Install Linux from CD-ROM images in the integrated file system

Most Linux distributors provide ISO CD-ROM images that can be downloaded from their Web site. If your distributor has multiple physical CDs for the install action of Linux, ISO file images are a convenient way to install from a directory on your iSeries™ server.

The ISO images used to install Linux will have one of these descriptions:

Unloaded: This option allows you to unload an optical image from the virtual optical device. Only images that have a status of Loaded can be unloaded.
Loaded: This option allows you to load an optical image into the virtual optical device. Only images that have a status of unloaded can be loaded.
Mount: This option allows you to mount an optical image into the virtual optical device and activate it. Only images that have a status of loaded can be mounted.

To install from CD-ROM images stored in the integrated file system, follow these steps:

Attention: The following commands are performed during the initial setup only.

At the i5/OS^® command line, enter the command CRTDEVOPT and press Enter.
From the Create Device Description (Optical) display, provide the following information and press Enter.
- Device description (Provide a name for the new device description.)
- Resource name (*VRT)
- Device type (*RSRCNAME)
At the command line, enter the command CRTIMGCLG and press Enter.
From the Create Image Catalog display, provide the following information and press Enter.
- Image catalog name Directory name
At the command line, enter the command WRKIMGCLGE and press Enter.
From the Work with Image Catalog Entries display select Add (option 1) to add an optical image to the image catalog and press Enter.
Attention: The following commands need to be performed to use the ISO images.
At the command line, enter the command WRKIMGCLGE and press Enter.
From the Work with Image Catalog Entries display, do the following:
1. Select Mount (option 6) on the first CD image.
2. Vary on the device and press Enter. At the command line, enter the command VRYCFG and press Enter.
3. From the Vary on the device display, provide the following information:
  - Virtual Optical Device Description
  - Config Type of *DEV
  - Turn the status *ON
At the command line, enter the command LODIMGCLG and press Enter.
From the Load or Unload Image Catalog display, provide the following information and press Enter.
- Image catalog (Specifies the name of the image catalog to be loaded into from the virtual optical device.)
- Device name (Specifies the name of the virtual optical device that the image catalog is to be loaded into.)
At the command line, enter the command WRKOPTVOL and press Enter.
From the Work with Optical Volumes display, verify the information is correct.
Attention: The following commands will set up the network server description in order to install from the ISO images in IFS.
At the command line, enter the command WRKCFGSTS and press Enter.
From The Work with Configuration Status display, provide the following information: Installation will start. When installation asks for CD #2, then do the following steps.
Attention: The following commands will need to be performed to change the ISO images.
- WRKCFGSTS *NWS
- 8 Network Server Description
- 2 Update
- IPL source = *STMF
- IPL stream file = /qopt/path to start image (this is the same as if you were accessing from CD-ROM)
- IPL parameters = *NONE WRKCFGSTS *NWS
- 1 to vary on the partition
Installation will start. When installation asks for CD #2, then do the following steps.

Attention: The following commands will need to be performed to change the ISO images.
At the command line, enter the command WRKIMGCLGE and press Enter.
From the Work with Image Catalog Entries display, provide the following information (You will repeat this step until all CDs have been installed):
- Unload (option 9) on mounted CD
- Mount (option 6) the next CD