Getting started on Windows

This page provides instructions for installing the necessary dependencies to build OpenVMM on Windows.

Tip

We strongly suggest using WSL2 for OpenVMM development, rather than developing on Windows directly.

Developing in WSL2 offers a smoother development experience, while still allowing you to build and run OpenVMM on Windows through the use of cross compilation.

Additionally, it allows you to have a single clone of the OpenVMM repo suitable for both OpenVMM and OpenHCL development.

You must be running a recent version of Windows 11. Windows 10 is no longer supported as a development platform, due to needed WHP APIs.

NOTE: OpenHCL does NOT build on Windows.

If you are interested in building OpenHCL, please follow the getting started guide for Linux / WSL2.

Installing Rust

To build OpenVMM, you first need to install Rust.

The OpenVMM project actively tracks the latest stable release of Rust, though it may take a week or two after a new stable is released until OpenVMM switches over to it.

Please follow the official instructions to do so.

If you don't already have it, you will need to install Visual Studio C++ Build tools or Visual Studio with the component "Desktop Development for C++".

This can be installed via Visual Studio Installer -> Modify -> Individual Components -> MSVC v143 - VS 2022 C++ x64/x86 build tools (latest).

Or, you can install the tool via the powershell command below.

PS> winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.Community --override "--quiet --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64"

Aarch64 support

To build ARM64, you need an additional dependency. This can be installed via Visual Studio Installer -> Modify -> Individual Components -> MSVC v143 - VS 2022 C++ ARM64/ARM64EC build tools (latest).

Or, you can install the tool via the powershell command below.

PS> winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.Community --override "--quiet --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.ARM64"

Cloning the OpenVMM source

If you haven't already installed git, you can download it here.

PS> git clone https://github.com/microsoft/openvmm.git

Next Steps

You are now ready to build OpenVMM!