> > Not sure about "recommended", but cfengine is pretty good. > You can go a long way with CVS + cvsup, too, but I think the > best solution is to put configs in CVS/subversion, and use > cfengine to handle deploying new versions of configs.
Like that suggestion a lot! - Thanks. > > 3. Imaging of Servers - I have looked at SystemImager > > http://www.systemimager.org/, and it looks to do exactly > what I want > > (i.e. be able to create a bootable CD from our SOE for > deployment of > > new serverfarm boxes, or quick recovery from failure) - Can anyone > > provide feedback as to it's effectiveness? > > I love it. I've got a cluster of about 200 machines that I > manage using systemimager. If you're installing onto newer > hardware, you will almost certainly have to build a custom si > kernel to add newer drivers for ethernet cards or RAID cards. > It's not particular difficult, just a tad time consuming. > > Notes below are how to add a newer e1000 driver to the > systemimager kernel; it may help. > > M > > mkdir ~/src/systemimager > cd ~/src/systemimager > apt-get source systemimager # ~ 45MB > cd systemimager-3.0.1 > tar -xjf systemimager-3.0.1.tar.bz2 > cd systemimager-3.0.1 > make patched_kernel-stamp > > There is now a systemimager kernel source tree in src/linux-2.4.20 > > Download the e1000 source from Intel: > http://support.intel.com/support/network/sb/cs-006120-prd38.htm > > mkdir ~/src/e1000 > cd ~/src/e1000 > tar -xzf e1000.tar.gz > cd e1000/src > Edit Makefile: > Set KSP = > ~/src/systemimager/systemimager-3.0.1/systemimager-3.0.1/src/l > inux-2.4.20 > make > cp e1000.o > ~/src/systemimager/systemimager-3.0.1/systemimager-3.0.1/initr > d_source/my_modules > cd > ~/src/systemimager/systemimager-3.0.1/systemimager-3.0.1/initr > d_source/my_modules > Edit INSMOD_COMMAND > Add nsmod ./e1000.o' > cd ~/src/systemimager/systemimager-3.0.1 > Edit FLAVOR > Change it to something else (like e1000) for testing. > make binaries > Go get lunch... this takes a _long_ time. > sudo make install_binaries > This puts the binaries into > /usr/share/systemimager/boot/i386/e1000 > > Now copy kernel, config, and initrd.img from e1000 to the > master "standard" > image, and to the master /tftpboot. Thanks HEAPS for the info on systemimager! - Going to set it up on some test servers today. Regards, MB