IUX vs. NIM, JumpStart

[Bernhard Mueller]

Hello,

I need some *condensed* documentation about the functional features of JumpStart and NIM/mksysb compared with Ignite-UX.

Especially regarding cloning to different HW.

Moreover, I'd value any input from multi-platform admins with hands-on experience of both (or all three)

Regards,
Bernhard

[Robert-Jan Goossens]

Hi Bernhard,

http://www.amorin.org/professional/jumpstart.php

I use both ignite and jumstart in our environment. It would be difficult to compare these two products, but they have similarities.

Ignite creates an bootable image from the current OS and stores it on a tape or server for recreation and restore (DR) facilities.

Jumstart server can also be setup like Ignite to create lan based installs over a network. You can copy install cd's to the jumstart server (multiple sun os versions like ignite) in combination with other software and patches.

Best regards,
Robert-Jan

[Alzhy]

Bernhard:

I can compare Solaris Jumpstart and Ignite-UX having used both extensively in the last 5 years:

IGNITE/UX:
- Can be used for backing up the OS
- Can be used for cloning (golden image or recovery archives)
- works with any digital medium (tape, CD, DVD-ROM)
- Needs an "Ignite-Server" infrastructure
- Golden Image, Archives recovery options are limited to NFS and media repositories.

SOLARIS JUMPSTART:
- can be used as backup tool
- can be used as cloning or OS deployment tool
- centers around the "flarcreate" (Flash Archive Create) command.
- Very powerful and highly customisable
- One can create layered flash archives
- Basically does what IGNITE-UX offers plus the ability to install/restore the Flash Archives (similar to IUX's golden and recovery archives) via practically any protocol - FTP, HTTP, NFS
- easier integration with turnkey restores and recoveries (IMHO).



HTH.

[Rick Garland]

What I see as the bottom line in the 3 different tools, they are all basically the same. They do run on the specific platform/OS they were designed for but the goal of all 3 tools is to 1) provide a tool for cloning systems 2) provide a means of DR planning 3) function as a limited backup tool (I would not use these tools to perform full system backups) 4) provide a method of numerous server installs with little effort/time, etc.

To me, one of the most important features is the DR capabilities of the tools. Once I have the root OS restored, I can easily restore the data via tape and/or disk.