# Run AL2 as a virtual machine on premises
Use the AL2 virtual machine (VM) images for on-premises development and testing. We offer a different AL2 VM image for each of the supported virtualization platforms. You can view the list of supported platforms on the [Amazon Linux 2 virtual machine images](https://cdn.amazonlinux.com/os-images/latest/) page.
**Topics**
+ [
## Step 1: Prepare the `seed.iso` boot image
](#amazon-linux-2-virtual-machine-prepare)
+ [
## Step 2: Download the AL2 VM image
](#amazon-linux-2-virtual-machine-download)
+ [
## Step 3: Boot and connect to your new VM
](#amazon-linux-2-virtual-machine-boot)
## Step 1: Prepare the `seed.iso` boot image
The `seed.iso` boot image includes the initial configuration information that is needed to boot your new VM, such as the network configuration, host name, and user data.
**Note**
The `seed.iso` boot image includes only the configuration information required to boot the VM. It does not include the AL2 operating system files.
To generate the `seed.iso` boot image, you need two configuration files:
+ `meta-data` – This file includes the hostname and static network settings for the VM.
+ `user-data` – This file configures user accounts, and specifies their passwords, key pairs, and access mechanisms. By default, the AL2 VM image creates an `ec2-user` user account. You use the `user-data` configuration file to set the password for the default user account.
**To create the `seed.iso` boot disc**
1. Create a new folder named `seedconfig` and navigate into it.
1. Create the `meta-data` configuration file.
1. Create a new file named `meta-data`.
1. Open the `meta-data` file using your preferred editor and add the following.
```
local-hostname: vm_hostname
# eth0 is the default network interface enabled in the image. You can configure static network settings with an entry like the following.
network-interfaces: |
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.10
network 192.168.1.0
netmask 255.255.255.0
broadcast 192.168.1.255
gateway 192.168.1.254
```
Replace *vm\$1hostname* with a VM host name of your choice, and configure the network settings as required.
1. Save and close the `meta-data` configuration file.
For an example `meta-data` configuration file that specifies a VM hostname (`amazonlinux.onprem`), configures the default network interface (`eth0`), and specifies static IP addresses for the necessary network devices, see the [ sample Seed.iso file](https://cdn.amazonlinux.com/os-images/latest/).
1. Create the `user-data` configuration file.
1. Create a new file named `user-data`.
1. Open the `user-data` file using your preferred editor and add the following.
```
#cloud-config
#vim:syntax=yaml
users:
# A user by the name `ec2-user` is created in the image by default.
- default
chpasswd:
list: |
ec2-user:plain_text_password
# In the above line, do not add any spaces after 'ec2-user:'.
```
Replace *plain\$1text\$1password* with a password of your choice for the default `ec2-user` user account.
1. (Optional) By default, cloud-init applies network settings each time the VM boots. Add the following to prevent cloud-init from applying network settings at each boot, and to retain the network settings applied during the first boot.
```
# NOTE: Cloud-init applies network settings on every boot by default. To retain network settings
# from first boot, add the following ‘write_files’ section:
write_files:
- path: /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d/80_disable_network_after_firstboot.cfg
content: |
# Disable network configuration after first boot
network:
config: disabled
```
1. Save and close the `user-data` configuration file.
You can also create additional user accounts and specify their access mechanisms, passwords, and key pairs. For more information about the supported directives, see [ Module reference](http://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/topics/modules.html). For an example `user-data` file that creates three additional users and specifies a custom password for the default `ec2-user` user account, see the [sample Seed.iso file](https://cdn.amazonlinux.com/os-images/latest/).
1. Create the `seed.iso` boot image using the `meta-data` and `user-data` configuration files.
For Linux, use a tool such as **genisoimage**. Navigate into the `seedconfig` folder, and run the following command.
```
$ genisoimage -output seed.iso -volid cidata -joliet -rock user-data meta-data
```
For macOS, use a tool such as **hdiutil**. Navigate one level up from the `seedconfig` folder, and run the following command.
```
$ hdiutil makehybrid -o seed.iso -hfs -joliet -iso -default-volume-name cidata seedconfig/
```
## Step 2: Download the AL2 VM image
We offer a different AL2 VM image for each of the supported virtualization platforms. You can view the list of supported platforms and download the correct VM image for your chosen platform from the [Amazon Linux 2 virtual machine images](https://cdn.amazonlinux.com/os-images/latest/) page.
## Step 3: Boot and connect to your new VM
To boot and connect to your new VM, you must have the `seed.iso` boot image (created in [Step 1](#amazon-linux-2-virtual-machine-prepare)) and an AL2 VM image (downloaded in [Step 2](#amazon-linux-2-virtual-machine-download)). The steps vary depending on your chosen VM platform.
------
#### [ VMware vSphere ]
The VM image for VMware is made available in the OVF format.
**To boot the VM using VMware vSphere**
1. Create a new datastore for the `seed.iso` file, or add it to an existing datastore.
1. Deploy the OVF template, but do not start the VM yet.
1. In the **Navigator** panel, right-click the new virtual machine and choose **Edit Settings**.
1. On the **Virtual Hardware** tab, for **New device**, choose **CD/DVD Drive**, and then choose **Add**.
1. For **New CD/DVD Drive**, choose **Datastore ISO File**. Select the datastore to which you added the `seed.iso` file, browse to and select the `seed.iso` file, and then choose **OK**.
1. For **New CD/DVD Drive**, select **Connect**, and then choose **OK**.
After you have associated the datastore with the VM, you should be able to boot it.
------
#### [ KVM ]
**To boot the VM using KVM**
1. Open the **Create new VM** wizard.
1. For Step 1, choose **Import existing disk image**.
1. For Step 2, browse to and select the VM image. For **OS type** and **Version**, choose **Linux** and **Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0** respectively.
1. For Step 3, specify the amount of RAM and the number of CPUs to use.
1. For Step 4, enter a name for the new VM and select **Customize configuration before install**, and choose **Finish**.
1. In the Configuration window for the VM, choose **Add Hardware**.
1. In the **Add New Virtual Hardware** window, choose **Storage**.
1. In the Storage configuration, choose **Select or create custom storage**. For **Device type**, choose **CDROM device**. Choose **Manage**, **Browse Local**, and then navigate to and select the `seed.iso` file. Choose **Finish**.
1. Choose **Begin Installation**.
------
#### [ Oracle VirtualBox ]
**To boot the VM using Oracle VirtualBox**
1. Open Oracle VirtualBox and choose **New**.
1. For **Name**, enter a descriptive name for the virtual machine, and for **Type** and **Version**, select **Linux** and **Red Hat (64-bit)** respectively. Choose **Continue**.
1. For **Memory size**, specify the amount of memory to allocate to the virtual machine, and then choose **Continue**.
1. For **Hard disk**, choose **Use an existing virtual hard disk file**, browse to and open the VM image, and then choose **Create**.
1. Before you start the VM, you must load the `seed.iso` file in the virtual machine's virtual optical drive:
1. Select the new VM, choose **Settings**, and then choose **Storage**.
1. In the **Storage Devices** list, under **Controller: IDE**, choose the *Empty* optical drive.
1. In the **Attributes** section for the optical drive, choose the browse button, select **Choose Virtual Optical Disk File**, and then select the `seed.iso` file. Choose **OK** to apply the changes and close the Settings.
After you have added the `seed.iso` file to the virtual optical drive, you should be able to start the VM.
------
#### [ Microsoft Hyper-V ]
The VM image for Microsoft Hyper-V is compressed into a zip file. You must extract the contents of the zip file.
**To boot the VM using Microsoft Hyper-V**
1. Open the **New Virtual Machine Wizard**.
1. When prompted to select a generation, select **Generation 1**.
1. When prompted to configure the network adapter, for **Connection** choose **External**.
1. When prompted to connect a virtual hard disk, choose **Use an existing virtual hard disk**, choose **Browse**, and then navigate to and select the VM image. Choose **Finish** to create the VM.
1. Right-click the new VM and choose **Settings**. In the **Settings** window, under **IDE Controller 1**, choose **DVD Drive**.
1. For the DVD drive, choose **Image file** and then browse to and select the `seed.iso` file.
1. Apply the changes and start the VM.
------
After the VM has booted, log in using one of the user accounts that is defined in the `user-data` configuration file. After you have logged in for the first time, you can then disconnect the `seed.iso` boot image from the VM.