Install Windows Server 2025
Build a reusable Windows Server 2025 workload from an empty template through installation, driver loading, first boot, and verification.
Before you begin
Use a Windows Server 2025 installation ISO that you are licensed to use. The tutorial builds the STRATUM template and VM image first, then deploys a new VM and performs the operating-system installation from the console.
The values in this example provide a working installation path. Adjust CPU, memory, interface count, disk capacity, and other workload sizing as needed, but keep the template, VM image, storage bus, installation media, and deployed VM aligned throughout the installation.
Preparation
Create the reusable Windows Server Arsenal Template and set its hardware defaults before creating the image that will become the workload baseline.
Create Windows Arsenal Template
In Arsenal, open Templates and create a new Arsenal Template for Windows Server 2025. The template holds the reusable identity and hardware defaults used by later deployments.
Windows Template Identity
Give the Arsenal Template a clear name and description, select the visual node icon operators will see in Arsenal and System Arsenal, and set the remaining identity fields required for the template.
Windows Template Guest Tools Settings
Set the Windows guest and STRATUM Guest Tools options for the template. These defaults determine how the deployed VM exposes the supported guest integration and installation media.
Windows Template VMM Hardware Settings
Set the VMM, firmware, CPU, memory, disk/controller, and other hardware defaults required for the Windows Server workload. Keep the storage model consistent with the driver that will be loaded during Windows Setup.
Arsenal
Create the Windows VM image, its boot disk, and the installation media required for setup.
Create Windows VM Image
Open VM Images in Arsenal and create a new VM image version for the Windows Server template. This image becomes the reusable boot-disk baseline for the installation.
Select Template For Windows Image
Select the Windows Server template family, assign the image version, and create the new VM image under that template.
Open ISO Library
Open the ISO Library in Arsenal. Installation media stored here can be attached to VMs from Mission Planner.
Upload Windows Server ISO
Upload the Windows Server 2025 installation ISO. Leave the transfer running until STRATUM reports that the upload is complete.
Windows Server ISO Ready
Confirm that the Windows Server ISO is listed in the ISO Library and is available for attachment to a VM.
Create Windows Boot Disk
Create the Windows boot disk for the VM image. Set the disk bus, format, and capacity required for the workload; this is the disk Windows Server will be installed onto.
Deployment
Deploy the Windows Server template, attach the installation and Guest Tools media, and prepare the new VM for setup.
Deploy Windows Template
In Mission Planner, add the Windows Server system from System Arsenal. The deployment profile opens before the VM is placed on the canvas.
Configure Windows Deployment Profile
Select the Windows VM image and set the CPU, memory, interfaces, execution placement, and other deployment-specific values for this Windows Server instance.
Attach Windows Install Media
Attach the Windows Server 2025 ISO as removable media for the VM so the system can boot into Windows Setup.
Confirm Removable Media And Guest Tools
Confirm that the Windows installation ISO is attached and that the STRATUM Guest Tools media is available for the installation. Guest Tools provides the storage driver used when Windows Setup cannot initially see the VM disk.
Windows Server Node Ready
The new Windows Server VM should now be present on the Mission Planner canvas in the stopped state with its deployment settings and installation media attached.
Boot From Install Media
Power on the VM and open its console. When the boot prompt appears, press a key to boot from the Windows Server installation media.
Windows Setup
Boot Windows Setup, choose the installation locale, and continue to the disk-selection screen.
Windows Setup Language
Choose the Windows Server language, time/region format, and keyboard layout required for the deployment, then continue into Windows Setup.
Windows Install Location
At the disk-selection screen, check whether the STRATUM VM disk is available. If no suitable disk is listed, choose Load driver and use the attached Guest Tools media in the next steps.
Storage Driver
If Windows Setup does not initially list the STRATUM VM disk, load the storage driver from the attached Guest Tools media.
Load Storage Driver
Choose Load driver so Windows Setup can load the storage driver required to access the STRATUM VM disk.
Browse Storage Driver Media
Browse the attached Guest Tools/driver media and select the Windows storage-driver folder that matches the guest architecture. Return to disk selection after the driver loads.
Select Windows Install Disk
Select the STRATUM VM disk when it appears in Windows Setup, then continue the installation onto that disk.
First Boot
Complete Windows installation, reach the Server Core SConfig screen, exit to PowerShell, and install the VirtIO network driver from the attached driver media.
Windows Install Progress
Allow Windows Server Setup to copy files, install features, and restart the VM as required. Do not detach the boot disk while installation is in progress.
First Windows Boot
After installation, allow the VM to boot from its installed system disk. The STRATUM boot display should transition into the installed Windows Server environment.
Windows Server SConfig
After Windows Server reaches SConfig, press Ctrl-C to break out to a PowerShell prompt. The screenshot shows SConfig interrupted with Ctrl-C so the remaining driver can be installed directly from the shell.
Install the VirtIO Network Driver
Browse the attached VirtIO driver media to the Windows Server 2025 NetKVM amd64 directory, then use pnputil to install the network driver. The screenshot shows the NetKVM package being added successfully to the VirtIO network device. The media drive letter may differ from this example.
pnputil /add-driver E:\virtio-win\NetKVM\2k25\amd64\netkvm.inf /installThe outcome you should see
Windows Server boots from the installed VM disk, PowerShell is available from SConfig, and the VirtIO NetKVM network driver installs successfully from the attached driver media. The installation ISO is no longer required for normal boots.