FAQ: Image templates
What is a standard image template?
A standard image template is the IBM® Virtual Servers imaging option for IBM Cloud. You use standard image templates to capture an image of an existing virtual server instance regardless of its operating system and create a new virtual server that is based on the image.
What is an ISO template?
The ISO template is a type of template that is reserved for ISOs that can be used to start a virtual server instance. ISO templates are available in two versions: public and private. Public ISO templates are preconfigured templates that are provided by IBM Cloud and can be used by any customer. Private ISO templates are created by importing an image of an ISO stored on an Object Storage account. In order for an ISO to be imported to the Image Templates screen, the ISO must be bootable.
IBM Cloud supported operating systems can be used only to load an ISO template onto an instance. For more information, see Lifecycle for operating systems and add-ons.
What is the difference between a public image and a private image?
A public image is an image that can be viewed and applied to a new virtual server by any IBM Cloud user. IBM Cloud currently creates public images as a solution for configuration options on different devices. You can also make images public and available to any user. A private image is an image that can be viewed only by authorized users. Authorized users default to any user on your account; however, images can also be shared between multiple accounts by updating the sharing options in the IBM Cloud console.
Can I capture and deploy virtual servers with my self-managed hypervisor?
Only servers that are provisioned by IBM Cloud can be captured and deployed. Individual virtual servers that you manually created on personal devices cannot be captured, provisioned, or deployed.
Does my ISO template need to be in the same data center as my virtual server to complete a boot from image?
Yes, ISO templates must be in the same data center as a virtual server to boot from the image. If the ISO template isn't in the same data center, the ISO template must be copied to the appropriate data center. If this situation occurs, a warning appears about the transaction. When an ISO template is copied to a different data center, a small fee is charged to the account as they are for copying other types of image templates.
What is the difference between physical data and volume size?
Volume is the disk space that is available for storing files, while physical data consists of the actual files that are stored on the disk.
What is the image import export feature?
The image import export feature converts VHDs and ISOs that are stored on an Object Storage account to convert into image templates, and vice versa. When you import an image, a specific file (either VHD or ISO) is sourced from a specified [Object Storage] Account's Container and is converted into an image template. The image template can then be used to start or load a device. When you export an image, the image template is converted into a file (or several files if the template has multiple disks). The image template is then stored in a specified location on an Object Storage Account's Container.
How do I create an image template for my entire server and not just my primary drive?
To create an image template for your entire server, see the instructions in Creating an image template.
If you choose to export an image template to IBM Cloud Object Storage, each block device (or disk) has its own associated file. For example, if your image file is named image.vhd, the first block device is exported as image-0.vhd. The second block device is exported as image-1.vhd, and so on.
How do I boot my virtual server instance from an image?
Go to the Device List. Click the virtual server that you want to start from an ISO template. On the Device Details page, select Actions > Boot from Image. For complete steps, refer to Booting a virtual server instance from an image.