Updating base operating system virtual images

Download updates for base operating system virtual images from IBM® Passport Advantage®.

Before you begin

You must be assigned the Create new catalog content role or the Workload resources administration role with Full permissions to complete this task.

About this task

When you download an update to a base operating system virtual image from IBM Passport Advantage that is a newer version, such as 2.0.0.2 to 2.0.0.3, it is downloaded as a new virtual image. You must import this virtual image into the catalog, and then you can use this image as the base image for new deployments.
Important: If you modify the base operating system image used for the default deploy settings or the hypervisor images (for example, by removingRPMs), ensure that the changes do not affect functionality of the image.
Note: Updates to hypervisor edition images, such as IBM WebSphere® Application Server Hypervisor Edition, might include a service-level update. These updates are primarily used to update middleware fix pack levels. For example, a service level update for the IBM WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition might include a fix pack update for IBM WebSphere Application Server. These service level updates are not available for base operating system virtual images

Procedure

  1. Download the updated base operating system virtual image from IBM Passport Advantage.
  2. Click Catalog > Virtual Images.
  3. Click the New icon in the toolbar.
  4. On the window that is displayed, enter the remote path of the virtual image that you want to import in the OVA file location field.
    You can specify the remote path in either of the following formats:
    • HTTP URL (for example, http://127.0.0.1/myImages/VirtualImage.ova)
    • Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) (for example, 172.16.10.249:/myImages/VirtualImage.ova)
  5. Optional: Enter the user name in the User name field.
    This field is required only if the location of new virtual image is secured with a user name and a password.
  6. Optional: Enter and verify the password in the Password and Verify password fields.
    A password is required only if the location of new virtual image is secured with a user name and a password.
  7. Click OK.
    Note: If you see the message, The name or identifier you entered is already in use, when you attempt to upload an image, then an image with the same name, build, and version of the image that is being loaded exists. Request access to that image or get access from an authorized user to view all images.

What to do next

For more information about using this updated base operating system virtual image as the default virtual image that is used for deploying shared services and virtual applications, see the "Administering default virtual images for deployments" topic in the Related tasks section.