---
title: "Virtual Machine"
description: "Running Koios inside a virtual machine"
source_url: https://ai-ops.com/docs/installation/virtual-machine
---

# Virtual Machine

Koios runs well inside a virtual machine. This page covers hypervisor options and recommended VM settings.

## Supported Hypervisors

| Hypervisor | Platform |
|------------|----------|
| **VMware ESXi / vSphere** | Enterprise |
| **Microsoft Hyper-V** | Windows Server / Windows Pro |
| **Proxmox VE** | Linux |
| **VirtualBox** | Cross-platform (development/testing) |

Any hypervisor that supports Ubuntu Server 20.04+ as a guest OS will work.

## Recommended VM Settings

| Setting | Value |
|---------|-------|
| **CPU** | 4 vCPUs (2 minimum) |
| **RAM** | 8 GB (4 GB minimum) |
| **Disk** | 50 GB thin-provisioned (20 GB minimum) |
| **Network adapter** | Bridged mode |
| **Guest OS type** | Ubuntu 64-bit |

See [System Requirements](https://ai-ops.com/docs/installation/system-requirements.md) for full hardware guidance.

## Networking

> [!WARNING] Avoid NAT Networking
> If Koios needs to communicate with industrial devices on the local network (OPC-UA servers, Modbus devices, PLCs), do not use NAT networking. NAT places the VM behind a virtual router, preventing direct access to devices on the host network.

Use **bridged networking** so the VM receives its own IP address on the physical network. This allows Koios to reach devices directly and allows users to access the Koios web interface from other machines on the same network.

> [!TIP] Industrial Device Access
> For protocols like OPC-UA and Modbus TCP, ensure the VM's network can reach the device subnet. If devices are on a separate VLAN or network segment, configure the VM's network adapter accordingly or add a second adapter bridged to the device network.

## USB and Serial Pass-Through

If you need to connect serial devices (RS-485, RS-232) to Koios, configure USB pass-through in your hypervisor so the VM can access the physical serial adapter.

## What's Next

- [Installing Ubuntu](https://ai-ops.com/docs/installation/installing-ubuntu.md) — install the guest operating system