You can use virtual optical storage for all operations that can
write to actual media with the following exceptions.
- Main storage dump in SST and DST
- System service tools (SST) and dedicated services tools (DST) provide
the capability to perform a main storage dump to media. You cannot use virtual
optical storage for a main storage dump to media.
- Save Licensed Internal Code
- The Save Licensed Internal Code function is only available at the Initial
Program Load (IPL) display or at the Install the Operating System display.
Because the integrated file system is not available when these functions are
used, the virtual optical device will not have any loaded media.
- PTFs
- If you build a custom fix package and save it to a virtual image, you
cannot span volumes. Your custom fix package must fit on one volume.
- IBM® Integrated xSeries® Server
for iSeries™
- Integrated xSeries Server
hardware does not support write operations to virtual images.
- Backup and recovery
- You only perform a restore operation from virtual images if the server
is already up and running. Installations done by using an image catalog require
a command line to start an installation.
