Install a QHCI host

A QHCI host is a physical server running Quantix-OS, the Quantix hypervisor. This page takes you from a blank server to a host you can sign in to in a browser.

Prerequisites

Item	Requirement
CPU	64-bit x86 with hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in firmware. The installer refuses to continue without it.
Memory	4 GiB minimum, 16 GiB or more recommended.
Disk	One disk of at least 10.5 GiB for Quantix-OS. The whole disk is erased. Extra disks can become local storage pools.
Firmware	UEFI boot. Legacy BIOS is not supported. Disable Secure Boot before you reboot into the installed system.
Network	One wired network interface connected to your management network.
Media	The Quantix-OS ISO from the customer portal, written to a USB stick or mounted through your server's remote console.

Decide in advance:

• a hostname for the host (letters, digits and dashes, starting with a letter, up to 63 characters);
• whether the management address is DHCP or static — static is recommended, because other hosts and QvDC find this host by its address;
• a root password (at least 6 characters) for the local console and SSH;
• a Host UI admin password (at least 8 characters) for the browser interface. Keep it different from the root password.

Steps

1. Boot the ISO. In the boot menu choose Install Quantix-OS (it starts automatically after 15 seconds). If the screen is garbled, reboot and pick Quantix-OS Live (Safe Graphics - for display issues) from the same menu.

2. Welcome. Nothing is written to disk until the summary step, and Esc always takes you back one step. Press Enter to scan the hardware.

3. Scanning hardware. The installer checks CPU, memory, firmware, storage, network and time source, and shows READY or BLOCKED. If it shows BLOCKED with virtualization disabled in firmware, enable VT-x/AMD-V in the server's firmware settings, then press R to scan again.

4. Select the target disk. Pick the disk for Quantix-OS. A disk that already holds data is marked HOLDS DATA; to use it you must type ERASE to confirm. The installer creates two system partitions (A and B, so updates can roll back), a configuration partition, and a data partition from the rest.

5. Configure storage pools (optional). Press Space to select any spare disks to turn into local storage pools — each selected disk is erased and formatted. Press S to skip; you can add storage later.

6. Hostname configuration. Enter the hostname (default quantix). The host installs standalone; you add it to QvDC after first boot.

7. Management network. Choose Automatic (DHCP) or Static IP. For a static address enter:

   • address with its prefix length, for example 192.0.2.20/24;
   • gateway, which must be in the same subnet;
   • dns — leave empty to use the gateway.

   The installer picks the connected network interface automatically. Wi-Fi is not available during installation.

8. Root password. Enter and confirm it. There is no way to recover it other than a factory reset, so store it safely.

9. Host UI admin password. Enter and confirm the password for the admin account of the browser interface.

10. Installation summary. Check the Will be erased and Configuration panels. Press Enter at POINT OF NO RETURN to install.

11. Complete. When the screen shows INSTALLED, remove the install media and press R to reboot.

Expected result

After the reboot, the server shows the Direct Console on its screen with a health verdict (HEALTHY, DEGRADED or CRITICAL) and its management address.

Open https://<host-address>:8443/ in a browser. The host uses a self-signed certificate at first, so your browser warns you once; accept it to continue. Sign in on the Host Management page as admin with the Host UI admin password. The Welcome to Quantix-OS wizard offers:

• Connect to an existing Quantix-vDC — see Add hosts to QvDC;
• Deploy Quantix-vDC on this host — see Install QvDC;
• Continue standalone — manage this one host from its own Host UI.

The Direct Console

The Direct Console on the server's screen (or its remote console) is for first-aid when the browser interface cannot be reached. Sign in with the same admin account as the Host UI.

Menu item	Use it to
Configure Network	See interfaces and addresses; press Enter to set a static address, M for DHCP, R to restart networking.
SSH Access	Enable SSH temporarily (it switches itself off after 30 minutes by default) or disable it. SSH is off after install.
Join / Manage Cluster	Generate Registration Token for adding this host to QvDC, or Leave Cluster.
View Logs & Diagnostics	Run health checks on the host services, network, storage and cluster link.
Restart Management Services	Restart the host's management service if the Host UI stops responding. Running VMs are not affected.
Open Local Shell	A root shell for guided support sessions. Type exit to return.

Press P for Reboot or Shutdown, and D for the Danger Zone. Factory Reset in the Danger Zone (type RESET to confirm) clears network settings, SSH keys, certificates, cluster membership and host configuration, then reboots. Virtual machines and storage are not deleted.

To change the hostname after installation, use the Host UI: Networking → Physical Networking → DNS & Identity, or Settings → General.

Next steps

• Add hosts to QvDC
• Storage pools
• Networking