This comprehensive guide walks you through the process of acquiring, deploying, and licensing the Palo Alto VM-Series firewall.
You have downloaded the VM and it is running. Palo Alto uses a "capacity-based" licensing model where the VM acts as a paperweight until you install a valid auth-code.
Direct wget may fail without proper session cookies. It is often easier to download via a browser, then transfer the file to your hypervisor host.
Depending on where you plan to host the VM, you will need a specific file format. VMware ESXi and vCloud Air: Use the OVA or OVF templates. KVM and Nutanix AHV: Use the qcow2 image. Microsoft Hyper-V: Use the VHD files.
The primary method to obtain the installation files for a Palo Alto VM is through the official Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal. Navigate to the Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal. Log in with your corporate credentials. Go to the Updates section and select Software Updates. From the "Filter By" dropdown menu, select VM-Series. Choose the specific PAN-OS version you require.