:_mod-docs-content-type: ASSEMBLY
[id="virt-creating-vms-from-rh-images-overview"]
= Creating virtual machines from Red Hat images
include::_attributes/common-attributes.adoc[]
:context: virt-creating-vms-from-rh-images-overview

toc::[]

[role="_abstract"]
{op-system-base} golden images are published as container disks in a secure registry. The Containerized Data Importer (CDI) polls imports golden images into your cluster and stores them in the `openshift-virtualization-os-images` project as snapshots or persistent volume claims (PVCs).

{op-system-base} images are automatically updated. You can disable and re-enable automatic updates for these images. For more information, see "Additional resources".

Cluster administrators can enable automatic subscription for {op-system-base} virtual machines in the {product-title} web console.

You can create virtual machines (VMs) from operating system images provided by Red{nbsp}Hat by using one of the following methods:

* Create a VM from a template by using the web console.

* Create a VM from an instance type by using the web console.

* Create a VM from a `VirtualMachine` manifest by using the command line.

[IMPORTANT]
====
Do not create VMs in the default `openshift-*` namespaces. Instead, create a new namespace or use an existing namespace without the `openshift` prefix.
====

include::modules/virt-golden-images.adoc[leveloffset=+1]

include::modules/virt-about-vms-and-boot-sources.adoc[leveloffset=+1]

include::modules/virt-boot-source-images-namespace-web.adoc[leveloffset=+1]

include::modules/virt-boot-source-images-namespace-cli.adoc[leveloffset=+1]

[role="_additional-resources"]
[id="additional-resources_{context}"]
== Additional resources
* xref:../../virt/storage/virt-automatic-bootsource-updates.adoc#virt-managing-auto-update-all-system-boot-sources_virt-automatic-bootsource-updates[Managing Red{nbsp}Hat boot source updates]
* xref:../../virt/creating_vm/virt-creating-vms-from-templates.adoc#virt-creating-vms-from-templates[Creating a VM from a template by using the web console]
* xref:../../virt/creating_vm/virt-creating-vms-from-instance-types.adoc#virt-creating-vms-from-instance-types[Creating a VM from an instance type by using the web console]
* xref:../../virt/creating_vm/virt-creating-vms-from-cli.adoc#virt-creating-vms-from-cli[Creating a VM from a `VirtualMachine` manifest by using the command line]
