
Configuring and managing Linode images is a crucial step in setting up and running a smooth server. You can create a custom image from a running Linode instance, which can be a huge time-saver.
Linode images can be created from a variety of sources, including existing Linode instances, backups, and even other cloud providers.
To create a custom image, you'll need to select the source instance, choose a name and description for the image, and decide whether to include the root password in the image.
Linode images can be easily managed through the Linode Cloud Manager, where you can view, delete, and duplicate images as needed.
Download and Prepare
You can download a Linode disk image to copy a .img file to your computer, which will contain all the data from your Linode's disk.
Downloading a disk image locally allows you to restore it to another node, and some server owners prefer to download the image for safe keeping. This can also help you save a bit on your Linode monthly bill by easily getting rid of a rarely used Linode server after creating a disk image.
To create a Debian VM image using the linode-cli command, you'll need to choose an available region, type, and image.
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Why to Download Disk Image?

Downloading a Linode disk image is essential for several reasons. You can copy a .img file to your computer, which contains all the data present in your Linode's disk.
Restoring your Linode to another node is one of the primary scenarios where downloading a disk image helps. It's also useful for safe keeping, allowing you to save your Linode state for future use.
By creating a disk image, you can quickly provision new Linodes with preset options. This is particularly useful for business purposes, where you can save time and effort.
Having a disk image can also help you save money on your Linode monthly bill. You can easily get rid of a rarely used Linode server after creating a disk image, which can reduce your expenses.
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Prepare VM Environment
To prepare the VM environment, create a Linode via the blue "Create" button and select "Linode". Click the "x" under "Images" and select a new region to deploy your golden image.
You'll need to use at least the Linode 4GB Shared Plan to accommodate the 75 GB disk. Give your Linode a label, maybe TRUENAS_2, and assign your HTTP_ONLY firewall to the Linode.
Click "Create Linode" while your new Linode provisions, then create your disks by clicking "Storage" and "Add A Disk". Use the following settings: "Create Empty Disk", "Label" = TEMP, "Filesystem" = ext4, and "Size" = 5120.
Click "Create" when that disk is created, then click "Add A Disk" again. Use the following settings: "Create Empty Disk", "Label" = TRUENAS_2_SYSTEM, "Filesystem" = raw, and "Size" = 76800.
To set up the boot configuration for the VM, click "Configurations" and "Add Configuration". Use the following settings: "Label" = TRUENAS_SYSTEM, "VM Mode" = Paravirtualization.
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Download Disk Image
You need to download a Linode disk image to copy a .img file to your computer, which will contain all the data from your Linode's disk. This file will serve as a backup of your Linode's disk.
There are several reasons to download a Linode disk image, including restoring it to another node, safekeeping, and business purposes. Some server owners may prefer to download the image to quickly provision new Linodes with preset options.
To download a disk image, you'll need to prepare your destination computer by confirming its details, checking resource usage, and allowing SSH connection between the source Linode and destination. Make sure there's enough space to hold the disk image.
You can issue the command to download the disk image, which will create a backup image of the Linode disk available at /home/diskbackup/linode.img. The copying process starts immediately, and the time to complete depends on the size of the disk.
You can also download a Debian VM image using the linode-cli command, which allows you to log in to the VM with SSH Key without typing a password.
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Image Configuration
To create a Linode image, you'll need to set up a profile at /etc/salt/cloud.profiles or in the /etc/salt/cloud.profiles.d/ directory.
The profile requires a provider, size, image, and location to be specified. This can be done with a salt command, which will create a salt minion instance named linode-instance in Linode.
Once the instance has been created with a salt-minion installed, connectivity to it can be verified with Salt.
The Linode provider configuration files can also include specific settings, such as the API endpoint URL, which is typically set to a hard-coded default.
You can verify connectivity to the instance by using the Salt command, which will check if the instance is reachable and responding properly.
Working with Images
To see a list of available Debian images for a VM, use the linode-cli command. You can also create a Debian VM Image using the linode-cli command, choosing an available region, type, and image.
Creating an image from an existing Linode Instance is a two-step process. First, you get the image by booting into Rescue Mode with both /dev/sda as TEMP and /dev/sdb as TRUENAS_2_SYSTEM. Then, you mount the 5 GB device on /mnt and use a curl command to download your golden image file.
You can also create an image from a local file using the linode-cli command. This allows you to upload and replicate the image to any region.
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Example Usage

To create a golden image of a TrueNAS deployment, you can boot into Rescue Mode with /dev/sda as TEMP and /dev/sdb as TRUENAS_2_SYSTEM. This will allow you to mount the 5 GB device on /mnt and run a curl command to download your golden image file.
You can use the linode-cli command to see a list of available Debian images for VM. This can be useful for creating a new image. To get the image, you'll need to boot into Rescue Mode and mount the device on /mnt.
To create an image from an existing Linode Instance, you can use the Rescue Mode and mount the device on /mnt. Then, run a curl command to download your golden image file. This will take about 7 minutes to stream the decompression of the file into dd and blast the larger disk with those blocks.
You can also use the LISH console to launch the Rescue Mode and mount the device on /mnt. From there, you can run a curl command to download your golden image file. Make sure to replace nas_image.zip with the filename of your golden image if you have used something else.

To upload and replicate an image from a local file, you can use the linode-cli command to see a list of available Debian images for VM. This can be useful for creating a new image. To get the image, you'll need to boot into Rescue Mode and mount the device on /mnt.
By downloading a Linode disk image, you can save a bit in your Linode monthly bill too. You can easily get rid of a rarely used Linode server after creating a disk image. This can be useful for business purposes or for safe keeping.
Resource Constraints
Resource constraints can be a major issue when working with images. Server resource constraints can create problems during disk image download.
To avoid this, it's essential to check the destination server resources well ahead. Our Cloud Engineers always do this to ensure a smooth download process.
Temporarily increasing the memory of the Linode server can help handle high usage during disk download. This is a crucial step to prevent resource constraints from causing problems.
Login to Debian VM

To login to your Debian VM, make sure the provisioning process is completed, which usually takes a few minutes.
The IP address assigned to your VM will be used to login as root.
You can login to your VM without typing a password by using SSH Key, regardless of the root password you've provided.
CLI
CLI is a powerful tool for automating tasks with Linode. You can use it to create, rebuild, and delete virtual machines.
Linode CLI is accessible at https://www.linode.com/docs/guides/linode-cli/. It's a great resource to explore for more information on how to use it effectively.
To see a list of available types for your VM, simply use the linode-cli command. This will give you a comprehensive list to work with.
You can create a Debian VM image with SSH Keys by adding the --authorized_users flag with your Linode username. This will streamline the process and make it more efficient.
Here are some key commands to get you started with Linode CLI:
- linode-cli: This is the base command for interacting with Linode CLI.
- linode-cli create: This command is used to create a new virtual machine.
- linode-cli rebuild: This command is used to rebuild a virtual machine.
- linode-cli delete: This command is used to delete a virtual machine.
Debian VM Image
To create a Debian VM image, you'll need to use the linode-cli command. Make sure to choose an available region, type, and image from the list of options.
You can see a list of available Debian images for your VM using the linode-cli command. This will give you a clear idea of what's available and help you make an informed decision.
To create a Debian VM image, you'll need to run the linode-cli command with the correct parameters. This will allow you to log in to your VM using an SSH key without having to type a password, regardless of the root password you've provided.
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Listing and Retrieving
You can list available Debian images for a VM using the linode-cli command.
To see a list of available images, use the linode-cli command to explore your options.
Retrieving data from a Linode backup image can be done by mounting the image on one of your servers.
Our Dedicated Engineers helped a customer restore files from a backup image by mounting it on one of his servers.
For mounting, the command used was: [command not shown in this section, but referenced in Example 1].
Retrieving data from a disk image requires the image to be mounted on a server.
Linode's backups are only directly readable by the Linode Backups service, so mounting is often necessary.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the image limit for Linode?
The maximum disk size for a Linode image is 6 GB. Check the Cloud Manager to view your current disk usage and ensure you stay within this limit.
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