Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog

You can use an image catalog to perform a software upgrade, to install PTFs (fixes), or to install single licensed programs that you receive on media.

When you use an image catalog, you preload all your media so that you do not need to handle the physical media when you perform the installation. You do this by copying the images from the physical media or from files received through electronic software delivery to a file in the integrated file system and then use these preloaded images to install. The topic Virtual optical storage describes further the concepts and uses of virtual optical media. Image catalog for a virtual optical device describes the requirements for using image catalogs.

Note: You cannot use a virtual tape image catalog to install or upgrade an i5/OS™ release.

Determining storage requirements for image catalog installation
Image catalog installation requires additional storage space to contain the installation images. The amount of system disk-unit storage that you need varies based on what you are installing.
Freeing up space on the load-source disk unit for an image catalog
Image catalog installation requires at least 1074 MB of free space on the load-source disk unit of your server. If you are using an image catalog to install software, perform the following steps to verify how much free space you have available.
Scenario: Preparing to upgrade or replace software using an image catalog
The following is a scenario of how you create an image catalog and an image catalog entry, add an image catalog entry, and load the image catalog in preparation of performing a software upgrade.

Parent topic: Preparing the upgrade device and media