Overview

Bare-metal preparation, VergeOS installation walkthrough, and post-install verification for production deployments.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Prepare bare-metal hardware for VergeOS installation (BIOS settings, disk controllers, networking)
• Perform a complete 2-node VergeOS installation from USB boot media
• Complete the post-installation verification checklist to confirm a healthy system
• Troubleshoot common installation issues and know when to escalate

Prerequisites

• Completion of Module 1: Architecture Fundamentals -- understanding of node roles, core fabric, and cluster concepts
• Completion of Module 2: Sizing & Design -- hardware has been selected and scoped

Estimated Time

2.5 hours (1 hour reading + 1.5 hours lab)

Topics

• Pre-Installation Checklist — BIOS configuration, disk controller modes, network interface identification, and boot media preparation.
• Controller Installation — Step-by-step installation of Node 1 (controller) and Node 2 (controller), including network configuration and cluster formation.
• Adding Nodes — Scale-out nodes, storage-only nodes, and compute-only nodes. Expanding your cluster beyond the initial 2-node deployment.
• Post-Install Verification — Dashboard health checks, vSAN verification, network connectivity, initial configuration, and final deployment testing.
• Lab: 2-Node Installation — Perform a complete VergeOS installation on a 2-node cluster using the Terraform playground or physical hardware.