create a swap file (adjust size as needed)
dd if=/dev/zero of=/swapfile bs=1M count=512
chmod 600 /swapfile
mkswap /swapfile
swapon /swapfile

# Make it permanent
echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' >> /etc/fstab

# Verify
free -h

Post-Installation Steps

1. Update Your System

System updates

# Debian/Ubuntu
apt update && apt upgrade -y

# CentOS/RHEL
yum update -y

# Fedora
dnf update -y

2. Configure Firewall

Firewall setup

# Ubuntu/Debian with UFW
apt install ufw
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw enable

# CentOS/RHEL with firewalld
systemctl start firewalld
systemctl enable firewalld
firewall-cmd --add-service=ssh --permanent
firewall-cmd --add-service=http --permanent
firewall-cmd --add-service=https --permanent
firewall-cmd --reload

3. Set Hostname

Set hostname

# Set hostname
hostnamectl set-hostname your-hostname.example.com

# Verify
hostname -f

Troubleshooting

VPS Won't Boot

• Check VNC console for error messages
• Verify boot order is correct (Hard Disk first after installation)
• Ensure ISO is unmounted after installation
• Try booting into rescue mode if available

No Network Connectivity

• Verify network settings match information in SolusVM
• Check if DHCP is enabled in your OS configuration
• Confirm firewall isn't blocking connections
• Test with VNC console to rule out SSH issues

Cannot Allocate Memory Error

If you see "cannot allocate memory" errors during package updates, your VPS may need more RAM or swap space. See the memory allocation error guide for solutions.

Need Help?

If you encounter issues during installation, please open a support ticket. Include details about which template/ISO you're using and any error messages you see.

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