Custom ISO Deployment: Install Any Operating System
Deploy any operating system using your own ISO images. Full control over OS selection with support for Linux distributions, BSD variants, Windows builds, and specialized systems like pfSense or ESXi.
Our custom ISO deployment is part of our cloud infrastructure platform, giving you complete flexibility to run any OS that fits your requirements. Upload ISOs up to 10GB and deploy via UEFI or Legacy BIOS boot.
Built for system administrators who need specialized operating systems or custom builds. Direct KVM/IPMI access for installation, persistent ISO storage, and full boot control.
TL;DR
Deploy any operating system from your own ISO images with full control.
What is Custom ISO Deployment?
Custom ISO deployment allows you to boot and install any operating system from ISO images you provide. Unlike standard templates, this gives you complete control over the OS version, configuration, and any custom modifications or security hardening you've applied.
Key Capabilities
Any Operating System
Linux distros (Arch, Gentoo, NixOS), BSD variants (FreeBSD, OpenBSD), Windows, or specialized systems (pfSense, OPNsense, ESXi).
Complete Installation Control
Direct KVM/IPMI access during installation. Full keyboard/mouse control, partition management, and custom installer options.
ISO Storage
Store multiple ISOs in your account. Quick deployment without re-uploading. Manage ISO library via control panel or API.
Flexible Boot Options
UEFI or Legacy BIOS boot modes. Secure Boot support where applicable. Boot order configuration.
Supported Operating Systems
Deploy any OS from ISO.
Here are common use cases:
Linux Distributions
Custom builds and advanced distributions
Arch Linux, Gentoo, NixOS, Alpine, Slackware, LFS (Linux From Scratch), custom Debian/Ubuntu builds
BSD Variants
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly BSD
FreeBSD 14.3, OpenBSD 7.8, NetBSD 10.1, DragonFly BSD 6.x, HardenedBSD, TrueNAS CORE
Windows
Custom Enterprise builds
Windows Server 2025/2022 (custom builds), Windows 11/10 (custom configurations), Windows PE environments
Specialized Systems
Network appliances and hypervisors
pfSense, OPNsense, VyOS, IPFire, VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE, XCP-ng, Rocky Linux custom builds
How It Works
4-step process from ISO to running system
Upload ISO
Upload your ISO via control panel (up to 10GB) or provide URL for download. ISOs stored persistently in your account.
Configure Boot
Select UEFI or Legacy BIOS mode. Choose boot device priority. Configure any special boot parameters.
Install via KVM
Direct KVM/IPMI console access. Full keyboard/mouse control. Complete installation process as you would on physical hardware.
Boot Installed System
Detach ISO after installation. System boots from installed OS. Full root/admin access and network connectivity.
Use Cases
Security-Hardened Linux Builds
Deploy custom-hardened Linux distributions with your specific security configurations. Useful for compliance requirements (PCI-DSS, HIPAA), penetration testing environments, or systems requiring specific kernel configurations and security modules (SELinux, AppArmor, grsecurity).
Legacy Application Support
Run legacy applications that require specific OS versions or configurations. Older Windows Server builds, legacy Linux kernel versions, or deprecated distributions still needed for critical applications.
Custom Firewall/Router OS
Deploy specialized network operating systems like pfSense, OPNsense, VyOS, or custom builds. Full network control, BGP routing, VPN endpoints, or intrusion detection/prevention systems.
OS Development and Testing
Test new OS builds or distributions. Kernel development and testing. Custom Linux distributions (your own distro). Educational projects for OS internals and system programming.
Technical Requirements
ISO and hardware specifications
ISO Size Limit
Maximum 10 GB per ISO
Compressed or uncompressed ISOs accepted
Boot Methods
UEFI, Legacy BIOS
Secure Boot available for supported OS
Upload Methods
Direct upload, HTTP/HTTPS URL
FTP/SFTP URLs also supported
Deployment Time
5-15 minutes
Time to attach ISO and boot to installer
KVM/IPMI Access
Included with all servers
HTML5 console, no client software needed
ISO Storage
Persistent storage
Store multiple ISOs, reuse across servers
Multiple ISOs
Unlimited
Store as many ISOs as needed in your account
API Support
Full API control
Upload, attach, detach ISOs via API
Custom ISO vs Standard Templates
When to use custom ISO deployment
Standard Templates
Best For
Best for common OS deployments
Advantages
Instant deployment (60 seconds), pre-configured networking, automated updates available, optimized for cloud environment
Limitations
Limited to provided OS versions, standard configurations only
Custom ISO
Best For
Best for specialized requirements
Advantages
Any operating system, complete control over installation, custom partitioning and configurations, specialized or legacy OS support
Limitations
Manual installation required (5-15 minutes), must configure networking manually
Use Custom ISO When You Need:
- Operating systems not in standard templates (BSD, specialized Linux)
- Custom-hardened or modified OS builds
- Legacy OS versions for application compatibility
- Network appliance OS (pfSense, OPNsense, VyOS)
- Hypervisor installation (ESXi, Proxmox, XCP-ng)
- Custom partition layouts or disk encryption
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about custom ISO deployment and installation
Deploy Your Custom Operating System
Complete control over OS selection and configuration. KVM access, persistent ISO storage, and support for any bootable system.