How to deploy NSv KVM image on virt-manager starting SonicOS 7.1.1 and above versions?

This document describes steps to deploy NSv 270/470/870 models on KVM platform starting SonicOS 7.1.1 versions and above. It is important to note that the versions SonicOS 7.0.1 and previous versions will continue to follow the previous process outlined in the article here.

Below is the process for SonicOS 7.1.1 image and later.

Download the zip file named ‘Deployment Images’ from MySonicWall account under NSv 270/470/870 KVM section

This includes below artifacts: 

• JSON file
• OVMF UEFI firmware CODE file
• OVMF UEFI firmware VARS file
• qcow2 image file

For instance, download following files for 7.1.1-7058 release from MySonicWall will include following files:

• 10-sonicwall-x86_64-secure-enrolled.json
• OVMF_CODE.sw.fd
• OVMF_VARS.sw.fd
• soniccorex-image-release-nsv-kvm-R6162.wic.qcow2
  
  

Deploy SonicCoreX NSv KVM image on virt-manager

1. Provision /etc/qemu/firmware directory on virt-manager host
   • Create /etc/qemu/firmware directory on virt-manager host if not present
   • copy 10-sonicwall-x86_64-secure-enrolled.json (JSON file) to /etc/qemu/firmware
   • sudo systemctl reload libvirtd
2. Provision /usr/share/OVMF directory on virt-manager host
   • Create /usr/share/OVMF directory on virt-manager host if not present
   • Copy OVMF_CODE.sw.fd and OVMF_VARS.sw.fd to /usr/share/OVMF directory
3. Launch virt-manager and create a new virtual machine
   
    
4. Import existing image
   
    
5. Choose volume (qcow2 image file (soniccorex-image-release-nsv-kvm-R6162.wic.qcow2))
    
6. Choose the operating system you are installing 
   • Select Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0. 
     Note: It’s not mandatory to choose RHEL. All it does is automatically select virto disks and virtion networking. If choosing a different operating system, make sure to use virtio for disks and networking
     
      
7. Choose Memory and CPU settings
    
8. Customize Configuration before install (IMPORTANT)
    
9. Customizing the Virtual Machine - Overview Section 
   • Ensure to select Q35 for chipset and /usr/share/OVMF/OVMF_CODE.sw.fd (SonicWall supplied OVMF CODE image). SonicCoreX will not boot with distro supplied OVMF image and will abort with an error.
   • After making the selection make sure to click "Apply" button. If you navigate to other sections without clicking apply the changes you made in the overview section, changes will be lost.
     
      
10.  Add secondary NIC
    Note: Minimum two NICs are required for SonicCoreX to fully boot through to SonicOS.The NIC selected must be virtio
    
    
    
11.  Add watchdog hardware
     
12.  Begin Installation
     
13.  Wait for Installation to complete
    
14.  Wait for SonicOS to finish starting up