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How to create a Windows VM

The Hikube console offers ready-to-use Windows Server images. This guide explains how to create a Windows Server VM, retrieve the generated administrator password and connect over RDP.

Prerequisites​

  • A Hikube account and a project with at least 4 vCPU, 16 GB of memory and 28 GB of storage available
  • An RDP client (Remote Desktop Connection on Windows, Windows App on macOS, xfreerdp or Remmina on Linux)
  • A password manager to store the administrator password

Steps​

1. Start the wizard​

Open Infrastructure > VM Instances and click Create an Instance. At the General step, enter the Instance name (for example win-srv01), then Next.

2. Choose the instance type​

At the Configuration step, choose at least Universal (U) > XLARGE (4 vCPU, 16 GB). Click Next.

Windows license

The Windows license is billed according to the number of vCPUs. It is included in the estimated cost shown at the top of the wizard.

3. Choose the image and the system disk​

At the Storage step:

  1. Under Operating System, select the windows-server card and version 2022 or 2025.
  2. Check Size (GB): when you pick Windows Server, the console raises it to 28, the minimum for this image (message Min. 28 GB required below the field). Plan for more to leave room for Windows updates and your applications.
  3. Choose the Replication Type and, if needed, enable Disk Encryption.
  4. Click Next.

4. Open the RDP port​

At the Network step:

  1. Leave Public IPv4 Address enabled and Enable Firewall checked.
  2. In Custom port..., enter 3389 and click the add button.
  3. Uncheck SSH (22) if you do not use OpenSSH on the server.

The Cloud-Init script (User Data) field is not offered for Windows.

5. Deploy and copy the password​

At the Summary step, click Create instance. The Windows Instance Credentials dialog opens and shows:

  • Default Username (Hikube);
  • Administrator Password.

Copy both values with the copy buttons and save them in your password manager, then click I copied the password and continue.

Password shown only once

The password is generated at creation and will not be shown again. If you lose it, it cannot be retrieved from the console.

6. Wait for startup​

In the VM Instances list, wait for the Running status. The first Windows boot (initialization and configuration) takes several minutes longer than a Linux VM: wait before the first RDP connection.

7. Connect over RDP​

Note the public IP address on the detail page: it appears in the SSH Connection block of the Network & Security section. Then connect:

# Linux
xfreerdp /v:<public-ip> /u:<username>

On Windows or macOS, add a PC with the address <public-ip> in your Remote Desktop client and use the credentials copied in step 5.

Verification​

Test that the RDP port is open from your workstation:

nc -zv -w 5 <public-ip> 3389

Expected result: Connection to <public-ip> 3389 port [tcp/ms-wbt-server] succeeded!

Once connected, change the password and apply Windows updates.

Installing from your own ISO

Installing Windows from a custom ISO requires graphical console access (VNC) during installation. This option is not offered in the console; contact support.

Further reading​