SystemImager 3.5.3 Procedures

This document assumes certain things. The assumption is made that there is already in place a working SystemImager image server. The installation and configuration of the SystemImager server is dealt with in another document.

Section 1: SystemImager 3.5.3 client installation:

Before installing SystemImager 3.5.3 on a gentoo 64-bit server, make sure the following have been emerged. In addition, run rc-update add ntpd default, and repeat with syslog and cron.

Requirements:

rsync

syslog

cron

ntpd

Once those requirements are met, copy over the SystemImager tar file, untar and cd into the directory. ./configure, make and make install_client_all. This should install all necessary programs. Once that's all installed, the process for making an image available is the same as the process to update an existing image, from the client side. Run si_prepareclient --server <serveraddress>.

Section 2: Creating new image from Golden Client:

type si_getimage --golden-client <client_address> --image <image_name>

It's very important to make sure the new image name does not collide with an existing image name. If this happens, a warning will be printed and confirmation will be requested before continuing.

You will be asked the type of ip address to use, choose (1) dhcp and say no to running the addclients script.

Copy the contents of the /var/lib/systemimager/scripts/revolution_specific file into the /var/lib/systemimager/scripts/<image_name>.master file. Paste them right after the post-install scripts block.

Comment out the systemconfigurator block.

Locate the sections creating and mounting the filesystems. Ensure that the root filesystem is created and mounted prior to any other filesystem.

Section 3: Updating existing image from Golden Client:

After changing the programs on the golden client, re-run the si_prepareclient command from above. Then re-run the si_getimage from above, saying yes to update image, but NO to update master script. If the master script is updated inadvertently changed, go back to section 2 and restore the script lines.

Section 4: Installing image to new client:

Boot the new client and note the MAC address of the appropriate NIC.

On the SystemImager server, edit /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf and copy/paste a new host stanza, editing the MAC address to match the one noted above, and assigning the appropriate new ip address.

Edit /etc/hosts to verify or add the new server's address, copy this file to /var/lib/systemimager/scripts/hosts.

Verify that there is a symlink in /var/lib/systemimager/scripts for each new server pointing to the <image_name>.master to be used for these clients.

Run si_mkclientnetboot --clients <list of new ips> --netboot.

Note that the step before this you can add several servers, and add all their addresses in the list in this step to configure them all at once.

Boot the new server, and enter cmos. Set it to boot from pxe. Finish booting and all should be installed. Reboot into cmos and set the first boot device to be hard drive. Make sure for dual-hard drive systems that the drive evaluated as /dev/sda is the first boot device.

2005-09-04T19:05:25