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Custom Image Creation

In this guide, you will learn how to create and use custom images in the Compute service.

Custom images are a foundational element in cloud computing, allowing users to create personalized virtual environments tailored to their specific needs. These images are not only synonymous with enhanced flexibility and customization but are also crucial in failover scenarios, where their quick deployment becomes essential.

In case of system failures or disasters, custom images enable quick system recovery by capturing the complete configuration, reducing downtime significantly. Acting as templates for backup instances, these images guarantee failover readiness with configurations identical to primary systems. Moreover, custom images help maintain consistent recovery environments, protecting the original settings.

In essence, custom images play a pivotal role in tailored specific needs, fortifying failover and disaster recovery capabilities, providing an efficient means to restore systems promptly and minimize disruptions during unexpected events.

Procedure for uploading images

In addition to utilizing standard images, there is the option to generate custom images. However, in many instances, it is advisable to prefer the use of standard images.

Warning

  • SkyAtlas supports only standard images. For issues with non-standard images, users should contact the respective image provider, rather than the SkyAtlas Cloud Infrastructure support team. This applies even if the operating system is compatible with standard configurations, emphasizing the importance of contextualization within higher-level services.

Warning

  • Users maintaining private images are recommended to keep a personal copy of the uploaded image in their private archives. In cases of accidental deletion or corruption, users are responsible for uploading a new copy, as no archive is preserved for private images within the SkyAtlas Cloud.

Warning

  • Project members have the capability to upload their own images to their respective projects. These images remain private, accessible only to users associated with the projects for which they were uploaded.

  • Members within a project have access to data inside images. Therefore, it is strongly advised not to store passwords in the images. Security information should be conveyed as part of contextualization to ensure a secure environment.

Tip

  • When uploading a Windows-based image, ensure the installation of VirtIO drivers. These drivers can be obtained from Cloudbase-Init.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you have:

Steps

Step 1: Navigate to Images

Navigate to the Compute>Images section in the Dashboard.

Image Types

In the Image Section, Private and Public Images are listed.

View Images

Step 2: Click on "Create Image"

In the Images section, click on the "Create Image" button to initiate the image creation process.

Create Image

Step 3: Fill in Image Details

Fill in the necessary details for the image, such as image name, description, and architecture. Then click the 'Create Image' button.

Fill in Image Details

  • Format: The appropriate format is selected for the disk image.

  • Architecture: It represents the processor architecture of the image.

  • Minimum Disk: It shows the default minimum disk size that will be allocated when the image is selected.

  • Minimum RAM: It shows the default minimum RAM size that will be allocated when the image is selected.

Info

SkyAtlas Cloud supports only x86_64 architecture.

Minimum Disk and Minimum RAM Value

The minimum disk and minimum RAM values are optional and indicate the predefined values that will be assigned by default when creating an instance from an image in SkyAtlas Cloud. These values can be modified during the creation step.

Tip

If 'Protected' is chosen, the image will be safeguarded against deletion. It is necessary to disable this option before proceeding with deletion.

Conclusion

You have successfully created images using the SkyAtlas Images service with Panel.

Steps

Step 1: List Images

To list all private images

$ openstack image list

Step 2: Create Image

To create image

$ openstack image create "custom-ubuntu-images" --container-format bare --disk-format qcow2 --min-disk 5 --min-ram 2048 --file Downloads/jammy-server-cloudimg-amd64.img

+------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Field            | Value                                                                                                                                                                    |
+------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| container_format | bare                                                                                                                                                                     |
| created_at       | 2023-12-22T08:05:29Z                                                                                                                                                     |
| disk_format      | qcow2                                                                                                                                                                    |
| file             | /v2/images/02e22586-7e59-4243-a726-7fba5a33d73b/file                                                                                                                     |
| id               | 02e22586-7e59-4243-a726-7fba5a33d73b                                                                                                                                     |
| min_disk         | 5                                                                                                                                                                        |
| min_ram          | 2048                                                                                                                                                                     |
| name             | Custom Ubuntu Images                                                                                                                                                     |
| owner            | a675b62834927364b73f9b4c753028d7                                                                                                                                         |
| properties       | locations='[]', os_hidden='False', owner_specified.openstack.md5='', owner_specified.openstack.object='images/Custom Ubuntu Images', owner_specified.openstack.sha256='' |
| protected        | False                                                                                                                                                                    |
| schema           | /v2/schemas/image                                                                                                                                                        |
| status           | queued                                                                                                                                                                   |
| tags             |                                                                                                                                                                          |
| updated_at       | 2023-12-22T08:05:29Z                                                                                                                                                     |
| visibility       | shared                                                                                                                                                                   |
+------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

--min-disk and --min-ram Value

The --min-disk and --min-ram values are optional and indicate the predefined values that will be assigned by default when creating an instance from an image in SkyAtlas Cloud. These values can be modified during the creation step.

Tip

If --protected is added, the image will be safeguarded against deletion. It is necessary to disable this option before proceeding with deletion.

Conclusion

You have successfully created images using the SkyAtlas Images service with CLI.