Virtual Machine Compatibility
Gallium Edge supports most virtual machine (VM) images. It gives every VM the same fixed virtual hardware, with no manual control of virtual device configuration and no hardware profile to select. This page describes that hardware, the drivers a guest needs, and the firmware and Secure Boot behavior that affects compatibility.
Virtual Devices
The virtual devices are identical for every Operating System Type:
| Device | Presented as | Windows driver |
|---|---|---|
| Boot and data disks | VirtIO block | viostor |
| Network adapter | VirtIO | NetKVM |
| Optical drive (CD/DVD) | SATA | Built in |
| Display | QXL virtual GPU | Built in |
| Pointer | USB tablet | Built in |
Linux includes every VirtIO driver in the kernel, so a Linux guest needs nothing added.
Firmware
Every VM boots in UEFI mode; there is no BIOS option. If you have a virtual appliance that requires legacy BIOS, contact support.
Secure Boot
The Operating System Type set on a VM's template determines its Secure Boot configuration:
| Operating System Type | Secure Boot | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | On, standard keys | Modern Linux distributions |
| Windows | On, Microsoft keys | Windows Server 2016 and above, Windows 10, and Windows 11 |
| Other | Off | Guests that cannot use Secure Boot |
Windows uses Microsoft's Secure Boot keys, so its signed boot loaders and drivers are trusted.