Cloning of servers

[Ric_]

OK, I have 10 servers of the same model (Sun Fire v20z if you are interested).

I need to install Windows 2003 on all these but am particularly lazy.

Does anybody know of a free way of cloning machines (obviously I don't want to buy Ghost for this one off task)?

[ChrisH]

Unattended setup or go the whole hog with RIS?

[ChrisH]

Now I think about it I think Lytham High use some kind of Open Source imaging thingymabob.

[Geoff]

If there's no funkey hardware raid and you want the same disk layout on all the servers then you can use Linux to copy the disks (look up the 'dd' command).

Alternatively you can abuse the hardware raid in one of the servers. Configure the disks to use Raid-1 and install. When your done pull a disk out and put a new one in. Rinse and repeat. Break the mirrored raid when your done.

[tarquel]

lol I like that geoff

[I dunno - cheaters everywhere lol ]

Nath

[Ric_]

Alternatively you can abuse the hardware raid in one of the servers. Configure the disks to use Raid-1 and install. When your done pull a disk out and put a new one in. Rinse and repeat. Break the mirrored raid when your done.

Ingenious idea Geoff! - well done for thinking outside the box!

I am using hardware RAID to mirror the disks so in theory, taking an image of one with dd (using a Live Linux distro) should work. This may be a good idea anyway so that I have a backup for future reference.

[Geoff]

well done for thinking outside the box!

No boxes here..

taking an image of one with dd (using a Live Linux distro) should work.

If you make an image with dd make sure you compress it. dd will copy the free space too.

[Ric_]

Found this on my travels. It sounds simple enough (like all the best laid plans!) so it may be a good starting point.

The utility it describes is called Partimage - unfortunately their website doesn't seem to work.

[Geoff]

The savannah page is alive.

http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/partimage/

I have mentioned partimage in the past on the LancsNGFL forums too if you want to search there Ric.

[Ric_]

The savannah page is alive.

http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/partimage/

I have mentioned partimage in the past on the LancsNGFL forums too if you want to search there Ric.

I have a seriously bad memory Goeff.

We'll see what happens tomorrow when I give it a bash

[ICTNUT]

I have just setup a network unattended setup for XP SP2 with Office 2003 SP1, Visio 2003, Adobe 7, Animods, Kudos, and about 6 other install all silent.

This was to replace the £4000 spent on ghost - Ughhh !

Anyhow I could make available the basics and changing the OS would be a snip !

Let me know what you think

PS: I am currently imaging around 40 machines a time this way taking on average about 30-40 mins per pc.

[Dos_Box]

I'm a big fan of RIS and package installs

[Ric_]

Anyhow I could make available the basics and changing the OS would be a snip !

Stick your destructions on the WiKi for all to enjoy. Leave us a link here.

[ICTNUT]

@Ric_: I'll get it sorted later today ;-)

[tarquel]

/offtopic Cascaid were surprisingly helpful with what to do with Kudos for a network install. I've got it packaged lovely and all unattended also

I have just setup a network unattended setup for XP SP2 with Office 2003 SP1, Visio 2003, Adobe 7, Animods, Kudos, and about 6 other install all silent.

@ICTNUT: Still half asleep here but is this RIP or are ya using a runonce style script to complete the task after the UA CD has completed its install?

Cheers
N.