Requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V - Amazon Linux 2023
Hyper-V host RequirementsHyper-V Device SupportLimitations for AL2023 on Hyper-V

Requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V

This section covers the requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V. The Hyper-V images of AL2023 are available only for the x86-64 architecture. Hyper-V images for aarch64 are not available or supported at this time.

This section covers additional requirements on top of the base AL2023 system requirements for the Hyper-V images.

Hyper-V host requirements for running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V

The main qualification of Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V happens on Windows Server 2022 running on an EC2 c5.metal instance.

Device support for Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V

Amazon Linux 2023 is tested on both Generation 1 and Generation 2 Hyper-V virtual machines with the following set of virtualized hardware:

  • Generation 1 (legacy BIOS boot) VM

  • Generation 2 (UEFI boot - No secure boot) VM

  • The following device models are tested for use with AL2023 Hyper-V images:

    • Hyper-V virtual storage hv_storvsc for the root disk and the emulated CD-ROM drive on Generation 2 VMs

    • Emulated PIIX IDE ata_piix for the virtual CD-ROM drive on Generation 1 VMs

    • Hyper-V virtual ethernet hv_netvsc

  • The following device models are enabled but lightly tested:

    • Legacy VGA text mode on Generation 1 VMs

    • UEFI Firmware based framebuffer simpledrmfb on Generation 2 VMs

    • Hyper-V Balloon hv_balloon

    • Hyper-V Balloon hv_balloon

    • Hyper-V HID/Mouse hid_hyperv

  • The following device modes are not enabled in AL2023 at this time:

    • Hyper-V PCI pass-through

    • Hyper-V DRM Graphics

Important

For Generation 2 virtual machines, Secure Boot is not supported and must be disabled prior to launching the virtual machine for a successful boot of Amazon Linux 2023. Hyper-V currently only supports Secure Boot with software components signed by Microsoft's own keys while the Amazon Linux bootloader is signed by an Amazon private key. Hyper-V doesn’t support importing 3rd party keys at this point.

Limitations running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V

The following are some known limitations in running Amazon Linux 2023 on Hyper-V:

Note

Code implementing some of the listed unsupported functionality may exist in AL2023 and function correctly. The list of unsupported functionality exists so that customers can make informed decisions about what to rely upon working today, and what the Amazon Linux team will qualify as working as part of future updates.

Known Limitations with running AL2023 on Hyper-V

  • UEFI Secure Boot mode is not currently supported nor functional with AL2023 on Hyper-V

  • Hot plugging and unplugging CPU, memory, or any other device type is not supported.

  • Virtual Machine (VM) hibernation is not supported.

  • Virtual Machine (VM) migration is not supported.

  • Passthrough of any device such as through PCI Passthrough, or USB Passthrough is not supported.