Technical overview

You can use IBM® ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator to create bootable media that is suitable for applying firmware updates, running preboot diagnostics, and deploying Windows operating systems on supported IBM System x® and BladeCenter systems.

IBM System x and BladeCenter tools each have their own bootable CD. Using IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator, you can create a single bootable image on supported media (such as CD, DVD, ISO image, USB flash drive, or set of PXE files) that bundles multiple IBM System x and BladeCenter tools and updates from UpdateXpress System Packs, which contain Windows and Linux firmware and device driver updates. You can also create an IBM ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD for deploying Windows operating systems and updates on supported systems.
Important: Devices drivers are not included on the bootable image and must be updated separately.

IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator can acquire the latest bootable environment, UpdateXpress System Pack, individual updates, and IBM Preboot Dynamic System Analysis from the local system or download these tools and the IBM ServerGuide from the IBM website. An Internet connection is required to download tools and updates from the IBM website. You can use an HTTP proxy when connecting to the Web. If you use an HTTP proxy, the HTTP server must support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

You can run only one instance of IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator on a system at a time, whether it is started from the graphical or command-line interface. This includes instances of IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator that are bundled in other tools, such as UpdateXpress System Pack Installer.

Beginning with IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator 9.63, Bootable Media Creator filters the update packages included in the bootable media based on the purpose of the media and the machine types you have selected.
  • For deployment media containing the IBM ServerGuide, which is a Windows-based tool, the Windows PE update packages for the machine types you have selected are added to the media.
  • For diagnostic or update media, which use Linux-based tools, only the Linux update packages for your selected machine types are included. Previous versions of the tool included all available update packages, resulting in significantly larger media.
Prerequisites: You must have administrator or root-equivalent operating-system privileges to use IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator.