Net Install ISO

The Harvester net install ISO is a minimal installation image that contains only the core OS components, allowing the installer to boot and then install the Harvester OS on a disk. After installation is completed, the Harvester OS pulls all required container images from the internet (mostly from Docker Hub).

You can use the net install ISO in the following situations:

• The virtual media implementation on a server is buggy or slow. Community users have reported that ISO redirection is too slow to preload all images onto a system. For more information, see Issue 2651.
• You have a private registry that contains all Harvester images, as well as the knowledge and experience required to configure image mirrors for containerd.

caution

You must always use the full ISO to bootstrap a Harvester cluster (in other words, use the ISO without the -net-install suffix). The full ISO contains all required images, and the installer preloads those images during installation. You can easily reach the Docker Hub rate limit when using a net install ISO to bootstrap the Harvester cluster.

Usage

Download the net install ISO from the GitHub Releases page, and then boot the ISO to install Harvester. Net install ISO file names have the suffix net-install (for example, https://releases.rancher.com/harvester/v1.3.0/harvester-v1.3.0-amd64-net-install.iso).

PXE Installation

If you decide to use the net install ISO as the PXE installation source, add the following parameter when booting the kernel:

harvester.install.with_net_images=true

Please check PXE Boot Installation for more information.