Image Requirements
Images you upload must meet the following requirements:
Operating System
Linux/Unix: Most distributions supported (see supported OS list below)
Windows: Limited support (requires specific package)
FreeBSD: Supported with specific package requirements
File Format
Images must be in one of the following formats:
Raw (.img, .raw)
qcow2 (.qcow2, .qcow)
VMDK (.vmdk)
VHD/VHDX (.vhd, .vhdx)
VDI (.vdi)
Size Limitations
Maximum uncompressed size: 100 GB
Images are automatically scanned and processed during upload
Contextualization
Important: Your image does NOT need cloud-init pre-installed. Our system automatically injects the context package during processing, which handles:
Network configuration
SSH key injection
User data scripts
VM initialization
The context package is compatible with our environments and provides similar functionality to cloud-init.
Other Requirements
SSH Server: sshd must be installed and configured to start on boot
Filesystem: ext3, ext4, xfs, or btrfs for Linux; NTFS for Windows
Partition Table: Valid MBR or GPT partition table
Supported Operating Systems
Currently validated and supported:
AlmaLinux: 8, 9, 10
Rocky Linux: 8, 9, 10
RHEL: 8, 9, 10
Oracle Linux: 8, 9, 10
Ubuntu: 20.04, 22.04, 24.04
Debian: 11, 12, 13
Devuan: 5
openSUSE: 15
Note: Unsupported OS versions will fail during the detection phase.
Upload Methods
Method 1: Direct Upload
Navigate to My Files
Click the Images tab
Click Upload Image
Select your image file from your computer
Wait for processing to complete
Method 2: URL Import
Navigate to My Files
Click the Images tab
Click Upload Image
Select "Import from URL"
Enter the direct URL to your image file
The URL must be publicly accessible and end with the correct file extension
Supported URL protocols: HTTP, HTTPS
Upload Process
Once you initiate an upload, your image goes through the following automated pipeline:
Upload Stage: File is transferred to temporary storage
Virus Scanning: Comprehensive malware and virus scan
OS Detection: Automatic detection of operating system and version
Format Conversion: If needed, converts to qcow2 format
Context Injection: Automatically installs context package for your OS
Final Upload: Moves to permanent storage and becomes available
Processing Status
You can monitor your image processing through the Jobs panel:
Uploading: Initial file transfer in progress
Virus Scanning: Security scan in progress
OS Detecting: Identifying operating system
Converting: Converting image format if needed
Context Injecting: Installing context package
Completed: Image ready for use
Failed: Processing failed (see error message)
Quarantined: Virus/malware detected
What is context?
Context is automatically injected into your image during processing. It provides:
Automatic network configuration from DHCP or static configuration
SSH key injection for secure access
User data script execution for custom initialization
Hostname configuration
Growing root filesystem to match disk size
You don't need to pre-install this - our system handles it automatically based on your OS.
Common Issues and Solutions
Failed to Mount Image
Ensure your image has a valid partition table (MBR or GPT)
Verify the filesystem is not corrupted
Check that the image format is correctly detected
OS Not Supported
Verify your OS is in the supported list above
Ensure the OS version matches exactly
For custom distributions, ensure they're based on a supported OS
Image Format Conversion Failed
Verify the image file is not corrupted
Ensure the file extension matches the actual format
Try converting to qcow2 locally before uploading
Context Injection Failed
Ensure the root filesystem is accessible and not encrypted
Verify sufficient free space in the image for package installation
Check that the package manager (apt/yum/dnf) is functional
Best Practices
Test Locally First: Verify your image boots and functions in a local VM
Use qcow2 Format: Pre-convert to qcow2 to skip conversion step
Keep Images Small: Remove unnecessary files and packages to reduce size
Document Your Image: Include notes about installed software and configuration
Storage and Cleanup
Successfully processed images are stored permanently in your account
Failed images are moved to a failed images folder
Processing temporary files are automatically cleaned up after completion
Security Notes
All images undergo mandatory virus scanning
Infected images are immediately quarantined
Images are isolated per account
Consider removing sensitive data before uploading
Need Help?
If you encounter issues not covered here:
Check the job error message for specific details
Verify your image meets all requirements
Contact support with your job ID for assistance