On Tue, 20 Jan 2009, Nick Rout wrote: > On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 12:22 PM, Tom Munro Glass <gen...@tmgcon.com> wrote: > > Although I am using Mandriva, I suspect this question would apply to many > > distros. > > > > I need to install Mandriva on several machines, and each installation > > needs to be set up the same way with a number of packages installed, the > > same users/passwords defined, etc. It seems to me that what I need to do > > is install and configure a master machine, then create some kind of > > installation image from this, but I don't know where to start. > > > > Any pointers would be much appreciated. > > > > Tom Munro Glass > > mandrivel was originally a fork of redhat, and redhat uses a system > called kickstart for exactly this purpose. I am not sure if kickstart > works with mandrivel, worth a look. > > google also produces this: > > http://www.informatik.uni-koeln.de/fai/ > > Also you can just clone the disk, especially if they are the same > size. You can do this by: > > 1. temporarily placing the target disk in the master machine and using > dd or cp or rsync (or probably other tools) to clone the master disk. > > 2. leaving the disk in the clone machine, boot the clone machine with > a live cd and then use rsync to clone the master hard drive to the > clone disk.
Thanks for the information - it's given me the kickstart I needed! Out of interest, what don't you like about Mandriva? Is there something I should be warned about? Tom
