# Base Cluster Details

An HVM cluster using the hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) Layout consists of at least three hosts. Physical hosts are recommended to experience full performance of the HVM cluster solution. In smaller environments, it is possible to create an HVM cluster with three nested virtual machines, a single physical host (non-HCI only), or a single nested virtual machine (non-HCI only) though performance may be reduced. With just one host it won’t be possible to migrate workloads between hosts or take advantage of automatic failover. Currently, a host must be a pre-existing Ubuntu 22.04 box with environment and host system requirements contained in this section. HPE Morpheus Enterprise handles cluster configuration by providing the IP address(es) for your host(s) and a few other details. Details on adding the cluster to HPE Morpheus Enterprise are contained in the next section.

**Subtopics**  

- **[Hardware Requirements](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00007510en_us/render?page=GUID-29D63377-0FE6-40DD-BCCF-1A5319D2D9C2.html)**
- **[Example Cluster Deployment](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00007510en_us/render?page=GUID-5CBD20D3-D323-4F6E-A543-E19708439C5D.html)**
