Phantosys client trial

Table of Contents

Requirements Checklist

  • BE AWARE: the following changes in firmware might make any existing OS unbootable, and the installation of Phantosys Local Cache will wipe out the local disk drive (erase all local systems and data)
  • PC firmware must be UEFI mode (Legacy BIOS is not supported in this installation mode)
  • For initial installation, the PC must be connected by ethernet cable (via on-board NIC or USB-Ethernet adapter) to a broadband router with Internet connection and a DHCP server for dynamic IP assignment. After installation, the WiFi connection can be used normally for network access and vDisk updates.
  • Change UEFI BIOS setting: Disable Secure boot
  • Change UEFI BIOS setting: Enable network stack (aka PXE / network boot)
  • Change UEFI BIOS setting: Set SATA mode to AHCI
  • Identify your PC’s MAC address (on-board NIC or USB-Ethernet adapter) *NOT WIFI*
  • Ask your Phantosys representative to register that MAC address in the Phantosys server to which your client will be associated
  • Check the reply to your requested registration and take note of the IP of the Phantosys server, login and password. You will also receive the links to download the required files for installation.
  • Format a USB flash drive to NTFS (64K cluster size recommended)
  • Check the registration email for the link to download the file with the “EFI” folder (download and unzip)
  • Save the folder “EFI” to the ROOT position of the USB drive
Download EFI folder and create a USB boot device
  • Format a USB flash drive to NTFS (64K cluster size recommended for faster copying) or use the same USB device with the EFI boot folder, if it has enough space
  • Check the registration email for the link to download the file with the “vDisk” file (download and unzip)
  • Save the file “xxxxxxx.pim10” to the ROOT position of the USB drive
Download the vDisk PIM file and save it to a USB disk

Installation instructions

PLEASE CHECK ALL THE REQUIREMENTS ***YOUR PC WILL BE FORMATTED***

1 – Install Phantosys Local Cache and Boot Manager

Make sure to connect the ethernet cable to the Internet router before the PC’s boot.

Turn ON and boot the PC by the USB drive with the saved EFI folder (check requirements)
Turn ON and boot the PC by the USB drive with the saved EFI folder (check requirements)
Select language
Select language
Type the IP of Phantosys server on the top field and press F2 to connect
Type the IP of Phantosys server on the top field and press F2 to connect
On the top left is the PC’s designated hostname, registered on the server with its MAC address
On the top left is the PC’s designated hostname, registered on the server with its MAC address
To enter the admin area, press F1 and type login/password credentials
To enter the admin area, press F1 and type login/password credentials
Press F12 “Tools”
Press F12 “Tools”
Press F3 “FDisk”
Press F3 “FDisk”
Make sure to activate options 4 and 5, and click NO to erase the entire disk and install the Local cache/boot manager. Note: selecting YES would be part of an alternative installation method that can preserve the existing OS, which is not supported for unattended/remote installations, and it must be done only by a certified Phantosys technician.
Make sure to activate options 4 and 5, and click NO to erase the entire disk and install the Local cache/boot manager. Note: selecting YES would be part of an alternative installation method that can preserve the existing OS, which is not supported for unattended/remote installations, and it must be done only by a certified Phantosys technician.
Just press F2 to confirm FDisk function (THE DISK WILL BE ERASED). Reserved partition/file system settings should not be changed
Just press F2 to confirm FDisk function (THE DISK WILL BE ERASED). Reserved partition/file system settings should not be changed
Formatting
Formatting
Done
Done

2 – Copy vDisk to Local Cache

Reboot and enter your PC’s BIOS settings to change the boot priority. Set “Phantosys LBM” as first entry
Reboot and enter your PC’s BIOS settings to change the boot priority. Set “Phantosys LBM” as first entry
Boot the PC and it should present the Phantosys Menu (Local Boot Manager)
Boot the PC and it should present the Phantosys Menu (Local Boot Manager)
The preset vDisk entry is not yet ready for boot (cache incomplete)
The preset vDisk entry is not yet ready for boot (cache incomplete)
Press F1 to access the administration area of the Local Boot Manager (same login credentials used for installation)
Press F1 to access the administration area of the Local Boot Manager (same login credentials used for installation)
Plug in the USB disk with the vDisk PIM file (check requirements) and press F3 to copy the vDisk from the USB. Click YES to confirm and start the copying process.
Plug in the USB disk with the vDisk PIM file (check requirements) and press F3 to copy the vDisk from the USB. Click YES to confirm and start the copying process.
The time of copy depends on the size of the initial vDisk, the performance of the USB drive, the USB connection and the PC’s HDD/SSD. If the process is interrupted for any reason, just reboot and repeat the above steps to resume the copy.
The time of copy depends on the size of the initial vDisk, the performance of the USB drive, the USB connection and the PC’s HDD/SSD. If the process is interrupted for any reason, just reboot and repeat the above steps to resume the copy.
When the copy is complete, reboot the PC
When the copy is complete, reboot the PC

3 – Boot from local vDisk

Select and boot Windows vDisk from the local boot menu.
Select and boot Windows vDisk from the local boot menu.
image-19
On the first boot, the system might reboot automatically after getting the basic devices ready.
On the first boot, the system might reboot automatically after getting the basic devices ready.
Remarks about the setup of the initial vDisk template: The default user is named “User” with admin rights, and no password. This template applies the tool “Wu10Man” to disable automatic Windows Updates. To enable updates, find the tool’s folder in the root path, execute “Wu10Man” and click "Enable All Services"
Remarks about the setup of the initial vDisk template: The default user is named “User” with admin rights, and no password. This template applies the tool “Wu10Man” to disable automatic Windows Updates. To enable updates, find the tool’s folder in the root path, execute “Wu10Man” and click "Enable All Services"
Now you can customize your Windows system, install device drivers (except for the NIC driver) normally by Windows updates or by some drivers' package software, install applications as needed and change any settings as you would normally do.
Now you can customize your Windows system, install device drivers (except for the NIC driver) normally by Windows updates or by some drivers' package software, install applications as needed and change any settings as you would normally do.
Recommendation: **DO NOT update the drivers of the Ethernet Network Card (cable NIC)** to prevent conflict with Phantosys NIC drivers.
Recommendation: **DO NOT update the drivers of the Ethernet Network Card (cable NIC)** to prevent conflict with Phantosys NIC drivers.

How to use vDisk snapshots

Anytime you make a significant change to the OS, software and settings contained in the vDisk, you can save a recovery point (vDisk snapshot), that you can restore in case of system corruption or malware, for instance.

Saving a new snapshot

To enter the admin area, press F1 and type login/password credentials
To enter the admin area, press F1 and type login/password credentials
Press F6
Press F6
Click F2 "Save"
Click F2 "Save"
Confirm to save a Snapshot
Confirm to save a Snapshot
The snapshot is saved. You can go back to the main menu (ESC key) and boot the vDisk system.
The snapshot is saved. You can go back to the main menu (ESC key) and boot the vDisk system.

Restoring the snapshot

At the Local Boot Menu, press the F8 key, and the system will be restored to the state of the last snapshot.
At the Local Boot Menu, press the F8 key, and the system will be restored to the state of the last snapshot.
Note that all changes and data stored in the vDisk after the last saved snapshot will be lost.
Note that all changes and data stored in the vDisk after the last saved snapshot will be lost.
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