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Version: 0.5.1 (Latest)

Windows Installation Guide

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • Memory: 8GB RAM minimum (16GB+ recommended)
  • GPU: NVIDIA modern GPUs and Intel Arc Supported (requires drivers)
  • Storage: 20GB free disk space
  • Architecture: x64 (64-bit) processor
  • Administrator Access: The installer will request permission when needed
  • Memory: 32GB+ RAM for large workloads
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX series or Intel Arc GPU (for hardware acceleration)
  • Storage: SSD with 50GB+ free space

Prerequisites Setup

Step 1: Enable WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

If WSL is not already installed on your system:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator
    • Right-click Start button → "Windows PowerShell (Admin)"
  2. Install WSL
    wsl --install
  3. Restart your computer when prompted
  4. Verify WSL installation
    wsl --version

Step 2: Verify GPU Access (If Applicable)

Note: GPU verification will be performed automatically during installation. The installer will detect and configure GPU access for supported hardware.

Supported GPUs:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX series (30, 40 and 50 series)
  • Intel Arc GPUs

Note: Kamiwaza currently supports only NVIDIA GPUs and Intel Arc GPUs for hardware acceleration. For Intel Arc GPU setup instructions, please refer to the separate Intel Arc WSL GPU virtualization documentation.

Download from Microsoft Store or GitHub releases

Download and Installation

Step 1: Download Kamiwaza Installer

Contact your Kamiwaza representative to obtain the installer download link or file:

Step 2: Run the Installer

  1. Locate the downloaded MSI file in your Downloads folder
  2. Double-click to run the installer
  3. When prompted by Windows User Account Control, click "Yes" to allow the installer to make changes to your device
  4. Follow the installation wizard

Configuration Options:

  • Email Address: Your registered email address
  • License Key: Provided by Kamiwaza support
  • Installation Mode:
    • Lite - Basic installation (recommended for most users)
    • Full - Complete installation with all features
  • Dedicated Memory: Select RAM allocation for Kamiwaza
    • Recommended: 50%-75% of total system RAM
    • Example: 16GB system → Select 12GB allocation

Step 3: Installation Process

The installer will automatically:

  • Download and install Ubuntu 24.04 WSL distribution (if not present)
  • Reserve network ports (61100-61299)
  • Detect GPU hardware (NVIDIA RTX, Intel Arc only)
  • Configure WSL environment with optimized settings
  • Install Kamiwaza platform in dedicated WSL instance
  • Setup GPU acceleration (if compatible hardware detected)

Expected Installation Time:

  • Standard Installation: 15-30 minutes
  • First-time WSL Setup: Add 10-15 minutes
  • Large Package Downloads: May take longer on slower connections

Step 4: GPU Driver Restart

If GPU acceleration was configured, you'll be prompted to restart your device. It is recommended to restart immediately to ensure proper GPU driver initialization.

Access Your Installation

Option 1: System Tray Access (Primary Method)

After installation, Kamiwaza will automatically launch and appear in your system tray. Right-click the Kamiwaza system tray icon to access the following options:

  • Show Kamiwaza Manager - Open the main management interface
  • Kamiwaza Status - Check current platform status
  • Start Kamiwaza - Start the platform if stopped
  • Stop Kamiwaza - Stop the running platform
  • Open Kamiwaza - Launch the web interface
  • Exit - Close the system tray application

Option 2: WSL Command Line Access

Access the Kamiwaza WSL environment and start the platform:

wsl -d kamiwaza
kamiwaza start

Option 3: Start Menu Shortcuts

After installation, find these shortcuts in Start Menu → "Kamiwaza":

  • Install Kamiwaza - Initial setup and installation
  • Start Platform - Launch Kamiwaza platform
  • Cleanup WSL - Complete removal tool

Option 4: Direct Browser Access

Once running, access Kamiwaza at:

  • URL: https://localhost

Platform Management

Primary Method: System Tray

The easiest way to manage Kamiwaza is through the system tray icon. Right-click the Kamiwaza icon in your system tray to access all management options.

Alternative Method: Command Line

From PowerShell or Command Prompt:

# Start Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza start

# Stop Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza stop

# Restart Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza restart

# Check status
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza status

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Installation Fails with "WSL not found"

  • Ensure WSL is installed: wsl --install
  • Restart computer after WSL installation
  • Verify with: wsl --version

Ubuntu-24.04 Distribution Not Found

  • The installer will automatically download and install Ubuntu 24.04 if needed
  • If installation fails, check existing distributions: wsl --list --verbose
  • Re-run the installer if necessary

Memory Allocation Errors

  • Reduce memory allocation in installer
  • Ensure sufficient free RAM on system
  • Close other memory-intensive applications

GPU Detection Issues

  • Ensure latest GPU drivers are installed
  • Check Windows version supports GPU passthrough
  • Confirm GPU compatibility (NVIDIA or Intel Arc only)

Network Access Problems

  • Check Windows Firewall settings
  • Verify ports 61100-61299 are available
  • Try accessing https://localhost instead of http://

Getting Help

Check Installation Logs

WSL logs:

wsl -d kamiwaza -- journalctl -t kamiwaza-install

Windows logs:

  • Check Event Viewer → Applications

Installation and other logs should also be located on your Windows device at: C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Kamiwaza\logs

GPU Status Check

wsl -d kamiwaza -- /usr/local/bin/kamiwaza_gpu_status.sh

Support Contact

Uninstallation

To completely remove Kamiwaza:

Option 1: Use Windows Settings

  1. Settings → Apps → Find "Kamiwaza Installer" → Uninstall

Option 2: Use Start Menu shortcut

  1. Start Menu → Kamiwaza → "Cleanup WSL (Uninstall)"

Option 3: Manual cleanup if needed

wsl --unregister kamiwaza

Last Updated: September 3th, 2025