Requirements for virtual optical storage within a Network File System network

To share virtual optical images with the Network File System (NFS) network, you need to ensure that the client and server meet specific requirements.

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Server requirements for sharing virtual optical images

To share virtual optical images through a network, the server must meet the following requirements:

The image server must be a V6R1 environment or later if performing an install or upgrade.
The server must be able to share virtual optical images using version 3 or later of the Network File System (NFS).
A volume list (VOLUME_LIST) file containing the list of images to be loaded in the virtual optical device must exist in the image catalog directory. The VFYIMGCLG command is used to create the volume list file from the image catalog containing the images you want to share. For example:
```
VFYIMGCLG IMGCLG(INSTALL) TYPE(*UPGRADE) NFSSHR(*YES)
```
Note: The image catalog used must have an image catalog path name that is limited to 127 characters. Path name characters are limited to A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and / (slash). Each image file name is limited to 127 characters.
If you choose to create your own volume list, it must have the following characteristics
- Must be called VOLUME_LIST
- Each line is either an image file name or a comment
- ASCII format
- All entries are ended by the end of a line
- All characters following the pound sign (#) are considered comments until the end of the line
- Comments can be added after the pound sign (#) and must be followed by a EOL character
- Provides the order that the image files are processed on the client system
- File names are limited to 127 characters
- Can be created with the Verify Image Catalog Entry (VFYIMGCLG) with the NFSSHR(*YES) parameter or manually by using an ASCII editor
- No tabs or line feeds can be used in the path name
Note: Changes to VOLUME_LIST file are not active until the next time the client device is varied off and on.

Client system requirements for sharing virtual optical images

To share virtual optical images through a network, the client system must meet the following requirements:

The system to be installed must be a V6R1 environment on a POWER6® processor-based system or later if performing an install or upgrade.
The 632B-003 optical device is created by using the Create Device Description Optical (CRTDEVOPT) command.
The system to be installed must have either a service tools server or a LAN console connection configured.