diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5868b99..5eb5549 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ The tables below cover the common surface. For a complete reference of every fla
 
 ```yaml
 namespace: virtwork-prod
-container_disk_image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+container_disk_image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
 data_disk_size: 20Gi
 
 ssh_user: virtwork
diff --git a/build/golden-image/Containerfile b/build/golden-image/Containerfile
index a5e3da5..111b06d 100644
--- a/build/golden-image/Containerfile
+++ b/build/golden-image/Containerfile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ FROM scratch
 LABEL io.k8s.display-name="virtwork-disk" \
       io.k8s.description="Fedora container disk with virtwork workload tools pre-installed" \
       summary="Container disk for virtwork with CPU, memory, database, network, and disk tools" \
-      description="Pre-built Fedora container disk with stress-ng, fio, iperf3, postgresql-server, and chaos engineering tools for faster VM boot times" \
+      description="Pre-built Fedora container disk with stress-ng, fio, iperf3, postgresql-server, sysbench, redis, and chaos engineering tools for faster VM boot times" \
       name="virtwork-disk" \
       version="1.0" \
       maintainer="Red Hat Ecosystem Engineering"
diff --git a/build/golden-image/README.md b/build/golden-image/README.md
index 2d1ed69..caeb453 100644
--- a/build/golden-image/README.md
+++ b/build/golden-image/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ at VM boot time.
 ```
 blueprint.toml          image-builder          Containerfile
   (packages)  ──────►  build qcow2  ──────►  FROM scratch
-                        (Fedora 41)           COPY qcow2 → /disk/
+                        (Fedora 42)           COPY qcow2 → /disk/
                                                     │
                                               containerdisk
                                                OCI image
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ re-executes itself with `sudo` automatically if needed.
 - **iproute-tc** — Traffic control for chaos-network latency/loss injection
 - **kernel-modules-extra** — `sch_netem` kernel module for chaos-network
 - **iptables-nft** — Firewall rules for future network partition scenarios
+- **procps-ng** — Process utilities for chaos-process workload (`kill`, `pkill`)
+- **curl** — HTTP client for tps workload client role
+- **sysbench** — Multi-threaded CPU/fileio benchmark (catalog: sysbench)
+- **redis** — In-memory data store and redis-benchmark (catalog: redis-bench)
 - **cloud-init** — VM first-boot configuration
 - **qemu-guest-agent** — KubeVirt guest agent communication
 
diff --git a/build/golden-image/blueprint.toml b/build/golden-image/blueprint.toml
index fb9cd11..e7707b6 100644
--- a/build/golden-image/blueprint.toml
+++ b/build/golden-image/blueprint.toml
@@ -17,4 +17,8 @@ packages = [
   { name = "kernel-modules-extra" },
   { name = "netperf" },
   { name = "python3" },
+  { name = "procps-ng" },
+  { name = "curl" },
+  { name = "sysbench" },
+  { name = "redis" },
 ]
diff --git a/deploy/configmap.yaml b/deploy/configmap.yaml
index b44203f..fe8afc0 100644
--- a/deploy/configmap.yaml
+++ b/deploy/configmap.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     app.kubernetes.io/managed-by: virtwork
 data:
   VIRTWORK_NAMESPACE: "virtwork"
-  VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE: "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41"
+  VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE: "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42"
   VIRTWORK_DATA_DISK_SIZE: "10Gi"
   VIRTWORK_CPU_CORES: "2"
   VIRTWORK_MEMORY: "2Gi"
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 924302e..fee00ff 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ These apply to both `virtwork run` and `virtwork cleanup`.
 | `--cpu-cores` | `VIRTWORK_CPU_CORES` | `cpu_cores` / `workloads.<name>.cpu_cores` | `2` | CPU cores per VM (per-workload override beats global) |
 | `--memory` | `VIRTWORK_MEMORY` | `memory` / `workloads.<name>.memory` | `2Gi` | Memory per VM |
 | `--disk-size` | `VIRTWORK_DATA_DISK_SIZE` | `data_disk_size` | `10Gi` | Data-disk size for storage-backed workloads (disk, database, chaos-disk) |
-| `--container-disk-image` | `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | `container_disk_image` | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41` | Boot image for the VMs; set to the golden image for faster boot |
+| `--container-disk-image` | `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | `container_disk_image` | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42` | Boot image for the VMs; set to the golden image for faster boot |
 | `--dry-run` | `VIRTWORK_DRY_RUN` | `dry_run` | `false` | Print the VM YAML and exit; do not connect to a cluster |
 | `--no-wait` | — | (sets `wait_for_ready=false`) | _unset_ | Skip readiness polling after VMs are created |
 | `--timeout` | `VIRTWORK_TIMEOUT` | `timeout` | `600` | Readiness timeout in seconds |
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Global flags (`--namespace`, `--kubeconfig`, `--audit`, `--no-audit`, `--audit-d
 |---|---|---|---|---|
 | `VIRTWORK_AUDIT` | bool | `true` | flag-bound | Enable audit tracking |
 | `VIRTWORK_AUDIT_DB` | string | `virtwork.db` | flag-bound | Audit SQLite path |
-| `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | string | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41` | flag-bound | VM boot image |
+| `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | string | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42` | flag-bound | VM boot image |
 | `VIRTWORK_CPU_CORES` | int | `2` | flag-bound | Default per-VM CPU cores |
 | `VIRTWORK_DATA_DISK_SIZE` | string | `10Gi` | flag-bound | Default data disk size |
 | `VIRTWORK_DRY_RUN` | bool | `false` | flag-bound | Default for `--dry-run` |
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ Each workload's `params` block accepts string-valued keys. The current parameter
 | ConfigMap Key | Default | Notes |
 |---|---|---|
 | `VIRTWORK_NAMESPACE` | `virtwork` | The pod creates VMs in this namespace |
-| `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41` | Change to the golden image to speed up boot |
+| `VIRTWORK_CONTAINER_DISK_IMAGE` | `quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42` | Change to the golden image to speed up boot |
 | `VIRTWORK_DATA_DISK_SIZE` | `10Gi` | |
 | `VIRTWORK_CPU_CORES` | `2` | |
 | `VIRTWORK_MEMORY` | `2Gi` | |
diff --git a/docs/guide/01-overview.md b/docs/guide/01-overview.md
index f23ca0f..83d2705 100644
--- a/docs/guide/01-overview.md
+++ b/docs/guide/01-overview.md
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ If SSH credentials were configured, a `users` section is appended with the SSH p
 
 The orchestrator takes the cloud-init YAML and combines it with the workload's resource requirements to build a KubeVirt `VirtualMachine` object. The key pieces:
 
-- **containerDisk** — The OS image (`quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41` by default), pulled from a container registry. This is a read-only disk that provides the base operating system.
+- **containerDisk** — The OS image (`quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42` by default), pulled from a container registry. This is a read-only disk that provides the base operating system.
 - **cloudInitNoCloud** — The cloud-init YAML from step 3, stored as a Kubernetes Secret and referenced by the VM spec.
 - **CPU and memory** — Set as resource requests on the VM's domain spec (default: 2 cores, 2Gi).
 - **Labels** — Every resource gets `app.kubernetes.io/managed-by: virtwork` and a unique `virtwork/run-id` UUID. These labels are how cleanup finds resources later.
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ Namespace:    virtwork
 VMs created:  1
 Services:     0
 Secrets:      1
-Image:        quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+Image:        quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
 ==================================================
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/02-deploying-workloads.md b/docs/guide/02-deploying-workloads.md
index 2bf03f1..8a38953 100644
--- a/docs/guide/02-deploying-workloads.md
+++ b/docs/guide/02-deploying-workloads.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ spec:
         pod: {}
       volumes:
       - containerDisk:
-          image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+          image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
         name: containerdisk
       - cloudInitNoCloud:
           userData: |
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ Namespace:    virtwork
 VMs created:  1
 Services:     0
 Secrets:      1
-Image:        quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+Image:        quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
 ==================================================
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/03-adding-a-workload.md b/docs/guide/03-adding-a-workload.md
index 8040b2f..b0a95b2 100644
--- a/docs/guide/03-adding-a-workload.md
+++ b/docs/guide/03-adding-a-workload.md
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ spec:
             memory: 2Gi
       volumes:
       - containerDisk:
-          image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+          image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
         name: containerdisk
       - cloudInitNoCloud:
           userData: |
diff --git a/docs/virtwork-vs-kube-burner.md b/docs/virtwork-vs-kube-burner.md
index 5bf4564..06ed727 100644
--- a/docs/virtwork-vs-kube-burner.md
+++ b/docs/virtwork-vs-kube-burner.md
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ jobs:
 
 ```yaml
 namespace: virtwork-prod
-container_disk_image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41
+container_disk_image: quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42
 data_disk_size: 20Gi
 ssh_user: virtwork
 ssh_authorized_keys:
diff --git a/internal/constants/constants.go b/internal/constants/constants.go
index 41d79ee..c2092f7 100644
--- a/internal/constants/constants.go
+++ b/internal/constants/constants.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const (
 
 // Default resource values.
 const (
-	DefaultContainerDiskImage = "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41"
+	DefaultContainerDiskImage = "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42"
 	DefaultNamespace          = "virtwork"
 	DefaultCPUCores           = 2
 	DefaultMemory             = "2Gi"
diff --git a/internal/constants/constants_test.go b/internal/constants/constants_test.go
index 3ae4a0e..5b3a576 100644
--- a/internal/constants/constants_test.go
+++ b/internal/constants/constants_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Constants", func() {
 
 	Context("Defaults", func() {
 		It("should have correct default container disk image", func() {
-			Expect(constants.DefaultContainerDiskImage).To(Equal("quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41"))
+			Expect(constants.DefaultContainerDiskImage).To(Equal("quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42"))
 		})
 
 		It("should have correct default namespace", func() {
diff --git a/internal/orchestrator/types_test.go b/internal/orchestrator/types_test.go
index 1f851bc..05de692 100644
--- a/internal/orchestrator/types_test.go
+++ b/internal/orchestrator/types_test.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ var _ = Describe("VMPlan", func() {
 			VMSpec: &orchestrator.VMSpecInput{
 				Name:               "virtwork-cpu-0",
 				Namespace:          "virtwork",
-				ContainerDiskImage: "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41",
+				ContainerDiskImage: "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42",
 				CloudInitUserdata:  "#cloud-config\n",
 				CPUCores:           2,
 				Memory:             "2Gi",
diff --git a/internal/vm/vm_test.go b/internal/vm/vm_test.go
index 88fc077..099cd8c 100644
--- a/internal/vm/vm_test.go
+++ b/internal/vm/vm_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var _ = Describe("BuildVMSpec", func() {
 		opts = vm.VMSpecOpts{
 			Name:                "test-vm",
 			Namespace:           "test-ns",
-			ContainerDiskImage:  "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41",
+			ContainerDiskImage:  "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42",
 			CloudInitSecretName: "test-vm-cloudinit",
 			CPUCores:            2,
 			Memory:              "2Gi",
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ var _ = Describe("BuildVMSpec", func() {
 		}
 		Expect(containerDisk).NotTo(BeNil())
 		Expect(containerDisk.ContainerDisk).NotTo(BeNil())
-		Expect(containerDisk.ContainerDisk.Image).To(Equal("quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41"))
+		Expect(containerDisk.ContainerDisk.Image).To(Equal("quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42"))
 	})
 
 	It("should configure cloudInitNoCloud volume", func() {
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ var _ = Describe("BuildVMSpec", func() {
 				good := vm.VMSpecOpts{
 					Name:                "test-vm",
 					Namespace:           "test-ns",
-					ContainerDiskImage:  "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:41",
+					ContainerDiskImage:  "quay.io/containerdisks/fedora:42",
 					CloudInitSecretName: "test-cloudinit",
 					CPUCores:            2,
 					Memory:              "2Gi",