Technical overview

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

System x and BladeCenter tools each have their own bootable CD. Using 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 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 a Lenovo ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD for deploying Windows operating systems and updates on supported systems.
Important: Device drivers are not included on the bootable image and must be updated separately.

Bootable Media Creator can acquire the latest bootable environment, UpdateXpress System Pack, individual updates, and LenovoPreboot Dynamic System Analysis from the local system or it can download these tools and the Lenovo ServerGuide from the Lenovo website. An Internet connection is required to download tools and updates from the Lenovo 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 Bootable Media Creator on a system at a time, whether it is started from the graphical or command-line interface. This includes instances of Lenovo Bootable Media Creator that are bundled in other tools, such as UpdateXpress System Pack Installer.

Bootable Media Creator10.3 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 Lenovo 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. Prior 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 Bootable Media Creator.