Types of software installation devices

 

These devices can be used to install or upgrade an i5/OS™ release on your system.

Optical devices

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

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 CD-ROM media.

Tape devices

There could be times when tape media is used for installation. Examples include distribution media creation or certain backup and recovery scenarios.

Virtual tape devices

You can use a tape image catalog and a virtual tape device to install PTF fixes or to install single licensed programs.

You cannot use a tape image catalog to install or upgrade an i5/OS release.

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 or an optical device. Some systems, typically 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 i5/OS 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.

Media type
Table 1. Naming conventions for devices
System/36 names i5/OS normal names
Optical media (CD, DVD, or virtual optical images) OPTxx OPTxx
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 do with your media before you install a release.

 

Parent topic:

Concepts for software installation