Installing OS from ISO image in OpenStack

1. Upload the ISO image:

   openstack image create \
       --file input.iso \
       --disk-format iso \
       --container-format bare \
       --public \
       my-iso-image
   

2. Choose the disk bus depending on OS requirements:

   • VirtIO (recommended):

     --block-device source_type=blank,destination_type=volume,volume_size=20,disk_bus=virtio,boot_index=1
     

     • High performance

     • Requires driver support

   • IDE (compatibility, e.g. Kerio Control, earlier Windows versions):

     --block-device source_type=blank,destination_type=volume,volume_size=20,disk_bus=ide,boot_index=1
     

     • Lower performance

     • No additional drivers required

3. And create an instance with a CD-ROM and a target disk:

   openstack server create \
       --flavor my_flavor \
       --block-device source_type=blank,destination_type=volume,volume_size=20,boot_index=1 \
       --block-device source_type=image,uuid=<IMAGE_ID>,destination_type=volume,volume_size=2,disk_bus=ide,device_type=cdrom,boot_index=0 \
       --network <NETWORK_ID> \
       install-vm
   

   Note

   • boot_index=0 = CD-ROM (boot first)

   • boot_index=1 = installation disk

   • CD-ROM is created as a volume

4. After instance creation open the VNC console and complete OS installation onto the blank volume.

5. Reboot the instance.

   Note

   The CD-ROM is attached as a volume-backed root device, so it cannot be detached. In order to boot from OS we can create a snapshot of the volume where the OS is installed and boot a new instance from that snapshot.

6. Get the Volume ID (search for first volume in volumes property):

   openstack server show install-vm
   

7. Verify the Volume is bootable:

   openstack volume show <VOLUME_ID>
   

   Expected output:

   ---------------------------------------------------+
   | Field                          | Value           |
   +--------------------------------+-----------------+
   | bootable                       | true            |
   +--------------------------------+-----------------+
   

8. Shut off instance and create a volume snapshot:

   openstack volume snapshot create \
      --force --volume <VOLUME_ID> \
       installed-os-snapshot
   

9. Verify snapshot status:

   openstack volume snapshot show <SNAPSHOT_ID>
   

   Expected output:

   ---------------------------------------------------+
   | Field                          | Value           |
   +--------------------------------+-----------------+
   | status                         | available       |
   +--------------------------------+-----------------+
   

Boot Instance from Snapshot

1. Create a new instance from the snapshot:

   openstack server create \
       --flavor my_flavor \
       --block-device source_type=snapshot,uuid=<SNAPSHOT_ID>,destination_type=volume,volume_size=20,boot_index=0 \
       --network <NETWORK_ID> \
       vm-from-snapshot