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Deploy an Image to a Linode

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When you first create a Linode, you generally deploy a Linux distribution or other image to it upon creation. However, it is also possible to deploy additional images and Linux distributions to your Linode that will exist alongside your first image. Additionally, you can switch between these extra images by rebooting your Linode. This QuickAnswer guide will show you how to deploy an additional image.

Note
To deploy additional images, your Linode will need some unallocated space for those new images. When following the steps below, if you find that you don’t have sufficient unallocated space, then you have two options:

Deploy an Image

  1. Log into the Linode Cloud Manager. Click on the Linodes link in the sidebar navigation. A table of your Linodes will appear.

  2. Click on the row corresponding to your Linode. A dashboard for your Linode will appear.

  3. Click on the Disks/Configs tab from this page, and find the Disks panel that appears below it.

    Add a Disk link

  4. On this panel, click the Add a Disk link.

  5. The Add Disk form will appear. Select the Create from Image option at the top of the form, then complete the remaining fields in the form:

    Field Description
    Label A name for the disk created from the image that you will select.
    Image The Linux distribution or other image that you would like to use. If you have any custom images saved, they will be listed at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
    Root Password A strong, complex, and unique password for the root user on your new image’s disk.
    SSH Keys Any SSH keys that you would like to assign to the root user on your new image’s disk.
    Size The size of the disk that will be deployed. If you also want to create a new swap disk, make sure to enter a value that’s less than the Maximum Size label below this field. The current amount of unallocated space on your Linode will be listed in this label.

  6. When you have completed the form, click the Add button.

Optional: Deploy a Swap Disk

Your new Linux distribution or image will often require a swap disk in order to boot. If you already have a swap disk on your Linode from a previous image deployment (visible under the Disks panel), you can reuse that same disk with your new image. Otherwise, you can create a new swap disk:

  1. Revisit the Disks panel under the Disks/Configs tab for your Linode. Click the Add a Disk link.

  2. In the Add Disk form that appears, choose the swap option from the Filesystem dropdown menu. Then enter a label and size (usually 128MB, 256MB, or 512MB). Click the Add button to complete the form.

Create a Configuration Profile

To boot your Linode with the new image, you’ll need a configuration profile that is associated with the image:

  1. Navigate to the Disks/Configs tab for your Linode and find the Configuration panel underneath it. Click the Add a Configuration link on this panel:

    Add a Configuration link

  2. The Add Linode Configuration form will appear. Enter values for these fields:

    Field Value
    Label A name for the configuration profile.
    Comments Enter any comments that may help you remember the purpose for your new configuration profile, or any other notes you’d like to record.
    Select a Kernel Select the GRUB 2 option.
    /dev/sda Choose the disk for the new image/Linux distribution that you deployed.
    /dev/sdb Choose your swap disk.

    For all of Linode’s standard distribution images, the other fields can retain their default values. For custom images, you may need to update other parts of the configuration profile; review the Disks and Configuration Profiles and Install a Custom Distribution on a Linode articles for further guidance.

Next Steps

To reboot with the new image, navigate to the Configuration panel under the Disks/Configs tab for your Linode. Select the More Options Ellipsis for your new profile and click the Boot This Config option in the dropdown menu that appears:

Boot This Config option

For help with configuring the software on your new image, review the Getting Started and How to Secure Your Server guides.

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This guide is published under a CC BY-ND 4.0 license.