This guide deals with installing an OS from your own ISO file. If you want to use a pre-installed OS from one of our images, follow the guide VPS ON – OS Image Installation. If you are installing Windows, follow the VPS ON – Install Windows with VirtIO instructions.

This guide is for VPS ON. For VPS SSD, follow VPS SSD – OS Image Installation.

In this article, you will learn:

• How to create a CD/DVD ISO image
• How to mount an ISO image
• How to boot from ISO
• Common issues
• Frequently asked questions

You can have up to 3 custom ISO images of any CD/DVD in Open Nebula storage. These images are stored for up to 3 days.

The maximum size of a custom ISO image is 8 GB. Larger images may not work properly.

To create a CD/DVD image, follow these steps:

1. Log into Open Nebula SunStone.
2. In the left menu, navigate to to Storage Images.
3. Click the green + button and select Create.
4. Enter the ISO Name and Path/URL, or upload it.
5. Set the Type as Readonly CD-ROM.
6. Click the green Create button at the top.

To check whether the disc is ready for use in the image list. The disk is usable from the moment the Status is READY. To refresh the status overview, click the gray refresh button at the top of the page.

If you have created your own ISO image, mount it to the server as follows:

1. Go to Instaces  VMs.
2. Choose the server to mount the ISO to.
3. If the VM is running, shut it down and wait for the state to change to POWEROFF.
4. Go to the Storage tab and click the Attach disk button.
5. Choose a READY disk and click Attach.
6. Turn the server on.

After finishing work with the disk, we recommend dismounting it by clicking on the × button in the Actions column.

Booting from ISO will result in the loss of all data stored on the original discs. Back up your server before proceeding with the tutorial.

First, make sure you don’t have any disks other than the installation CD-ROM attached to the server. If you see another disk in the list, remove it by pressing × in the Actions column and update the VM status by pressing .

If you only have an installation CD-ROM attached to your system, mount a blank disk as follows (for VPS ON, skip steps 4 and 5, the system will set the size for you):

1. Click the green Attach disk button.
2. Select Empty Image from the list.
3. Click Empty Image.
4. CLOUD: Open the Advanced options menu. 
5. CLOUD: Set the Size on instantiate value to the VPS size. 
6. Click the Attach button.
7. Refresh the page with the button.

Follow these steps to complete the installation process:

1. Turn the server on using the resume button.
2. Open KVM using the button.
3. Click the Send CtrlAltDel button, then quickly click the console window and press Esc to open the boot menu.
   If you see No bootable device in the console, repeat this step.
4. Select the drive number from which you want to boot (CD with description).
5. Install the OS.

Common issues with mounting a custom ISO and installing an OS on a VPS ON include:

• Cannot attach or remove disk
• Limit reached for SYSTEM_DISK_SIZE quota in VM error
• KVM doesn’t react to keyboard

Issue: The interface for attaching or removing the disk does not work.

Cause: You cannot attach or remove disks to a powered on VM.

Solution: Make sure the VM is in POWEROFF state. You can update the status by pressing the button.

Issue: While trying to attach the ISO disk, there is an error: limit reached for SYSTEM_DISK_SIZE quota in VM.

Cause: You are running into a size limit or invalid disk type.

Solution: Make sure that the size of the ISO file is less than 8 GB and that it has the CDROM type.

Issue: KVM does not respond to keystrokes.

Cause: Most of the time, you left the KVM interface by clicking outside the console box or pressing keys (usually Esc), or there is an error in the keyboard settings.

Solution: Click on the console window and try using the keys again. If KVM does not respond to pressing a number on the numeric keypad, try entering numbers using the ! to ) keys (above the letters).

Qusetion: How do I install Windows?
Odpověď: Follow the guide VPS ON – Install Windows with VirtIO.