Deploy an Image to a Disk on an Existing Linode

When a Linode is deployed, it is based on one of the main Distribution Images or a user-generated Custom Image. At some point, you might wish to change the Image on the Linode, perhaps to upgrade to a new major distribution release (or switch distributions altogether). This is commonly accomplished by rebuilding the Linode or creating a new Linode. However, both of these methods have important considerations: rebuilding a Linode will delete the existing data and creating a new Linode adds additional costs. Depending on your use case, these considerations may or may not be acceptable.

This guide will cover an alternative method of changing an Image: deploying an Image onto a new disk. Through this method, the Image is available on a new disk alongside the existing disks. This might be preferred by those looking to keep costs down and retain their existing data. It can also be useful for those wanting multiple bootable Images on the same Linode.

Create a Disk

1. Log in to the Cloud Manager, click the Linodes link in the sidebar, and select a Linode from the list.

2. On the Linode’s dashboard page, navigate to the Storage tab.

3. Confirm there is enough unallocated storage space to accommodate the new disk for the desired Image. If you aren’t sure of the size of the Image, open the Images page, find the Image within the list, and view the Size column.

   If there is not sufficient unallocated storage, resize an existing disk or resize the Linode to a larger plan.

4. Click the Add a Disk button to show the Add Disk form.

5. Select the Create from Image option, then complete the remaining fields in the form:

   Field	Description
   Label	The name for the new disk.
   Image	The Distribution Image, Custom Image, or Recovery Image you wish to deploy.
   Root Password	A strong, complex, and unique password for the root user on your new disk.
   SSH Keys	Any SSH keys that you would like to assign to the root user.
   Size	The size of the disk that will be deployed. If you also want to create a new swap disk, make sure to enter a value that’s less than the Maximum Size value displayed below this field (equal to the Linode’s unallocated storage space).

6. Once the form is complete, click the Add button to create the disk.

Optional: Create a Swap Disk

Your new Linux distribution or image will often require a swap disk in order to boot. If you already have a swap disk on your Linode from a previous image deployment (visible under the Disks panel), you can reuse that same disk with your new image. Otherwise, you can create a new swap disk:

1. Navigate back to the Linode’s Storage tab and click the Add a Disk button.

2. In the Add Disk form, select Create Empty Disk and choose the swap option from the Filesystem dropdown menu. Then enter a Label and Size (usually 128MB, 256MB, or 512MB). Click the Add button to create the disk.

Create a Configuration Profile

To boot the Linode with the new disk, the disk needs to be properly assigned within a new or existing configuration profile and selected as the Root Device.

1. Navigate to the Linode’s Configuration tab and click the Add Configuration button. It’s also possible to adjust an existing configuration profile by clicking the Edit link next to that configuration.

2. Within the Add (or Edit) Configuration form that appears, assign the disk under Block Device Assignment and select that device as the Root Device. Here are the important fields within this form:

   Field	Value
   Label	A name for the configuration profile.
   Comments	Enter any comments that may help you remember the purpose for your new configuration profile, or any other notes you’d like to record.
   Select a Kernel	In most cases, select GRUB 2.
   /dev/sda	Choose the disk for the new Image that was just deployed.
   /dev/sdb	Choose the swap disk, if one is available.

   For all of Linode’s standard distribution images, the other fields can retain their default values. For Custom Images, you may need to update other parts of the configuration profile. Review the Managing Configuration Profiles on a Linode and Install a Custom Distribution on a Linode guides for further guidance.

Reboot the Linode

To reboot the Linode using the new Image, navigate to the Linode’s Configuration tab. Find the new configuration profile in the list and click the corresponding Boot link. This link may be displayed with the More Options ellipsis dropdown menu.

For help with configuring the software on your new disk, review the Getting Started and How to Secure Your Server guides.