Linux Cloning

[shetty]

Hi guys,
I have installed Redhat Linux (VERSION 9.0) installed on my intel system. It's working fine.

I have to install the same linux on 50 systems(all have same configuration)in the network, installing individually will take long time.

So i want to know about cloning in linux. How should i start , what type of package should i install on the systems.

This is very urgent. So please let me know the procedure.

Regards.
Shetty.

[Heiner E. Lennackers]

You could create a bootable rescue cd with mondo and install this on all other systems.

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

I'd use Symantec's Ghost software to first create an image of the machine to be cloned.And then distribute it to others.
With ghost multicast server you can distribute the image to several machines over network in few single clicks....

[Francisco J. Soler · Accepted solution]

Hi Shetty,

IMHO, you have two methods to do the cloning:

1.- If the sysems are identical, copy the contents of the discs see: http://www.progsoc.uts.edu.au/lists/progsoc/1999/October/msg00316.html
I summarize you the link here:
------ begin link -----------
If they really are identical, the fastest and easiest way to do it is:
[1] install one machine
[2] take the lids off all the machines
[3] cross-connect the IDE cable of uninstalled machine to the secondary
controller of installed machine
[4] use ``dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdc''
[5] put back the IDE cable to its original position
[6] repeat [3], [4] and [5] for all uninstalled machines
[7] put lids back on all machines
[8] modify IP numbers, hostnames, and other minor details.

I'll trust you to figure out when to turn the power off and on during the
above sequence.
Each machine will want to fsck the first time it comes up because you
copied a ``live'' filesystem across but the fsck should always pass.
I would suggest assigning the isp's DNS to each machine and then put all
local IPs into /etc/hosts (put them in before you do the cloning).

I suggest this only because it is the simplest and easiest option, not because
it is necessarily the best. I guess it depends on how often you intend to
reconfigure the network or change ISP.
-------- end link -----------

2.- If the configuration are not really identical use kickstart see:
http://www.siliconvalleyccie.com/linux-adv/network-install.htm
and the redhat documentation:
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/custom-guide/part-install-info.html

Frank.

[Francisco J. Soler]

Hi again Shetty;

don't worry very much about the multiple configuration options and the file syntax of kickstart you can make a configuration file through a user interface:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/custom-guide/ch-redhat-config-kickstart.html

Frank

[Hoefnix]

Hi,

For this large amount of systems it could be useful to take a look at the next site:
http://www.systemimager.org/

HTH,
Peter Geluk

[Olivier Drouin]

what kind of machine do you have ?

[Sยภเl Kย๓คг]

Refer to this
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux-Complete-Backup-and-Recovery-HOWTO/

regards
SK

[Rick Beldin]

kickstart is also an option.

put the install media somewhere on the network via nfs mount, and with a kickstart cd or a dhcp boot, each machine will boot and configure itself.