Learn how to add ISO files in Virtualizor. Our Virtualizor Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

How to Add ISO Files in Virtualizor

Adding and configuring ISO files in Virtualizor is a common task while managing a VPS.

If you are looking to install a custom OS or manage your existing ISOs, this guide will walk you through the entire process.

An Overview:

1. Prerequisites
2. Adding an ISO File in Virtualizor
3. Deleting an ISO File in Virtualizor
4. Manually Install an OS Using Virtualizor
5. Advanced ISO Management
6. Best Practices for ISO Management
7. Performance Optimization Tips

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the steps, ensure the following:

• The ISO file must be available over a publicly accessible URL.
• The ISO should support AMD64 architecture.

Adding an ISO File in Virtualizor

1. Begin by logging into the VPS panel. Then, go to the “ISO” option in the menu to manage the ISO files.
2. Next, provide a valid, publicly accessible URL and a name for the ISO. Once uploaded, the ISO will be visible on the page.
3. After adding the ISO, we can configure it for installation. So, go to the settings option from the VPS management interface.
4. Then, choose the primary and secondary ISOs (if any) and set the boot order:
   1. CD Drive
   2. Hard Disk
5. Next, stop and then start the VPS to apply the changes.

Deleting an ISO File in Virtualizor

1. First, go to the ISO management page and select the ISO we want to delete.
2. Then, confirm the deletion to remove the ISO from the VPS panel.

Manually Install an OS Using Virtualizor

Sometimes, the automatic reinstall option in Virtualizor doesn’t allow for customization, such as modifying or creating partitions. In such cases, a manual installation is required.

1. First, log in to the Virtualizor Control Panel.
2. Next, click on “List VPS” in the left-side panel.
3. Then, select the VPS we want to manage and click on the “Manage” icon.
4. Now, go to the “Settings” tab and select “Settings.”
5. Then, change the Boot Order to:
   1. CD Drive
   2. Hard Disk
6. Next, choose the ISO from the dropdown list and ensure that VNC is enabled. Submit the changes.
7. Then, reboot the VPS by clicking on the “Reboot” icon.
8. Quickly click on VNC to open the HTML5 VNC Client.
9. Now, follow the on-screen prompts to begin the OS installation.

After installation, remember to set the VPS Boot Order back to:

1. Hard Disk
2. CD Drive

Advanced ISO Management

Virtualizor offers additional features for managing ISO files:

For instance, we can organize our ISOs into media groups for better management:

1. First, go to Media and head to Add Media Group.
2. Then, define a name and description for the group.
3. Next, select the Virtualization Type (e.g., OpenVZ, KVM).

We can also add ISOs via URL or Upload:

1. Add ISO by URL:

   Go, to Media > Add ISO and enter the URL of the ISO file.
2. Upload ISO Files:

   Use tools like WinSCP to upload ISO files directly to `/var/virtualizor/iso`.

Best Practices for ISO Management

Here are some tips for efficient ISO management in Virtualizor:

1. Include the OS name, version, and architecture in the ISO filename. This helps quickly identify ISOs.
2. Stick to alphanumeric characters to prevent issues with command-line access.
3. Then, add dates to filenames to track when ISOs were added or updated.
4. Group ISOs by OS type, version, or environment. This simplifies management, especially in environments with many ISOs.
5. Set appropriate access controls for different user groups to ensure only authorized personnel can manage certain ISOs.
6. Then, regularly delete unused or outdated ISOs to free up storage space and reduce clutter.
7. Furthermore, use scripts to automate the removal of ISOs that are no longer needed based on specific criteria.

Performance Optimization Tips

We can boost the Virtualizor’s performance when working with ISOs for faster and smoother installations with these tips:

1. Store ISOs on SSDs for faster read/write speeds, leading to quicker installations.
2. Isolate ISO storage from other data to reduce competition for disk resources.
3. Cache frequently used ISOs to minimize load times during installations.
4. If the setup spans multiple locations, a CDN can reduce latency by caching ISOs closer to the servers.
5. Ensure VPS instances have adequate CPU, RAM, and disk I/O during installations to avoid slowdowns.
6. Prioritize ISO/CD drives during installation to reduce delays and resource usage.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

Managing ISOs in Virtualizor is straightforward, whether we are adding new files, configuring them for installation, or performing manual OS installations. By following this guide, we can easily manage our VPS installations and ensure a smooth setup process.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to add ISO files in Virtualizor.