[fog] Installing FOG

[Jobos]

So I want to try my hand at FOG but as I've never used Linux before I'm a little unsure which Linux version to use. Reading the FOG docs I see it recommends Ubuntu and I was wondering if the new beta Ubuntu 12.04 will work with FOG?

 

Thanks.

[localzuk]

It should be fine on Ubuntu 12.04 - it has relatively few requirements as such, other than Apache and Mysql.

[Jobos]

It should be fine on Ubuntu 12.04 - it has relatively few requirements as such, other than Apache and Mysql.

 

Should I install the desktop or the server version?

 

Index of /releases/precise

[localzuk]

Should I install the desktop or the server version?

 

Index of /releases/precise

 

Personally? I'd install the server version, but its up to you - either one will work fine.

[3s-gtech]

Server version should be fine, I initially used the server version of Debian (the core of Ubuntu) with Gnome installed as I had little Linux experience, but I never touch the GUI now. Once it's set up, you shouldn't need much access, and SSH/Putty will let you do all you need.

 

Just make sure you:

 

Setup all your NICs properly with static IP addresses etc. This is straightforward, couple of text file changes.

Get wget and apt working nicely through a proxy (if you use one), again some text files to change.

Get openssh installed, then stick something like WinSCP on your workstation to give you FTP and integrated Putty access to the server, you won't need to visit the server then, even for updates.

[Jobos]

So I've installed Ubuntu 12.04 and almost finished installing Fog. The Fog user guide says to change the bind-address line to that of the Fog server but I'm unable to save the config file as it's read only and root owns the file. What can I do to correct this?

[localzuk]

You have to run the command to edit it as root (using sudo for example if doing it via the command line).

[3s-gtech]

Yeah, you won't be able to easily edit it via the gui, as you'll need to install a program (can't remember the name now) that enables right-click Open as Root. Just fire up vi or vim or whatever and change it there.

[Jobos]

The only user account I made was called user with a password. When I use sudo it's asking for the root password but I didn't set a password for user root. How can I find or change the root password?

[localzuk]

Ok, I think this needs a bit of background with Ubuntu.

 

By default, 'root' is disabled on all Ubuntu installs. Instead, the initial user that is set up is assigned rights to use sudo.

 

So, running sudo as that user prompts for a password - this is that user's password.

 

If you want to, you can re-enable the root account by running 'sudo passwd' and entering a password. You can then log in as that user.

[Jobos]

I've now got fog up and running and love the extras you do with fog like memory and hd testing to name a few.

 

I'm now ready to sysprep my first win7 machine so before I go ahead and do that I took an image and tried restoring it to an identical machine just to make sure the image works. Everything looks ok till the machine boots and I get the message

Windows fails to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

 

When I uploaded the image I set the image type to single partition (NTFS only, resizable). Is this incorrect?

[localzuk]

No, you need to select single disk, multiple partition non-resizable for Windows 7, as there are 2 partitions for it (100Mb system part, and the main partition).

[morganw]

It's been a while since I've looked at it, but I thought that if the OS type is set to Windows 7 then the 100MB partition is handled automatically and you can keep the image setting as resizable?

[localzuk]

It's been a while since I've looked at it, but I thought that if the OS type is set to Windows 7 then the 100MB partition is handled automatically and you can keep the image setting as resizable?

 

Not according to my experience of it, and others discussing it on the forums.

[morganw]

Check out this thread on the FOG forum.

I think as long as your first partition is the default size it should be handled automatically.

[TechieWils]

I use fog and love it, I use single disk, single partition and it does work. I found you have to run fogprep and fog client and set it to os type windows 7 on the web site. It should work as long as you havent changed or did anything to the 100mb system partition. If I can offer any help I'll gladly do my best.

[Jobos]

If I fogprep the machine will I be able to go back to and make changes if needed? I wanted to take an before sysprep in case of problems.

[3s-gtech]

Newest versions of FOG don't need fogprep (I've done many machines now without). You can image it across to a new HDD without sysprepping as a backup.

[Jobos]

That's what I want to do but I'm getting the error

Windows fails to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

when I restore.

[TechieWils]

Ah, I've had that. When I've finished setting everything up before I install fog or sysprep I take a full disk image as a backup like you want to. I set the os to vista and take a image single disk multiple partition. All in the web management. Windows isn't starting as it doesn't take the 100mb partition. Once the backup image is taken install fogprep, fog client and run sysprep and capture the image as windows 7 single disk single partition. I did read you don't need fog prep but I always run just in case and works for me. I'll attach a guide I used to this post in the morning. Can't do it from my phone sorry.

[TechieWils]

As promised here's the guide I used to start me off building a Windows 7 image:

 

WINDOWS 7.pdf

[Jobos]

As promised here's the guide I used to start me off building a Windows 7 image:

 

[ATTACH]13983[/ATTACH]

 

A very useful guide indeed! I've followed it so far as I already had my reference workstation made and I didn't go with adding the driver pack as my machines are the all HP 7900's but with a few different size hd which is why I need fog to resize but I'm still getting the same error when imaging

Windows fails to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

 

The only other problem is the default profile is not configured correctly. Before syspreping there is only one admin account working which I set up as I want the default profile to be but although I use Copyprofile TRUE in the answer file it's not working. On the reference machine the administrator and guest accounts are both disabled so I'm assuming sysprep will take the settings from the only working account?

[3s-gtech]

Getting the admin accounts right on imaging is a game. Took me a fair bit of testing, but I now have it so sysprep deletes the administrator account (no changing that), then when running the OOBE it re-creates it complete with password, enables it and logs straight in. I've never tried with any other account, as I have no use for a default profile (I use mandatory profiles from the network), but I'm not sure what you're trying will work.

[morganw]

Windows fails to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause

 

Is the computer free from any hidden OEM restore partitions or similar?

[TechieWils]

Good thinking Morganw, also make sure your sysprep file has persistent pnp devices = true (something along those lines)

 

I might be going over an old point so apologies but in fog you have set the image to single disk with win 7 as the guest os on the machine tab. If it's set to any other os it won't handle the 100mb partition automatically. Also what version of fog are you running, personally I had nothing but problems with win 7 till I upgraded to 0.32