summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/docs/installation/image.md
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/installation/image.md')
-rw-r--r--docs/installation/image.md113
1 files changed, 113 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/docs/installation/image.md b/docs/installation/image.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0fc89d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/installation/image.md
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+---
+lastproofread: '2026-01-26'
+---
+
+(image-mgmt)=
+
+# Image Management
+
+VyOS uses an image-based installation that creates a directory for each image
+on the storage device you select during installation.
+
+The boot device has the following directory structure:
+
+```none
+/
+/boot
+/boot/grub
+/boot/2025.07.16-0020-rolling.squashfs
+```
+
+The image directory contains the system kernel, a compressed root filesystem
+image, and a directory for persistent storage (such as configuration). During
+boot, the system extracts the OS image into memory and mounts the appropriate
+live-rw subdirectories to provide persistent storage for system configuration.
+
+This process ensures that the system always boots to a known working state,
+since the OS image is fixed and non-persistent. You can also install multiple
+VyOS releases on the same storage device. You can manually select the image at
+boot if needed, but the system boots the default image by default.
+
+```{opcmd} show system image
+
+List all available system images which can be booted on the current system.
+
+:::{code-block} none
+vyos@vyos:~$ show system image
+Name Default boot Running
+----------------------- -------------- ---------
+2025.07.16-0020-rolling Yes Yes
+1.4.1
+1.4.0
+:::
+```
+```{opcmd} delete system image [image-name]
+
+ Delete unused images from the system. You can specify an optional image name
+ to delete. Use the {opcmd}`show system image` command to list available
+ images.
+
+ :::{code-block} none
+ vyos@vyos:~$ delete system image
+ The following images are installed:
+ 1: 2025.07.16-0020-rolling (running) (default boot)
+ 2: 1.4.1
+ 3: 1.4.0
+ Select an image to delete: 3
+ Do you really want to delete the image 1.4.0? [y/N] y
+ The image "1.4.0" was successfully deleted
+ :::
+```
+
+
+```{opcmd} show version
+
+Show current system image version.
+
+:::{code-block} none
+vyos@vyos:~$ show version
+Version: VyOS 2025.07.16-0020-rolling
+Release train: current
+Release flavor: generic
+
+Built by: autobuild@vyos.net
+Built on: Wed 16 Jul 2025 00:21 UTC
+Build UUID: 20d432ee-6d55-4ebc-8462-46fe836246c9
+Build Commit ID: f7ce0d8a692f2d
+
+Architecture: x86_64
+Boot via: installed image
+System type: KVM guest
+Secure Boot: n/a (BIOS)
+
+Hardware vendor: QEMU
+Hardware model: Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996)
+Hardware S/N:
+Hardware UUID: b9831d42-c1fe-b2bd-7d3d-49db9418f5c9
+
+Copyright: VyOS maintainers and contributors
+:::
+```
+
+## System rollback
+
+To roll back to a previous image, first view the available images by using the
+{opcmd}`show system image` command, then select your image with the following
+command:
+
+```{opcmd} set system image default-boot [image-name]
+
+Select the default boot image which will be started on the next boot
+of the system.
+```
+
+Then reboot the system.
+
+:::{note}
+VyOS automatically associates the configuration with each image,
+so you don't need to manage this separately. Each image has its own unique
+configuration copy.
+:::
+
+If you have console access, you can also select the boot image by restarting
+the system and using the GRUB menu at startup.