iot-edge-prerequisites-linux-on-windows.md

ms.topic	include
ms.date	03/02/2026
author	sethmanheim
ms.author	sethm
ms.service	azure-iot-edge
ms.custom	linux-related-content
services	iot-edge

Device requirements

A Windows device with the following minimum requirements:

• System requirements

  • Windows 10¹/11 (Pro, Enterprise, IoT Enterprise)
  • Windows Server 2019¹/2022
    _{¹ Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019, minimum build 17763, with all current cumulative updates installed.}

• Hardware requirements

  • Minimum free memory: 1 GB
  • Minimum free disk space: 10 GB

• Virtualization support

  • On Windows 10, enable Hyper-V. For more information, see Install Hyper-V.
  • On Windows Server, install the Hyper-V role and create a default network switch. For more information, see Nested virtualization for Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows.
  • On a virtual machine, configure nested virtualization. For more information, see Nested virtualization for Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows.

• Networking support

  • Windows Server doesn't include a default switch. Before you can deploy EFLOW to a Windows Server device, you need to create a virtual switch. For more information, see Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows virtual switch creation.
  • Windows Desktop versions include a default switch that you can use for EFLOW installation. If needed, you can create your own custom virtual switch.

Tip

If you want to use GPU-accelerated Linux modules in your Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows deployment, consider several configuration options.

You need to install the correct drivers depending on your GPU architecture, and you might need access to a Windows Insider Program build. To determine your configuration needs and satisfy these prerequisites, see GPU acceleration for Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows.

Make sure you satisfy the prerequisites for GPU acceleration now. You must restart the installation process if you decide you want GPU acceleration during installation.

Developer tools

Prepare your target device for the installation of Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows and the deployment of the Linux virtual machine:

1. Set the execution policy on the target device to AllSigned. You can check the current execution policy in an elevated PowerShell prompt by using the following command:

   Get-ExecutionPolicy -List

   If the execution policy for local machine isn't AllSigned, set the execution policy by using:

   Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy AllSigned -Force

For more information about the Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows PowerShell module, see the PowerShell functions reference.