Imaging Computers

Capturing an Image

• Prep

  • computer is set up according to ComputerConfiguration (only needs to be done once)

  • network infrastructure is set up according to NetworkConfiguration (only needs to be done once)

  • run through the ImageChecklist to see that software meets requirements

• Imaging
  • login using Putty
  • type "sudo su" to get to root@drbl
  • clear out stale config files

    [root@drbl ~]# rm /tftpboot/nbi_img/pxelinux.cfg/80*

  • run dcs command

    [root@drbl ~]# dcs

    on DRBL, starting an interactive series of questions

  • Follow the prompts to specify computer by IP, clonezilla start, save disk, beginner or expert, shutdown (at your option)

  • Boot prepped computer from network
  • Should be hands-off, imaging happens (30-50 minutes)
  • Computer turns off

Deploying an Image

• Prep
  • Shouldn't be much, boot all computers to the boot media selection screen in BIOS (press F12 shortly after power-on)
• Imaging
  • login to drbl.physics.wisc.edu using Putty

  • run dcs command

    • [yourusername@drbl ~]# sudo dcs

      on DRBL, starting an interactive series of questions:

    • Follow prompts to select a group of PCs by IP address

    • choose clonezilla start, beginner, restore disk, shutdown (at your option), choose image (created after the Capturing an Image step), multicast restore (for multiple PCs),

  • Boot prepped computer from network
  • Should be hands-off, imaging happens (10-40 min, slightly shorter than capturing)
  • Computer turns off

CategoryComputing