Getting Started
Our platform allows you to install your operating system from scratch, allowing you to configure your server exactly how you want it.
This is done loading a CD (or "ISO image") into the virtual CDROM drive, and using VNC to connect to the virtual screen and keyboard of your server in order to install the operating system.
This page describes how to do the installation using either the Control Panel or the Admin Shell.
Installation from Control Panel
To get started, log in to the Customer Control Panel and find your server under My Servers1. Choose an installation CD
Under Boot, select Change CDROM and choose from the list of available images. If your preferred OS isn't show, you can upload your own ISO image using the Add Boot Media link.
2. Set the server to boot from CD
Under Boot, select Boot from CDROM
3. Enable VNC
If VNC is not currently enabled, click the Set VNC Password link and set a password for VNC access.
4. Boot the server
Click the Start button.
5. Connect to the server using VNC
You will need to run a VNC client on your desktop. We have some notes on installing and configuring VNC Clients. The details you need to connect can be found under the VNC section in the control panel.
6. Follow the instructions for installing your OS
Follow the instructions for installing your OS. We have some suggestions.
7. Set the server to boot from disk
Once the installer has finished, you should Power Off the server, set it to boot from disk, and then press Start. It should now boot into your newly installed operating system.
Installation from the Admin Shell
1. Connect to the admin shell
You can find the details for connecting to the admin shell on the Control Panel page for your server.
2. Choose an installation CD
The cdrom command allows you to load a virtual CD into the
virtual CDROM drive. Type cdrom with no arguments to get a
list of available CDs. If you don't have a preference, we recommend the
64-bit version of Debian:
[mythic] admin> cdrom debian-7.0.0-amd64-netinst
3. Set the server to boot from CD
[mythic] admin> boot cdrom
4. Set a password for VNC
[mythic] admin> vnc-passwd My5ecr3t
5. Start the server
[mythic] admin> start
6. Connect to the server using VNC
You will need to run a VNC client on your desktop. We have some notes on installing and configuring VNC Clients. The status command will tell you the VNC details for your server:
[mythic] admin> status Status: shut down VNC IP address: xx.xx.xx.xx; display: xxx (port: xxxx); password: 'My5ecr3t' Boot from: cdrom Current CDROM: debian-7.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso Network device type: virtio Host uptime: 16:39:19 up 242 days, 5:46, load average: 0.05, 0.09, 0.04
Connect using the given details, and you should see the installer for your chosen OS.
7. Install your OS
Follow the instructions for installing your OS. We have some suggestions.
8. Reboot from the newly installed disk image
Once the installer has finished, you should power off the server, and set it to boot from disk. You can do this with the following commands on the admin shell:
[mythic] admin> poweroff [mythic] admin> boot disk [mythic] admin> start
You can now reconnect to the server using VNC and use your newly installed OS.