Before you start the installation of your server you need to update the software on it to the latest version. This can be done by using the supplied USB stick, or if you prefer you can download the software as an ISO image, and create a bootable USB drive yourself.
The software is provided as an ISO file, and you need to download it and create a bootable USB stick with the ISO. There are many different tools available to create a bootable USB stick, and below we explain how to do it on Windows using a tool called Rufus. (Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB sticks)
Step 1. Download the ISO file
You download the .iso file from the Commissioning Console. Firstly you need to connect to the Management VPN, and then you can access the Commissioning Console at http://commission.zcp.zynstra.com (Further instructions here)
In the Commissioning Console, click on the server you want to install and you will be taken to the Site overview tab where the USB Installer Download link is. Click on the Download link, which is shown in the below screenshot.
The iso file is 26GB in size.
Step 2. Connect a USB stick to your computer
Find a spare USB stick to use for imaging. This needs to be 64Gb in capacity or larger. Ideally, it should be a USB3 stick as this will make creation of the USB stick and subsequent imaging of the server much quicker. PLEASE NOTE – the USB stick will be formatted as part of this process.
Insert the USB stick into a spare USB socket in your computer, which ideally should be a USB 3 socket (these are normally blue and labelled SS).
Step 4. Download and Install Rufus
Download the Rufus USB Installer to your PC from https://rufus.akeo.ie/ and run it to install Rufus.
You may get a Windows UAC security message saying “Allow this app to make changes to your device” – choose Yes.
After the installation is complete, Rufus will start.
Step 5. Check Rufus is using the correct USB device
Within Rufus, the Device should be the USB stick you want to use. IMPORTANT – if you have other removable media, such as other USB flash drives and/or USB hard disks, they may be displayed instead. Either disconnect them, or ensure you select the correct USB device to be used, remembering that it will be formatted as part of this process.
Step 6. Select the ISO
On the line where it says Create a bootable disk using on the right-hand side, click on the little CD icon, and browse to the ISO file which you downloaded and should have on your computer.
Selecting that ISO file should populate most of the fields in the Rufus window automatically. You should expect to see the following settings:
- Partition scheme and target system type: GPT partition scheme for UEFI
- File system: Large FAT32
- Cluster size: 32 kilobytes
Format Options:
- Check device for bad blocks: unticked,
- Create a bootable disk using: set to “ISO Image”
- Create extended label and icon files: ticked
Step 7. Start
Once you are ready, click Start. You may see a message appear saying “Download required” that prompts you to download 2 necessary files for Syslinux from the Internet – choose Yes and this will happen automatically.
You may then see a message that says “ISOHybrid image detected”. Choose the recommended default option of “Write in ISO Image mode”.
Finally, there will be a warning message reminding you that all data will be destroyed on the selected USB device. Confirm that the correct USB device has been selected, and click OK to begin.
The process can take around half an hour if you are using a USB 3 drive.
Step 8. Safely eject the USB stick
Once the process is complete, you can close Rufus and safely eject the USB stick, which is now ready to be used to USB image a Zynstra server.