Prerequisites for deploying a system by using a system template

The Deploy System from Template wizard guides you through the deployment operation by using a system template. The wizard includes the following tasks:

• Selecting a system template when starting the deployment from a system, or selecting a system when starting the deployment from a template library.
• Configuring the system settings, assigning I/O adapters, and creating Virtual I/O Servers.
• Installing the Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) software.
• Configuring the network and storage I/O settings.

A system can be in one of the following states before deploying a system template. Before you deploy a system template, review the following information to understand the impact of continuing with the deployment of the system when the system is in one of the following states:

• The system is in the manufacturing default configuration. You can start the system deployment on the system.
• The system is not in the manufacturing default configuration, but there are no partitions. If you attempt to deploy a system template on an already configured system, the HMC will display a warning message. If you click OK, the deployment continues and any previous partition configuration is removed. The system is configured with the partitions that are specified in the system template.
• The system is not in the manufacturing default configuration and has partitions. If you attempt to deploy a system template, the HMC will display a warning message. Starting the deployment will remove the existing logical partition configuration data.