Before installing a vRouter prepare for the installation by performing these tasks:

1. Find out the system name of the device onto which the software is to be installed.
   Note: The installation process reformats the specified partition, so it is critical to specify the correct partition. For systems dedicated to vRouter, the system-selected defaults can be used.
   Note: If you are installing a system onto a USB memory stick, insert the memory stick into a USB port. The system detects that the USB device is installed and notifies you; record the name of the device as displayed in the system message (for example, /dev/sdb). Specify this device when prompted during the installation procedure.
2. Make sure you have a minimum of 2 GB of free space on the system for a root partition.
   Note: A minimum of 4 GB of free space is recommended for a production installation .
3. Make sure you have a minimum of 2 GB of RAM on the system.
   Note: A minimum of 4 GB of RAM is recommended.
4. The data plan supports from 1 – 128 CPUs.
   Note: A minimum of 4 CPUs are recommended for optimum performance.

If you plan to install a system onto a USB stick:

1. Check the BIOS setup of your hardware to confirm that it supports the ability to boot from a USB device.
2. Make sure any firmware or driver-based RAID functionality, such as Intel Matrix Storage Manager (IMSM), is disabled in the BIOS of your system.
   Note: Firmware-based RAID is not supported by the vRouter. The vRouter installation process offers to enable software RAID if two hard disks of equal size are detected. Software-based RAID is more reliable and compatible on vRouter. Consult the documentation from your hardware manufacturer for instructions on disabling firmware-based RAID.
3. Specify the boot device for the CD before installing the system and change the boot device to hard drive after the installation. For more information about specifying the boot device, refer to Specify the boot device in the system BIOS.