Optional: Preparing the central system for virtual optical images

To prepare the central system for virtual optical images, complete these tasks.

1. Ensure that the system has enough disk space

   Ensure that the system has enough disk space to hold all the virtual optical images you are going to create. Refer to the Image catalog requirements listed in Preparing for virtual optical storage for information about disk space requirements for virtual images.

   Include the total amount of the virtual image sizes in the total storage needed for an upgrade on the target system.

2. Create a virtual optical device

   CRTDEVOPT DEVD(virtual-device-name) RSRCNAME(*VRT) ONLINE(*YES) TEXT(text-description)

3. Vary on the virtual optical device

   VRYCFG CFGOBJ(virtual-device-name) CFGTYPE(*DEV) STATUS(*ON)

4. Create an image catalog

   Create an image catalog for the licensed programs that you want to distribute. The Create Image Catalog (CRTIMGCLG) command associates an image catalog with a target directory where the optical image files are loaded.

   CRTIMGCLG IMGCLG(catalog-name) DIR(catalog-path) CRTDIR(*YES) TEXT(image-catalog-name)

   You can optionally add image catalog images with the CRTIMGCLG command. Skip step 5 if you use this option. The following example command adds three catalog entries with a volume size of 1 gigabyte and volume names that are generated with a prefix of ABC.

   CRTIMGCLG IMGCLG(catalog-name) DIR(catalog-path) TYPE(*OPT) CRTDIR(*YES) ADDVRTVOL(3) PREFIX(ABC) IMGSIZ(1000) TEXT(image-catalog-name)

5. Add an image catalog entry

   Add a new image catalog entry with a size of 48MB to 16GB. If you plan to save the full operating system, add a new image catalog entry with a size of 4GB.

   If you plan to duplicate image catalogs to DVD, then ensure you select a virtual image size that matches the size of the DVD media you plan to write to.

   If you want to save to a 4.7GB DVD, for example, use the following command to create the proper image size:

   ADDIMGCLGE IMGCLG(catalog-name) FROMFILE(*NEW) TOFILE(file-name) SIZE(*DVD4700) TEXT(text-description)

   If you want to save the IBM® i operating system, licensed programs, or PTFs to CD-ROM media of 650MB or greater, use the following command to create the proper image size:

   ADDIMGCLGE IMGCLG(catalog-name) FROMFILE(*NEW) TOFILE(file-name) SIZE(*CD650) TEXT(text-description)

   Repeat this step for the number of desired images. You should add the images in the same order as you are going to install from them.

   If you plan to use physical tape as distribution media, refer to Optional: Duplicating virtual images to physical media.

6. Load the image catalog

   This step associates the virtual optical device to the image catalog. Up to 35 virtual optical devices can be active.

   LODIMGCLG IMGCLG(catalog-name) DEV(virtual-device-name) OPTION(*LOAD)

7. Initialize the new volume

   INZOPT NEWVOL(MYSAVEVOL1) DEV(virtual-device-name) TEXT('volume text')

   Repeat this step for the number of new images you want to initialize. Use the Work with Image Catalog Entries (WRKIMGCLGE) command to select the image to be initialized or use the Load/Unload/Mount Image Catalog Entry (LODIMGCLGE) command to continue to the next volume to be initialized.

   LODIMGCLGE IMGCLG(MYCATALOG) IMGCLGIDX(index_number) OPTION(*MOUNT)

   When you have completed initializing the new volumes, leave the first entry in mounted status.

   LODIMGCLGE IMGCLG(MYCATALOG) IMGCLGIDX(1) OPTION(*MOUNT)