Computer Imaging

This guide is intended for both refreshing and teaching the computer imaging process to student hourlys who do not require an in-depth understanding of the process. Make sure to read the entire guide before attempting to image computers as mistakes can cost large amounts of time and be of great inconvenience.

Contents

  1. Computer Imaging
    1. Making the Image
    2. Taking the Image
    3. Image Deployment
      1. Computer Preparation
      2. Pushing the Image
      3. Catching the Image

Making the Image

Taking the Image

To take an image you will be utilizing a program called clonezilla. This program is only available by remotely connecting to DRBL via another program called SecureCRT. Clonezilla has a fairly broken user interface so do not be alarmed if numbers, words, etc do not appear correctly; after brief exposure to the program and it shouldn't phase you much.

1. On the computer you will be taking the image of, search for "SecureCRT 6.5" under the windows button on the lower left corner of the desktop; open SecureCRT 6.5. If it asks to check for updates simply ignore. A "Connect" window should appear.

2. Connect to drbl.physics.wisc.edu

3. Log in with your username and password. Don't have one, talk to your boss and he will redirect you someone who can create an account.

4. Enter the command sudo /opt/drbl/sbin/dcs into the SecureCRT command window. A user interface, like the one pictured below, should appear. From here on you will be utilizing the arrow keys, space bar, tab, and enter buttons on your keyboard to navigate the menus.

attachment:PartSelect.png

5. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Part Select Client(s).... command. Press Enter. A new window should appear explaining you can create new IP addresses, ignore and simply press Enter.

6. Hit Windows Key + R to open the run window. Type cmd and press Ok. This opens up the control terminal for the computer you are currently on. This is necessary in determining the IP address.

attachment:cmd.png

7. Type ipconfig in the command window and press Enter. You should see something similar to what you see below. Find the IPv4 Adress that begins with 128.104.227. The last three numbers, 248 in the example below, is the number you want to remember.

attachment:ipconfig.png

8. Go back to your SecureCRT 6.5 window and use the arrow keys to find the IP address that corresponds to the number you just found. Once found, click the space bar. If done correctly, an asterisk should appear in or next to the box as can be seen below. Once done, press Tab and then press Enter.

attachment:IP248.png

9. Use the arrow keys to highlight clonezilla-start. Press Enter. Use the arrow keys to highlight Beginner Mode. Press Enter

10. From this window we have a variety of options. Since we are going to be taking an image, highlight save-disk and press Enter. Later on when you are deploying your saved image the restore-disk option will be used.

11. Highlight Now_in_server and press Enter. This interface is particularly poor so be careful when entering the name of the image!! Click the right arrow key a few times to ensure you are at the end of the pre-designated file name. Hold down the Backspace until the cursor stops moving to delete the file name.

Images are named <level>-<semester><year>-rev<n>. The parts are level, "adv" or "intro"; semester, "fall" or "spring"; year, "2010", for example; n is a revision number, used only for small changes to the same basic image. If we are making an image of the introductory computers for the Spring of 2015, for example, the name would be intro-spring15 as is shown below. Remember, the interface is broken so it will not look correct.

attachment:Name.png

11. A window containing with the word sda should appear. Press Enter.

12. A window should appear asking weather or not the image you make should be tested after it is taken. For time and convenience, simply highlight -sc No, skip checking the saved image. Press Enter.

13. A window should appear asking what you want the computer to do after it is done taking the image. Highlight either -p reboot or -p poweroff depending on what you desire. Press Enter.

14. A window should appear asking the size, in megabits, of the partition image. The standard number that appears, 1000000, should suffice. Press Enter.

15. Almost done! The computer is getting prepared for the image. Simply press Enter when it tells you to and eventually it will say something along the lines of <username> done!

16. Restart the computer you wish to image. Once the screen goes black, hold down F12 to trigger the one-time boot mode. You should physically hear a beep come from the computer if this is done correctly.

17. Once the boot menu loads, use the arrow keys to highlight Onboard Network Controller. Press Enter.

18. If the computer is correctly connected via an Ethernet chord and the the above tasks were done correctly, the computer should automatically start running clonezilla. Once text stops being written to the screen an estimated time to completion and progress output should be displayed. Once the computer reboots or turns off the image is saved and ready to be deployed.

Image Deployment

Computer Preparation

Pushing the Image

Catching the Image

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