--- title: Preparing your cluster for OpenShift Virtualization --- # Preparing your cluster for OpenShift Virtualization {#preparing-cluster-for-virt} Review platform compatibility information before you install OpenShift Virtualization. For detailed system requirements, see "Hardware, software, and operational requirements" in the Additional resources section. ## Compatible platforms {#compatible-platforms_preparing-cluster-for-virt} OpenShift Virtualization supports bare-metal servers, ARM64-based systems, and IBM Z(R) or IBM(R) LinuxONE systems in logical partitions. Compatible platforms : - On-premise bare-metal servers. For more information, see "Planning a bare-metal cluster for OpenShift Virtualization" in the Additional resources section. - Bare-metal clusters installed on ARM64-based (`arm64`, also known as `aarch64`) systems. - IBM Z(R) or IBM(R) LinuxONE (s390x architecture) systems where an OpenShift Container Platform cluster is installed in logical partitions (LPARs). For more information, see "Preparing to install on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE" in the Additional resources section. ## Cloud platforms {#virt-cloud-platforms_preparing-cluster-for-virt} OpenShift Virtualization is compatible with various public cloud platforms. Each platform has specific storage options available.
Vendor Status Storage Resources
Amazon Web Services (AWS) GA
  • Elastic Block Store (EBS)
  • Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF)
  • Portworx
  • FSx (NetApp)
  • See "Installing a cluster on AWS with customizations" in the Additional resources section.
Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) GA
  • EBS
  • Portworx
  • FSx (Q3)
  • ODF
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) GA
  • OCI native storage
Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO) GA
  • ODF
Google Cloud GA, as of OpenShift Virtualization 4.21.1
  • Google Cloud native storage
  • Google Cloud NetApp Volumes (GCNV); requires OpenShift Virtualization 4.21.2 or later
Bare-metal instances or servers offered by other cloud providers are not supported. > [!TIP] > For platform-specific networking information, see "Networking overview" in the Additional resources section. ## OpenShift Virtualization on AWS bare metal {#virt-aws-bm_preparing-cluster-for-virt} You can run OpenShift Virtualization on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) bare metal OpenShift Container Platform cluster. > [!NOTE] > OpenShift Virtualization is also supported on Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) Classic clusters, which have the same configuration requirements as AWS bare-metal clusters. ## ARM64 compatibility {#virt-arm-compatibility_preparing-cluster-for-virt} OpenShift Virtualization on ARM64 systems is generally available (GA) with specific limitations for operating systems and live migration. Before using OpenShift Virtualization on an ARM64-based system, consider the following limitations: Operating system : - Only Linux-based guest operating systems are supported. - All virtualization limitations for RHEL also apply to OpenShift Virtualization. For more information, see [How virtualization on ARM64 differs from AMD64 and Intel 64](https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/9/html/configuring_and_managing_virtualization/assembly_feature-support-and-limitations-in-rhel-9-virtualization_configuring-and-managing-virtualization#how-virtualization-on-arm-64-differs-from-amd64-and-intel64_feature-support-and-limitations-in-rhel-9-virtualization) in the RHEL documentation. Live migration : - Live migration is **not supported** on ARM64-based OpenShift Container Platform clusters. - Hotplug is not supported on ARM64-based clusters because it depends on live migration. VM creation : - RHEL 10 supports instance types and preferences, but not templates. - RHEL 9 supports templates, instance types, and preferences. ## IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE compatibility {#virt-ibm-z-compatibility_preparing-cluster-for-virt} You can use OpenShift Virtualization in an OpenShift Container Platform cluster that is installed in logical partitions (LPARs) on an IBM Z(R) or IBM(R) LinuxONE (`s390x` architecture) system. Some features are not currently available on `s390x` architecture, while others require workarounds or procedural changes. These lists are subject to change. Currently unavailable features : The following features are currently not available on `s390x` architecture: - Memory hot plugging and hot unplugging - Node Health Check Operator - SR-IOV Operator - PCI passthrough - OpenShift Virtualization cluster checkup framework - OpenShift Virtualization on a cluster installed in FIPS mode - IPv6 - IBM(R) Storage scale - Hosted control planes for OpenShift Virtualization - VM pages using HugePages The following features are not applicable on `s390x` architecture: - virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) devices - UEFI mode for VMs - USB host passthrough - Configuring virtual GPUs - Creating and managing Windows VMs - Hyper-V Functionality differences : The following features are available for use on s390x architecture but function differently or require procedural changes: - When deleting a virtual machine by using the web console, the **grace period** option is ignored. For more information, see "Deleting a virtual machine by using the web console" in the Additional resources section. - When configuring the default CPU model, the `spec.defaultCPUModel` value is `"gen15b"` for an IBM Z cluster. For more information, see "Configuring the default CPU model" in the Additional resources section. - When configuring a downward metrics device, if you use a VM preference, the `spec.preference.name` value must be set to `rhel.9.s390x` or another available preference with the format `*.s390x`. For more information, see "Configuring a downward metrics device" in the Additional resources section. - When creating virtual machines from instance types, you are not allowed to set `spec.domain.memory.maxGuest` because memory hot plugging is not supported on IBM Z(R). For more information, see "Creating virtual machines from instance types" in the Additional resources section. - Prometheus queries for VM guests could have inconsistent outcome in comparison to `x86`. ## Important considerations for any platform {#virt-important-considerations_preparing-cluster-for-virt} Before installing OpenShift Virtualization, note key considerations about installation methods, storage, IPv6, and FIPS mode. Installation method considerations : You can use any installation method, including user-provisioned, installer-provisioned, or Assisted Installer, to deploy OpenShift Container Platform. However, the installation method and the cluster topology might affect OpenShift Virtualization functionality, such as snapshots or live migration. For more information about live migration, see "Hardware, software, and operational requirements" in the Additional resources section. Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation : If you deploy OpenShift Virtualization with Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation, you must create a dedicated storage class for Windows virtual machine disks. For more information, see "Optimizing ODF PersistentVolumes for Windows VMs" in the Additional resources section. IPv6 : OpenShift Virtualization support for single-stack IPv6 clusters is limited to the OVN-Kubernetes localnet and Linux bridge Container Network Interface (CNI) plugins. FIPS mode : If you install your cluster in FIPS mode, no additional setup is required for OpenShift Virtualization. For more information, see "Installing a FIPS-compliant cluster" in the Additional resources section. ## Object maximums {#virt-object-maximums_preparing-cluster-for-virt} Consider tested object maximums for both OpenShift Container Platform and OpenShift Virtualization when planning your cluster. OpenShift Container Platform : See "OpenShift Container Platform object maximums" in the Additional resources section. OpenShift Virtualization : See "OpenShift Virtualization supported limits" in the Additional resources section. **Additional resources** {._additional-resources} - [About installation methods for OpenShift Virtualization](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/install/installing-virt#virt-about-installation-methods_installing-virt) - [Hardware, software, and operational requirements](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/install/virt-requirements#virt-requirements) - [Planning a bare-metal cluster for OpenShift Virtualization](/openshift-docs-markdown/installing/installing_bare_metal/preparing-to-install-on-bare-metal#virt-planning-bare-metal-cluster-for-ocp-virt_preparing-to-install-on-bare-metal) - [Preparing to install on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE](/openshift-docs-markdown/installing/installing_ibm_z/preparing-to-install-on-ibm-z#preparing-to-install-on-ibm-z_preparing-to-install-on-ibm-z) - [Installing a cluster on AWS with customizations](/openshift-docs-markdown/installing/installing_aws/ipi/installing-aws-customizations#installing-aws-customizations) - [OpenShift Container Platform object maximums](/openshift-docs-markdown/scalability_and_performance/planning-your-environment-according-to-object-maximums#planning-your-environment-according-to-object-maximums) - [OpenShift Virtualization supported limits](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/about_virt/virt-supported-limits#virt-supported-limits) - [Installing a FIPS-compliant cluster](/openshift-docs-markdown/installing/overview/installing-fips#installing-fips-mode_installing-fips) - [Configure CPU models](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/managing_vms/cpu_models/virt-configuring-default-cpu-model#virt-configuring-default-cpu-model) - [Deleting a virtual machine by using the web console](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/managing_vms/virt-delete-vms#virt-delete-vm-web_virt-delete-vms) - [Configuring a downward metrics device](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/monitoring/virt-exposing-downward-metrics#virt-configuring-downward-metrics_virt-exposing-downward-metrics) - [Creating virtual machines from instance types](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/creating_vm/virt-creating-vms-from-instance-types#virt-creating-vms-from-instance-types) - [Networking overview](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/vm_networking/virt-networking-overview#virt-networking) - [Connecting a virtual machine to an OVN-Kubernetes secondary network](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/vm_networking/virt-connecting-vm-to-ovn-secondary-network#virt-connecting-vm-to-ovn-secondary-network) - [Exposing a virtual machine by using a service](/openshift-docs-markdown/virt/vm_networking/virt-exposing-vm-with-service#virt-exposing-vm-with-service) - [Optimizing ODF PersistentVolumes for Windows VMs](https://access.redhat.com/articles/6978371) - [GCNV service levels](https://docs.cloud.google.com/netapp/volumes/docs/discover/service-levels) - [Glossary of common terms for OpenShift Container Platform storage](/openshift-docs-markdown/storage/index#openshift-storage-common-terms_storage-overview)