# Installing the ISO Image for Photon OS 3.0 After you download the Photon OS ISO image into a folder of your choice, complete the following steps. 1. Upload the ISO Image Upload the ISO image to a datastore that is attached to the host on which you'll create the Photon OS virtual machine. 1. Create a new VM Log in to your vSphere environment. In the Virtual Machines window, choose **Create/Register VM**. On the Select creation type screen, select **Create a new virtual machine**. ![Create new virtual machine](images/vs-iso-new.png) Choose **Next**. 1. Configure VM Settings Specify a VM name. ![VM name](images/vs-iso-name.png) Specify a guest operating system. - For Compatibility, select **ESXi 6.7**. - For Guest OS family, select **Linux**. - For Guest OS version, select **VMware Photon OS (64-bit)**. ![Guest operating system](images/vs-iso-os.png) Choose **Next**. 1. Select the Target Datastore Select the datastore where you want to store the VM. ![Target datastore](images/vs-iso-datastore.png) Click **Next**. 1. Customize VM Settings Customize the virtual machine settings. ![Settings](images/vs-iso-customize.png) For CD/DVD Drive 1, click the drop-down and select **Datastore ISO file**. In the Datastore browser, select the ISO that you want to import. Change other settings as applicable. - The recommended virtual hardware settings for your Photon VM are heavily dependent upon the container load you intend to run within Photon OS – more containers or more intensive containers will require you to adjust these settings for your application load. VMware suggests 2 vCPU, 1024MB memory, 20GB hard disk. Any unwanted devices should be removed. Be sure to mount the Photon OS ISO on the CD/DVD Drive and put a check in the box next to, Connect At Power On. - If you want to configure a secure boot for the Photon OS VM you created, choose the VM Options tab, expand Boot Options, and select EFI from the firmware drop-down. An EFI boot ensures that the ISO content is signed by VMware and that the entire stack is secure. Choose **Next**. 1. Verify VM Settings The installer displays a summary of your selected settings. ![Summary](images/vs-iso-ready.png) Click **Finish**. vSphere creates the VM. 1. Power on the VM Select the VM and power it on. ![Power on VM](images/vs-iso-install.png) When you see the Photon Installer boot menu, press Enter on your keyboard to start installing. 1. Accept the License Agreement Read the License Agreement and press the Enter key to accept. ![License Agreement](images/vs-iso-license.png) 1. Configure the Partition The installer detects one disk, which should be the 16GB volume configured as part of the virtual machine creation. Choose **Auto** to have the installer automatically allocate the partition, or choose **Custom** if you want to configure individual partitions, and then press the Enter key. ![Partition](images/vs-iso-partition.png) **Note:** If you choose Custom, the installer displays the following screen. ![Custom Partition](images/vs-iso-partition-custom.png) For each custom partition, choose **Create New** and specify the following information: ![New Partition](images/vs-iso-partition-new.png) **Size** - Preallocated size of this partition, in MB. **Type** - One of the following options: - **ext3** - ext3 file system - **ext4** - ext4 file system - **swap** - swap partition **Mountpoint** - Mount point for this partition. Choose **OK** and press the Enter key. When you are done defining custom partitions, choose **Next** and press the Enter key. The installer prompts you to confirm that you want to erase the entire disk. ![Erase disk](images/vs-iso-erase.png) Choose **Yes** and press the Enter key. 1. Select an Installation Option After partitioning the disk, the installer prompts you to select an installation option. ![Installation Option](images/vs-iso-install-option.png) Each install option provides a different run-time environment, depending on your requirements.
Option | Description |
Photon Minimal | Photon Minimum is a very lightweight version of the container host runtime that is best suited for for devices that have limited compute and memory capabilities. There is sufficient packaging and functionality to allow most common operations around modifying existing containers, as well as being a highly performant and full-featured runtime. |
Photon Developer | Photon Developer includes several additional packages to enhance the authoring and packaging of containerized applications and/or system customization. Use Photon Developer for developing and packaging the application that will be run as a container, as well as authoring the container, itself. For testing and validation purposes, Photon Developer includes all components necessary to run containers. |
Photon Edge | Photon Edge includes packages relevant to an edge gateway device. |