Getting Started
This guide explains the installation, initial configuration, and startup process for Plaivid with the PVM infrastructure based on Rocky Linux 9, step by step, so you can prepare and deploy your enterprise virtualization environment correctly.
Before starting the installation, make sure all hardware prerequisites, the installation file, and the required network information are available so the installation can continue without interruption.
Who Should Use This Guide?
This guide is written so users with different experience levels can use it to install and perform the initial setup of Plaivid.
This document is suitable for:
- Users installing Plaivid for the first time.
- IT specialists.
- System and infrastructure administrators.
- Students and users interested in Linux, networking, and virtualization.
- Users who want to follow the documentation to deploy a test or production environment.
Basic familiarity with the following topics is recommended:
- Working with the Linux command line and virtualization
- Basic networking concepts:
- IP Address
- Subnet Prefix
- Default Gateway
Experience with Linux, networking, or virtualization is not mandatory, but familiarity with these concepts helps you complete the installation faster and makes troubleshooting easier if an issue occurs.
Initial Prerequisites
Before beginning the installation, make sure the following items are ready.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Access to iLO / Remote Console | ✅ |
| Plaivid Installation ISO file | ✅ |
| Management network information | ✅ |
Preparing these items before starting the installation reduces the chance of errors and makes deployment faster and easier.
If you plan to install Plaivid as a Virtual Machine in VMware, read the VMware prerequisites and deployment document. That document includes the required virtual machine settings, hardware resources, Nested Virtualization, and other VMware-specific requirements.
Installation Prerequisites
Before starting the installation process, review all required information and resources.
Following these checks helps prevent possible errors and avoids repeating the installation process.
Checking Server Resources (Storage / CPU / RAM)
Before starting installation, make sure the server hardware resources match the deployment document. The deployment document defines the workload type, capacity, and hardware specifications expected for the server.
-
Storage
- Disk capacity and the number of disks must be sufficient for the operating system, DataStores, and future storage expansion.
-
CPU
- The number of cores and threads must be appropriate for the expected workload, the number of virtual machines, and their processing requirements.
-
RAM
- Physical memory must be sufficient for both Plaivid and the total memory assigned to virtual machines.
This step is only for validating hardware resources and does not include any configuration. The goal is to avoid resource shortages during installation or after the system is deployed.
Server Management Access (iLO)
The following information is required to access the server console and install the operating system.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| iLO IP Address | IP address of the server management interface |
| Username | Username for logging in to iLO |
| Password | Password for logging in to iLO |
If the iLO version is old, version 4 or earlier, use HPE iLO Remote Console instead of the HTML5 Console because the graphical installation environment might not load through HTML5.
Entering the iLO License
If the server iLO is in unlicensed or free mode, some management features are limited, such as full Remote Console access, Virtual Media, or advanced monitoring. Before installation, verify that the iLO license, Standard or Advanced, has been applied so you do not face limitations during installation, which depends on importing the ISO through the iLO Console.
Installation File (ISO)
The only file required for installation is the Plaivid Installation ISO.
This file includes all software packages, dependencies, drivers, and scripts required for the initial installation.
Unlike previous versions, there is no need to download or manually transfer additional packages such as RPM files, storage tools, or other dependencies. All required items are included in the ISO file.
Before powering on the server, mount the ISO file on the server through Virtual Media in iLO.
If you want to boot from USB, follow the steps below.
Booting from a USB Flash Drive
In addition to iLO Virtual Media, you can also boot and install the Plaivid Installation ISO from a USB flash drive.
We recommend using Rufus to create the bootable USB drive.
Creating the bootable USB drive will delete all existing data on the USB drive. Back up any required data before continuing.
Creating a Bootable USB Drive
- Connect the USB flash drive to your system.
- Open Rufus.
- Select the Plaivid Installation ISO file.
- Set Partition Scheme based on the firmware type of the target system.
| Firmware | Partition Scheme |
|---|---|
| Legacy BIOS | MBR |
| UEFI | GPT |
After starting the ISO writing process, Rufus may ask how to write the image.
At this step, select:
Write in DD Image mode
Using DD Image Mode writes the original ISO structure to the USB drive without modification. This method provides the best boot compatibility and reduces issues such as the USB drive not being detected or the system not booting.
Booting from the USB Drive
After the bootable USB drive is created:
- Connect the USB drive to the target server or system.
- Power on or restart the system.
- Enter the Boot Menu or BIOS/UEFI Setup.
- Select the USB drive as the Boot Device.
- The Plaivid Installation ISO installation process starts.
Troubleshooting
If the USB drive is not detected or the installation does not start, check the following items:
- The Partition Scheme selected in Rufus matches the system firmware type, MBR for Legacy BIOS or GPT for UEFI.
- The correct Legacy BIOS or UEFI mode is selected in firmware settings.
- The Plaivid Installation ISO file is valid and readable.
- The USB flash drive is working correctly.
- The bootable USB creation process completed without errors.
- Write in DD Image Mode was selected when creating the USB drive.
For most modern servers and systems, using UEFI with Partition Scheme: GPT is recommended.
For older servers or equipment that only supports Legacy BIOS, use Partition Scheme: MBR.
Management Network Information
Before starting installation, the management network information must be defined.
| Parameter | Example |
|---|---|
| IP Address | 192.168.1.100 |
| Prefix | /24 |
| Default Gateway | 192.168.1.1 |
This information is entered during the initial startup phase, Sbone, and is used to access the Plaivid management interface.
Physical Network Connections
Before starting the installation process, verify that all network cables are connected correctly. The cabling must conform to the network architecture and deployment design of the product you intend to install.
To view the network topology, cabling requirements, and configuration guidelines, click on the desired product.
Destination Storage Space
Before starting installation, determine which Disk or RAID Array will be used for the operating system.
If you use RAID, the array must be created before booting from the ISO. This is usually done through the server vendor's RAID management tool, such as HPE Smart Storage Administrator. During installation, the installer must see the storage as a logical disk, not as multiple separate disks.
If the server is not fresh and already contains data or active services, carefully review the data status and coordinate with the technical team before changing RAID settings or deleting existing partitions. Changing the RAID configuration or deleting partitions can cause permanent data loss.
Using SSD for the Operating System
We recommend installing the operating system on an SSD. Using SSD storage significantly improves boot speed, service startup, and overall system responsiveness. It also reduces installation and update time, service startup time, and I/O latency, which improves performance and stability.
Setting the Server Power Profile (Performance Profile)
To achieve maximum performance in a virtualization environment, set the server power profile in BIOS or iLO to one of the following modes:
- Performance High
- Performance Max Virtualization
This setting is usually available under Power Management or Power Regulator, depending on the server vendor.
Avoid Balanced or Power Saver modes. These profiles dynamically reduce CPU frequency to save power, which can reduce hypervisor and virtual machine performance.
Enabling BIOS Virtualization Capabilities
Before installing Plaivid, make sure CPU virtualization features are enabled in the server BIOS.
-
Intel Hyper-Threading
- Allows two logical threads to run on each physical core and increases the server's parallel processing capacity.
-
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
- This is a primary requirement for running the Plaivid hypervisor. If this feature is disabled, virtual machines cannot run.
On most servers, these settings are located under System Configuration → Processor Options in BIOS, such as HPE RBSU. The exact location may vary depending on the server vendor and model.
Pre-Installation Safety Checks
Before starting installation, check the following items:
- If the server has been used before and contains data, changing RAID or partition structure without technical coordination is not allowed.
- If the server is connected to SAN Storage, disconnect SAN connectivity before starting installation and reconnect it only after installation completes successfully.