---
title: Preparation
description:
published: true
date: 2021-11-18T14:07:43.767Z
tags:
editor: markdown
dateCreated: 2021-11-15T15:39:49.074Z
---
> Section under construction
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# Prepare the host computer
## Meet the requirements
These instructions are valid for x86-64 computers that do ship with Linux, Windows or macOS.
Phyllome OS targets x86 systems with hardware-assisted virtualization, with a strong preference for those providing IOMMU as well (AMD Vi or Intel VT-d).
Sitting idle, Phyllome OS consumes approximately 1 CPU core and 1.5 GB of RAM.
> This requirement scales up with the number of virtual machines running on a dedicated OS.
{.is-info}
### Minimum requirements for Phyllome OS Desktop
* **x86-64** computer that supports the first generation of hardware-assisted virtualization features
* For AMD-based configurations, it means that AMD V is available and enabled
* For Intel-based configurations, it means that Intel VT-x is available and enabled
* **2-core** processor
* **8 GB** of RAM
* **SSD**-based storage device to store disk images and Phyllome OS
* Any graphics card (Linux or macOS guests only)
### Recommended requirements for Phyllome OS Desktop
* **x86-64** computer that supports the second generation of hardware-assisted virtualization features
* For AMD-based configurations, it means that AMD Vi is available and enabled
* For Intel-based configurations, it means that Intel VT-d is available and enabled
* **8-core** processor
* **16 GB** of RAM
* **NVME**-based storage device to store disk images and Phyllome OS
* Two graphics cards or a graphics card that supports vfio-mdev or SR-IOV
## Enable hardware-assisted virtualization
### Access the firmware
*The Open Virtual Machine Firmware (OVMF), which is based on the TianoCore firmware, is the default firmware for EFI-based virtual machines. It can be accessed using the Esc key.*
* **Since Windows 8**: command-line instructions
Press the Win and X keys simultaneously to make a context menu appears. Then press Shift and a to politely ask Windows to open `Powershell` using elevated privileges, and click on the `Yes` button to bypass the User Account Control pop-up. Finally, input the following command inside the command prompt and press `enter`.
```
shutdown /fw /r
```
* **Since Windows 8**: a visual walk-through
* Open the start-up menu and write `start-up`, then select *Change advanced start-up options*
* Under the *Advanced start-up* section, click on `Restart now`
* Select `Troubleshoot`
* Then select `Advanced options`
* Select `UEFI Firmware Settings`
* Hit `Restart`
* **macOS-based computers**
Hardware-assisted virtualization is a hit or miss on Apple computers, as there is no way to access the firmware on these computers. Apple users can jump to the section *Make sure that hardware-assisted virtualization is enabled* to check whether this feature is activated or not on their particular model.
* **Other computers**
Make sure the targeted computer is shut down.
During the POST phase, you need to press a certain key to access the firmware configuration tool for your motherboard, which is part of your BIOS or UEFI.
Just after pressing the `power-on` button, hit the right key to access the firmware configuration tool, usually F2 or Del, but it depends on your model.
> Do not hesitate to repeatedly press the pertinent key to make sure it is registered.
{.is-info}
> Hardware manufacturers could not agree on a common keystroke to access the firmware configuration tool, so, if the given keys do not work out for you, please have a look at the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your computer.
{.is.info}
### Modify the firmware configuration
`to be done`
## Make sure that hardware-assisted virtualization is enabled
`to be done`
* **Windows**
* **macOS**
* **Linux**
> Failing to activate hardware-assisted virtualization will make running virtual machines extremly slow, if possible at all. If, for some reasons, it cannot be activated on your computer, you would be better off picking a Linux distribution which doesn't require it, such as [Debian](https://www.debian.org/distrib/).
{.is-warning}
---
*If the activation is successful, you can go to the next section [to prepare an installation medium](https://wiki.phyllo.me/deploy/medium).*