This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
So here is the problem:
The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well, but sometimes the changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not presently qualified to diagnose any problems.
Here is the draft idea:
1. Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
2. Make a (bootable) utility CD that: * has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image server * on boot gives an option to re-image the computer * has a (boot-time or OS) diagnostic program to check network connectivity to the image server
3. Make a single page instruction sheet on using the utility disc, including on how to boot from CD
Implementation suggestions?
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Jason Pyeron wrote:
This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
So here is the problem:
The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well,
but sometimes
the changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not
presently
qualified to diagnose any problems.
Here is the draft idea:
- Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
This works *really* well - it's how I build/rebuild new servers and workstations. We've got a cgi script that creates a ks file, and we get it started, choose what we're building, and walk away. In somewhere between a dozen and 30 min, it's up, knowing its name, etc.
- Make a (bootable) utility CD that:
- has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image server
You *really* might want to do that before pxeboot rebuilding it... for legal reasons. <snip> mark
-----Original Message----- From: centos-bounces@centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces@centos.org] On Behalf Of m.roth@5-cent.us Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 3:21 PM To: CentOS mailing list Subject: Re: [CentOS] [OT] PXE Boot / image server for non-profit's computers
Jason Pyeron wrote:
This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
So here is the problem:
The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well,
but sometimes
the changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not
presently
qualified to diagnose any problems.
Here is the draft idea:
- Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
This works *really* well - it's how I build/rebuild new servers and workstations. We've got a cgi script that creates a ks file, and we get it started, choose what we're building, and walk away. In somewhere between a dozen and 30 min, it's up, knowing its name, etc.
- Make a (bootable) utility CD that:
- has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image
server
You *really* might want to do that before pxeboot rebuilding it... for legal reasons.
He could also always just chain pxeboot the imager to create the backup and then the installer to install the new OS.
-Drew
On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 12:08 PM, Jason Pyeron jpyeron@pdinc.us wrote:
This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
So here is the problem:
The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well, but sometimes the changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not presently qualified to diagnose any problems.
Here is the draft idea:
Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
Make a (bootable) utility CD that:
- has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image server
- on boot gives an option to re-image the computer
- has a (boot-time or OS) diagnostic program to check network connectivity to
the image server
- Make a single page instruction sheet on using the utility disc, including on
how to boot from CD
Implementation suggestions?
Don't re-invent the wheel. DRBL/Clonezilla already has everything you need.
On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 2:08 PM, Jason Pyeron jpyeron@pdinc.us wrote:
This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
So here is the problem:
The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well, but sometimes the changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not presently qualified to diagnose any problems.
Here is the draft idea:
Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
Make a (bootable) utility CD that:
- has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image server
- on boot gives an option to re-image the computer
- has a (boot-time or OS) diagnostic program to check network connectivity to
the image server
- Make a single page instruction sheet on using the utility disc, including on
how to boot from CD
Implementation suggestions?
Follow the yum install instructions here: http://drbl.org/installation/
You will get a pxe-booting system that can boot into clonezilla (a menu driven image copy cloning system) that you can use if you want to save or install images, or that can pxe-boot a live linux system so you don't have to have anything installed on the clients at all - they'll just pxe-boot and nfs-mount the server. You can also download a clonezilla-live bootable iso to save/restore images where pxe booting isn't practical. Clonezilla will deal with either windows or linux systems and knows enough about filesystems to just save the used blocks. Highly recommended - the only down side is that the target disk in a restore has to be at least as large as the source.
-
Drew Weaver -
Jason Pyeron -
Les Mikesell -
m.roth＠5-cent.us -
Robert Arkiletian