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

# How to Mount Custom ISOs and Configure Boot Order

> Learn how to mount custom ISO images and configure the boot order on your FREAKHOSTING VPS for custom OS installations and recovery operations.

## Mounting Custom ISOs and Configuring Boot Priority

The Media tab in the FREAKHOSTING VPS Control Panel lets you mount custom ISO images to a virtual CD/DVD drive and control which device your server boots from. This is how you install operating systems that are not in our standard template library, boot into recovery environments, or run diagnostic tools — essentially anything that requires booting from an image file.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Difficulty" icon="gauge">
    Intermediate
  </Card>

  <Card title="Time" icon="clock">
    5 Minutes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

<Warning>
  ### Custom ISO Mounting Is Disabled by Default

  The ability to mount custom ISO images is **disabled by default** on all VPS accounts. If you need this feature enabled, please **open a support ticket** and our team will activate it for your server.

  **[Open a Support Ticket →](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)**
</Warning>

***

## Why Would I Need a Custom ISO?

Most users never need this feature — the standard OS templates available during VPS setup cover the common cases. But there are situations where mounting your own ISO is the only way to get what you need:

* **Proxmox VE** — You want to run a virtualization platform on your VPS for nested VM management.
* **pfSense / OPNsense** — You are building a virtual firewall or router appliance.
* **Windows Server** — You need a specific Windows Server version or edition that is not available as a standard template.
* **Custom Linux distributions** — Alpine, Arch, NixOS, or any distribution not in our template library.
* **Network appliances** — VyOS, MikroTik RouterOS, or other specialized networking software.
* **Recovery tools** — SystemRescue, Hiren's Boot CD, or GParted Live for disk repair and data recovery.
* **Diagnostics** — Memtest86+ or other hardware testing tools.

If your use case involves any of these, request custom ISO access through a support ticket and you will be up and running in no time.

***

## Accessing the Media Tab

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Your Server">
    Click on **Servers** in the top navigation bar, then click **Manage** next to the server you want to configure.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Media Tab">
    Click on the **Media** tab in the server management navigation. You will see power controls at the top, the CD/DVD-ROM section in the middle, and the Boot Order section below.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## CD/DVD-ROM — Custom ISO Section

The CD/DVD-ROM section shows the current status of your virtual optical drive:

* **DRIVE ACTIVE** — An ISO image is currently mounted and ready.
* **DRIVE INACTIVE** — No media is loaded. The virtual CD/DVD drive is empty.

There are two ways to mount an ISO to your server: inserting a **remote ISO via URL** or selecting a **preset CD/DVD** image provided by FREAKHOSTING.

### Option 1: Mount a Remote Custom ISO via URL

You can mount any publicly accessible ISO image by providing its direct download URL. This is the most flexible option — you control exactly which image gets loaded.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Custom CD/DVD">
    Click the **Custom CD/DVD** button to reveal the URL input field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the ISO URL">
    In the URL input field (prefixed with `https://`), enter the **direct link** to your remote ISO file. For example: `releases.ubuntu.com/24.04/ubuntu-24.04-live-server-amd64.iso`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Insert the ISO">
    Click the **Insert** button to mount the remote ISO to your server's virtual CD/DVD drive. The drive status badge will change from **DRIVE INACTIVE** to **DRIVE ACTIVE**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  ### Remote ISO URL Requirements

  * The URL **must be HTTPS** — do **not** include the `https://` prefix in the input field (it is already added automatically).
  * The URL **must end in `.iso`** — other file extensions are not accepted.
  * The URL **must not contain any redirects** — it must be a direct download link.
  * **Inserting an invalid ISO may render your server un-bootable** and would need to be ejected with the server powered off.
</Warning>

### Option 2: Mount a Preset CD/DVD Image

FREAKHOSTING may provide preset CD/DVD images (such as recovery tools or popular installation media) that are ready to use without needing a URL.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Preset List">
    Click the **Preset CD/DVD** button to view the available preset images.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select and Mount">
    Choose the preset image you want to use. It will be mounted to the virtual CD/DVD drive automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  The panel may display **"No Media Available"** if no preset images are currently configured. This is normal — you can still mount your own ISO using the Custom CD/DVD option above (once the feature is enabled on your account).
</Info>

### Unmounting / Ejecting a Custom ISO

To release the virtual drive, click the **Eject** button next to the currently mounted ISO. The drive status will return to **DRIVE INACTIVE**.

<Info>
  If the custom ISO section is not visible or the controls are greyed out, the feature has not been enabled on your account yet. Please [open a support ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) and request that custom ISO mounting be activated for your server.
</Info>

***

## Boot Order Configuration

The **Boot Order** section controls which device your server attempts to boot from first. You will see two icons representing the available boot devices:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="HDD (Hard Disk Drive)" icon="hard-drive">
    Boot from the server's primary disk drive. This is the **default setting** — your server boots the operating system installed on its main storage. The HDD icon appears highlighted when selected.
  </Card>

  <Card title="CD/DVD (Custom ISO)" icon="compact-disc">
    Boot from the virtual CD/DVD drive. Select this when you need to boot from a mounted ISO image — for example, to install a new operating system or run a recovery tool.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Changing the Boot Order

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the Boot Device">
    Click on either the **HDD** icon or the **CD/DVD** icon to select your preferred boot device. The selected option will appear highlighted.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply the Change">
    Click the **Apply** button to save the new boot order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart the Server">
    For the boot order change to take effect, **restart your server** using the power controls at the top of the Media tab (Boot, Shutdown, Restart, or Power Off).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Important>
  Remember to switch the boot order back to **HDD** after completing your ISO-based installation or recovery operation. Leaving the boot order set to CD/DVD with a mounted installer image will cause the server to boot into the installer again instead of your operating system — every single time it restarts.
</Important>

***

## Full Walkthrough: Installing a Custom OS

Here is the complete process from start to finish, using Proxmox VE as an example:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Request Custom ISO Access">
    [Open a support ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) and ask for custom ISO mounting to be enabled on your server. Wait for confirmation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Mount the ISO">
    Go to the **Media** tab, click **Custom CD/DVD**, paste the direct URL to the Proxmox VE ISO (e.g., `enterprise.proxmox.com/iso/proxmox-ve_8.3-1.iso`), and click **Insert**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Boot Order to CD/DVD">
    In the Boot Order section, click the **CD/DVD** icon, then click **Apply**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart and Open VNC">
    Restart the server using the power controls at the top. Then open the **VNC Console** to interact with the installer as it boots from your ISO.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the Installation">
    Follow the on-screen installer prompts in VNC to install the operating system to the server's primary disk.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clean Up">
    After installation completes, switch the boot order back to **HDD**, click **Apply**, and **Eject** the ISO. Restart the server — it will now boot into your newly installed OS.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Common Use Cases

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Installing a custom operating system from an ISO">
    To install a custom OS: (1) Mount the ISO image in the CD/DVD section, (2) Set the boot order to **CD/DVD**, (3) Restart the server, (4) Use VNC to interact with the installer, (5) After installation, set the boot order back to **HDD** and unmount the ISO.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Running a recovery or diagnostic tool">
    If your server is unbootable or you need to repair a filesystem, mount a rescue ISO image (such as SystemRescue), set the boot order to CD/DVD, and restart. You can then use the recovery tools through VNC to repair your server's disk. This is similar to booting from a USB recovery drive on a physical computer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I don't see any media or ISO options">
    Custom ISO mounting is **disabled by default** on all accounts. If no ISO images are listed and the Custom CD/DVD button is not functional, you need to request activation. Please [open a support ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) and let our team know you would like the custom ISO feature enabled for your server.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My server is stuck booting into the installer">
    You likely forgot to switch the boot order back to HDD after installation. Go to the Media tab, set the boot order to **HDD**, click **Apply**, eject the ISO, and restart the server.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I upload my own ISO?">
    You do not upload ISOs directly to FREAKHOSTING. Instead, you provide a public HTTPS URL that points directly to the ISO file. If you have a custom ISO, host it on a web server or cloud storage service with a direct download link ending in `.iso`, then use the Custom CD/DVD option to mount it.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<Note>
  ### Need Extra Help?

  If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

  * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
  * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)
  * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting)
  * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)
</Note>

<Tip>
  ### Save on Your Hosting

  Ready to get a new server? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first month!
</Tip>

***

<div align="center">
  **Last Updated:** March 2026 | **VPS Support:** Custom ISO management simplified.
</div>