> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xloud.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Cloud Images

> Download pre-built cloud images for popular Linux distributions and Windows Server for use with Xloud Compute.

## Overview

Pre-built cloud images are official distribution releases packaged for virtual machine
deployment. Each image includes cloud-init for first-boot customization, SSH server
access, and storage drivers optimized for virtual environments. Use these images as the
starting point for new instances rather than installing an operating system from scratch.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites**

  * An active Xloud account with appropriate permissions
  * Access to the **Xloud Dashboard** or CLI configured with credentials
  * API credentials sourced (`source openrc.sh`)
</Note>

<Tip>
  Start with CirrOS for initial environment testing. It is a minimal test image that
  launches in seconds and consumes almost no resources.
</Tip>

***

## Available Images

<Note>
  All images listed below require [cloud-init](https://cloud-init.io) to function
  correctly in Xloud. Images without cloud-init will not receive SSH keys, hostname
  assignments, or network configuration on launch.
</Note>

| Distribution            | Download URL                                                                                             | Format | Default User                |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | --------------------------- |
| **Ubuntu 24.04 LTS**    | [cloud-images.ubuntu.com](https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/noble/current/noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img) | QCOW2  | `ubuntu`                    |
| **Ubuntu 22.04 LTS**    | [cloud-images.ubuntu.com](https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/jammy/current/jammy-server-cloudimg-amd64.img) | QCOW2  | `ubuntu`                    |
| **CentOS Stream 9**     | [cloud.centos.org](https://cloud.centos.org/centos/9-stream/x86_64/images/)                              | QCOW2  | `cloud-user`                |
| **AlmaLinux 9**         | [repo.almalinux.org](https://repo.almalinux.org/almalinux/9/cloud/x86_64/images/)                        | QCOW2  | `almalinux`                 |
| **Rocky Linux 9**       | [dl.rockylinux.org](https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/9/images/x86_64/)                                | QCOW2  | `rocky`                     |
| **Debian 12**           | [cloud.debian.org](https://cloud.debian.org/images/cloud/bookworm/latest/)                               | QCOW2  | `debian`                    |
| **Fedora 41**           | [fedoraproject.org](https://fedoraproject.org/cloud/download)                                            | QCOW2  | `fedora`                    |
| **CirrOS 0.6.2**        | [download.cirros-cloud.net](https://download.cirros-cloud.net/0.6.2/cirros-0.6.2-x86_64-disk.img)        | QCOW2  | `cirros` / pass: `gocubsgo` |
| **Windows Server 2022** | [microsoft.com/evalcenter](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2022)      | VHD    | `Administrator`             |

<Warning>
  Windows Server evaluation images expire after 180 days. For production use, supply a
  licensed Windows image prepared with Cloudbase-Init installed.
</Warning>

***

## Download and Upload an Image

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Navigate to Images" icon="disc">
        Navigate to
        **Compute > Images**. Click **Create Image**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure the image record">
        | Field                     | Recommended Value                                                     |
        | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
        | **Name**                  | `ubuntu-24.04-lts`                                                    |
        | **Upload Type**           | **File URL** (for web download) or **Upload File** (for local upload) |
        | **File URL**              | Paste the download URL from the table above                           |
        | **Disk Format**           | `QCOW2`                                                               |
        | **OS**                    | Select the matching distribution (e.g., Ubuntu)                       |
        | **OS Version**            | `24.04`                                                               |
        | **OS Admin**              | `root` (Linux) or `Administrator` (Windows)                           |
        | **Min System Disk (GiB)** | `10` for most Linux images; `40` for Windows                          |
        | **Min Memory (GiB)**      | `1` for Linux; `2` for Windows                                        |

        See [Upload an Image](/services/images/upload-image) for the complete field reference.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create the image">
        Click **Confirm**. The image enters `Saving` status while the file is
        fetched and stored. Large images may take several minutes.

        <Check>
          The status transitions to **Active** when storage is complete. The image
          is available immediately for launching instances.
        </Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Authenticate" icon="key">
        Source your credentials file to authenticate with the Xloud platform:

        ```bash title="Load credentials" theme={null}
        source openrc.sh
        ```

        <Tip>
          Your administrator provides the RC (credentials) file for your project. See [CLI Setup](/cli-setup) for configuration details.
        </Tip>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Download the image locally" icon="download">
        ```bash title="Download Ubuntu 24.04 LTS cloud image" theme={null}
        curl -L -o ubuntu-24.04-lts.img \
          https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/noble/current/noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img
        ```

        Verify the download completed and matches the published checksum:

        ```bash title="Verify checksum (SHA256)" theme={null}
        sha256sum ubuntu-24.04-lts.img
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Upload to the image service" icon="upload">
        ```bash title="Upload image with metadata" theme={null}
        openstack image create \
          --disk-format qcow2 \
          --container-format bare \
          --file ubuntu-24.04-lts.img \
          --min-disk 10 \
          --min-ram 512 \
          --property os_type=linux \
          --property os_distro=ubuntu \
          --property os_version=24.04 \
          ubuntu-24.04-lts
        ```

        Note the image `id` from the output for verification.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Verify the image is active" icon="circle-check">
        ```bash title="Check image status" theme={null}
        openstack image show ubuntu-24.04-lts -c status -c size -c disk_format
        ```

        <Check>`status` shows `active` — the image is ready for use with instances.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Validation

Confirm the uploaded image is registered and ready before launching instances.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Navigate to **Compute > Images**. Locate the image by name and verify:

    * **Status**: Active (green indicator)
    * **Format**: Matches the selected disk format
    * **Size**: Matches the expected download size

    <Check>Image shows **Active** status and is selectable when launching a new instance.</Check>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="List images and filter by name" theme={null}
    openstack image list --name ubuntu-24.04-lts -c Name -c Status -c "Disk Format"
    ```

    Expected output:

    ```text title="Expected output" theme={null}
    +------------------+--------+-------------+
    | Name             | Status | Disk Format |
    +------------------+--------+-------------+
    | ubuntu-24.04-lts | active | qcow2       |
    +------------------+--------+-------------+
    ```

    <Check>Status `active` confirms the image is stored and ready for compute use.</Check>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Image Requirements" href="/services/images/image-requirements" color="#197560">
    Understand what makes an image compatible with Xloud Compute.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Upload an Image" href="/services/images/upload-image" color="#197560">
    Upload images from local files or import via web URL.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Convert Formats" href="/services/images/convert-formats" color="#197560">
    Convert VMDK, VHD, or RAW images to QCOW2 before uploading.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Image Properties" href="/services/images/image-properties" color="#197560">
    Set OS metadata, hardware requirements, and scheduler hints.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>