Getting started on Windows
This page provides instructions for installing the necessary dependencies to build OpenVMM on Windows.
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.
Visual Studio C++ Build Tools and Windows SDK
If you don't already have it, you will need to install Visual Studio C++ Build tools or Visual Studio with the components "Desktop Development for C++" and the Windows SDK. Windows 11 SDK version 26100 is the latest version as of this update, but you should install the newest version if there is a newer version.
The C++ build tools can be installed via Visual Studio Installer -> Modify -> Individual Components
-> MSVC v143 - VS 2022 C++ x64/x86 build tools (latest).
The Windows SDK can be installed via Visual Studio Installer -> Modify -> Individual Components
-> Windows 11 SDK (10.0.26100.0).
The C++ build tools and Windows SDK can be installed at the same time.
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 --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.26100"
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!