# Build Machine Configuration

## Build Machine Requirements <a href="#build-machine-requirements" id="build-machine-requirements"></a>

* Operating system: Debian 12
* RAM: 8GB minimum
* Chip: x86-64 / amd64 CPU architecture, Intel i5 or higher
* Storage: 250GB minimum

## Build Machine Configuration <a href="#build-machine-configuration" id="build-machine-configuration"></a>

Debian 12 will need to be installed on the build machine. You can find detailed instructions for that process under [Installing Debian 12 on VxBuild](/vxsuite-tdp-v4/software-installation/trusted-build/build-machine-configuration/installing-debian-12-on-vxbuild.md). Once that is complete, we can install the VotingWorks build system, [vxsuite-build-system](https://github.com/votingworks/vxsuite-build-system/tree/v4.0.2).

Throughout the rest of this document, substitute `<inventory-name>` with the inventory provided by VotingWorks.

```
sudo apt install -y git
mkdir ~/code && cd ~/code
git clone https://github.com/votingworks/vxsuite-build-system

cd ~/code/vxsuite-build-system
./scripts/tb-initialize-build-machine.sh <inventory-name>
./scripts/tb-clone-images.sh <inventory-name>
```

At this point, you should have two separate VMs: `debian-<inventory-name>-<apt-snapshot-date>-<debian-release-name>`and `online`. You can confirm this by running:

```
sudo virsh list --all
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.voting.works/vxsuite-tdp-v4/software-installation/trusted-build/build-machine-configuration.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.