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Install Images

This guide covers safe image installation for physical, virtual, and cloud targets.

1. Select the correct image

  • generic-pc-<version>.img: VGA/local console
  • generic-pc-serial-<version>.img: serial/headless
  • generic-pc-<version>.iso: CD-ROM boot flow

Choose architecture correctly:

  • amd64 for modern x86_64
  • i386 for legacy x86 only

2. Verify integrity before writing

Always validate checksums first.

Linux

sha256sum <image-file>

macOS

shasum -a 256 <image-file>

Compare output to published checksums.

3. Write image media

Linux/macOS raw image write

  1. Identify target disk
  2. Unmount target partitions
  3. Write image
  4. Sync and safely eject

Example pattern:

sudo dd if=<image-file> of=<target-disk> bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync
sync

Windows

Use a raw disk imaging tool and verify target disk identity before writing.

ISO path

  • Burn ISO for physical media, or
  • Attach ISO in VM/virtual CD boot flow

4. First boot and baseline

  1. Boot to console menu
  2. Assign WAN/LAN interfaces
  3. Set LAN IP/subnet
  4. Access Web UI from LAN
  5. Change admin password immediately
  6. Export initial backup

5. Safety checks before production use

  • Time/NTP correct
  • DNS resolution correct
  • Default route correct
  • LAN client egress works
  • Management access restricted to trusted networks

Troubleshooting

  • No display output: use serial image
  • Boot failure: rewrite media and re-check checksum
  • Wrong interface mapping: re-run interface assignment