Types of software installation devices

These devices can be used to install or upgrade an IBM® i release on your system.

Optical devices
The software distribution media that is shipped to customers is optical media (DVD). This media can be used in DVD-ROM, or DVD-RAM devices. Optical media can also be created from files that you download through electronic software delivery.

Optical resources from an IBM i logical partition can be used to perform a software upgrade, to install PTFs (fixes), or to install single licensed programs on another logical partition that is on the same system. Supported devices for sharing optical resources include CD-ROM devices, DVD devices, and virtual optical device types 632B-001 and 632B-003. All these devices are considered a 632C-002 device type to the logical partition that is used to install or upgrade. The 632C-002 device type requires that you manually change the media in the logical partition that owns the device.

PTFs can be applied on the client and server partitions to enable the embedded media changer (automatic media changing). This embedded media changer function extends the automatic media switching capability of virtual optical device types 632B-001 and 632B-003 on IBM i virtual I/O server partitions to client partitions virtual optical device type 632C. This switching capability allows you to manually (and programmatically) switch media in a client virtual optical device without requiring authority to the serving partition. This is accomplished on the client partition with the following commands:
  • WRKIMGCLGE(*DEV) DEV(device_name) This command allows you to list and mount volumes.
  • LODIMGCLGE IMGCLG(*DEV) IMGCLGIDX (x) OPTION(*LOAD) DEV(device_name) This command allows you to mount and load volumes.
An application of this function is the use of image catalogs for unattended installations of client partitions. To use this function with an unattended installation, you must create your own media. The PTFs must be applied on the system being used to create the installation media. See Distributing software for information on creating your own media. For a list of PTFs, enablement information, and usage information, review the Start of changeIBM i and Related SoftwareEnd of changeLink outside information centerdeveloperWorks® website .
Virtual optical devices
You can use an image catalog to perform a software upgrade, to install PTFs (fixes), or to install single licensed programs that you receive on media or create from files received through electronic software delivery. Installing with an image catalog has significant advantages when you want to do the following tasks:
  • Validate your optical media before you install the release.
  • Run the Prepare for install tasks against your virtual optical media and automate the media-handling portion.
  • Eliminate the handling of individual media during the installation (unattended installations).
  • Upgrade software from an installation image delivered from a network or generated from IBM-supplied optical media.
A special type of virtual optical device (632B; model 003) supports virtual image files on a remote system in a network. An image directory identifies a network path on the central system that contains the virtual image files that are prepared for use with a target system. This virtual optical device can be used to install licensed internal code, operating system, install additional licensed programs and PTFs. For further details, see IBM i Network Install using Network File System.
Tape devices
There could be times when tape media is used for installation. Examples include distribution media creation or certain backup and recovery scenarios.
Installing with an image catalog has significant advantages when you want to do the following tasks:
  • Validate your tape media before you install the release.
  • Eliminate the handling of individual media during the installation (unattended installations).
  • Upgrade software from an installation image delivered from a network.
Virtual tape devices
You can use a tape image catalog and a virtual tape device to perform an IBM i software upgrade, install PTF fixes, or to install single licensed programs.
Start of changeRemovable Mass Storage (RMS)End of change
Start of changeThere could be times when RMS devices can be used for installation. Examples include distribution media creation or certain backup and recovery scenarios. For further details about RMS devices, see Removable Mass Storage (RMS).End of change
Alternate installation devices
You can perform installation and recovery procedures by using the primary installation device along with an alternate installation device that you define. The alternate installation device can be a tape device, an optical device, Start of changeor a removable mass storage deviceEnd of change. Some systems, typically those with faster devices attached, might see a performance improvement when using an alternate installation device.

The following table shows the naming conventions for a device that can be used for the alternate IPL (a Type D IPL). The optical drive is the installation device for software distribution media. Examples here use OPT01 for the optical device (optical media class). This is the IBM i normal naming convention. Your system could be set up to use the System/36 naming convention. Use the following table to select the correct device name for your system's installation device or use the name that you have selected.

Table 1. Naming conventions for devices
Media type System/36 names IBM i normal names
Optical media (CD, DVD, or virtual optical images) OPTxx OPTxx
Start of changeRemovable Mass Storage (RDX and Flash drives)End of change Start of changeRMSxxEnd of change Start of changeRMSxxEnd of change
Cartridge TC TAPxx
Reel T1 TAPxx
Media library device created through automatic configuration   TAPMLBxx

Preparing the upgrade device and media contains further information on what you need to do with your media before you install a release.

Parent topic: Concepts for software installation