> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# VII. - 🖼️ Create, Configure, and Test ggRock Images

| This guide walks you through setting up your System Image and Games Image in ggRock, and testing that everything works smoothly via PXE boot.

### Table of Contents

* [**I. -📥 How to Download Debian and Rufus**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/i-how-to-download-debian-and-rufus-1mctc5r/)
* [**II. - 💾 Create a Bootable Debian Installer**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/ii-create-a-bootable-debian-installer-1kxab79/)
* [**III. - 🐧 Install Debian Linux**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/iii-install-debian-linux-13-14qgozu/)
* [**IV. - 🖥 Install the ggRock Server Application**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/iv-install-the-ggrock-server-application-1r0g9sn/)
* [**V. - 🚀 First-time Setup and Accessing the ggRock Server Application**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/v-first-time-setup-and-accessing-the-ggrock-server-application-1pudbnd/)
* [**VI. - ⚙️ Configure the ggRock Array**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/vi-configure-the-ggrock-array-mkgkfy/)
* [**VII. - 🖼️ Create, Configure, and Test ggRock Images**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/vii-create-configure-and-test-ggrock-images-11jl7lm/) 🎯 You Are Here
* [**VIII. - 🖧 Configure Client Machines for Network/Diskless (PXE) Boot**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/viii-configure-client-machines-for-networkdiskless-pxe-boot-ey4vsf/)
---

## 🖥️ 1. System Image Creation

There are **two methods** for creating your System Image:

* ✅ **Seamless Boot Process** *(Recommended)*
* 🧰 **Legacy Image Creation Tool**

📹 Learn more about each method:

* **Adding a New Machine Type to a ggRock Image using the ggRock Seamless Boot Procedure**
* **ggRock Image Creation Tool Manual (Deprecated)**

---

## ⚡ 2. First-Time PXE Boot

Power on your test machine and PXE boot it. This will automatically trigger the imaging process.

You’ll see the following screens:

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010201.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728525328&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-005631.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728195017&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010339.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728623011&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

Once booted, the machine will appear in ggRock:

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010353.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728637142&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
> 🧠 **Tip**: You only need to PXE boot **one machine** at this point to start image testing.

---

## 🎮 3. Create the Games Image

### 💾 Estimate Image Size

Before creating your Games Image, consider:

* 🧠 **Writeback cache** = 10 GB × number of machines
* 🔒 **Reserve at least 15%** of array capacity free

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010413.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728656084&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
> ⚠️ **Note**: You cannot shrink an image after it’s created — you can only grow it. Better to round up!

## 🧠 Maximum Games Image Size Calculator (New Install)

${frame}[https://jscalc.io/embed/aoUdEt9yxxg8JetK](https://jscalc.io/embed/aoUdEt9yxxg8JetK)
/







---

### 🛠️ Create the Image

1. Navigate to the **Images** tab
2. Click **Create Image**
3. Set a name and storage size
4. Click **Add**

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010708.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728831963&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

---

## 🛑 4. Shut Down the Test Machine

Once the system image and game image have been created:

* Shut down your test machine normally (Start → Power → Shut Down)
![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010725.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728849167&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

---

## 🖱️ 5. Apply the Games Image

* Back in the ggRock Web UI
* Click the Settings gear or use the kebab menu to the right under **Machines** for the machine in question.
* Apply the Games Image you created

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-010736.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743728860021&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

## 🛠️ 6. Initialize the Games Image

With the Games Image created, follow these steps to initialize and prepare it for use:

**a. Assign the Games Image to the Test Machine:**

* In the ggRock Web UI, navigate to the **Machines** tab.​
* Locate your test machine, click the **overflow menu** (three vertical dots), and select **Settings**.​
* In the **Machine Settings** dialog, find the **Games** dropdown menu.​
* Select the newly created Games Image from the list.​
* Click **Save** to apply the changes.​

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-011059.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743729063085&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

**b. Boot the Test Machine:**

* Power on the test machine and allow it to PXE boot.​

**c. Initialize the Games Drive:**

* Open **Disk Management** in Windows.​

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15861801/image-20250404-011113.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743729077092&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)

* A prompt will appear to initialize the new disk. Choose the appropriate partition style (GPT is recommended for most systems).​

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_rg8bsl.png)



* Once initialized, right-click on the unallocated space and select **New Simple Volume**.​
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_zapd38.png)


* Follow the wizard to format the partition, assigning a drive letter (e.g., G:) and using the NTFS file system.​

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_18724m0.png)


* Ensure the Allocation Unit is set to `32K`, **with no exceptions**.

  ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_11qryay.png)

* Complete the new simple volume wizard by clicking the “Finish” button.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_6xdsei.png)



**d. Verify the Games Drive:**

* Open **File Explorer** and confirm that the new drive (e.g., G:) is visible and accessible.​
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_ceida3.png)



---

## 🔄 7. Apply Writebacks for the First Time

To ensure that changes made during the initialization are saved:

**In the ggRock Web UI:**

* Navigate to the **Machines** tab.​
* Locate your test machine, click the **overflow menu** (three vertical dots).​
* Choose **Apply Writebacks** to commit the changes to the Games Image.​

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/a/f/d/6/afd6941e8bc7d800/image_shnma.png)



---

**Congratulations!** 🎉

You've successfully created, configured, and tested your ggRock System and Games Images. Your test machine is now set up for diskless PXE booting with the configured images.​

**Next Steps:**

* [**Repeat the process of BIOS configuration and initial bootup for additional client machines as needed.​**](https://helpdesk.ggcircuit.com/en/article/viii-configure-client-machines-for-networkdiskless-pxe-boot-ey4vsf/)
* Regularly update and maintain your images to ensure optimal performance and security.​

If you have further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. Happy gaming! 🎮