Avanti can expose either a host optical drive or an existing image file as a read-only emulated CD-ROM. Image-backed media avoids dependence on a physical drive and can improve repeatability and performance, but the result depends on the host storage path and guest workload. The current OpenVMS compatibility evidence includes installation from image media; it is not a performance comparison with physical media.

Create images with a tool that produces an unmodified sector-for-sector image appropriate for the source media, and retain the original media until the image has been verified in the guest. Earlier Avanti guidance named ImgBurn as one example. That third-party tool is not included with or qualified for Avanti 5.1.0, so its availability, licensing, and suitability must be assessed independently.