huanix

Running a Linux imaging server

Forrest Gaston http://www.schooltechperson.com
Forrest Gatson (incorrect)

k12openminds.org October 10, 2007, Indy

VServer, Xen – - virtualization tools w/ low overhead.

The EASISEST linux imaging setup
- G4L
- Auto install scripts

forrest recommends one image per room! that really beats one image per configuration!

Overview Concepts of Imaging
Booting using:
-PXE
-USB
-CD
-DVD

Distribution
-media
-ftp
-multicast
-rsync
-bittorrent
-SSH

Auto install scripts
“Take these settings and image the next box the same way”. a waste of time for more than 2 machines; poor scalability.

G4L (Ghost 4 linux)
Boots off a cd, menu options, will image NTFS, multicast, easy restore
-can be slow, reads EVERY bit, varying hdd’s cause a problem, no management.
available on sourceforge
quick and simple

System Imager Derivative
Very fast for writing individual partitions. no scalability, great for one partition, available on linux rescue cd

Clonezilla Server
Very Fast, some management, auto install, PXE
needs a “server”, limited management, takes time to get setup
easy boot menu “push an image, or pull an image?”
10-12 to push an image 3-4 minutes to pull an image.
needs to be a dedicated box

Clonezilla Live!
no PXE, create a bootable Cd or other media, VERY fast, push the image through ssh
many keyboard commands
great for making a “restore DVD”
no management
unicast
will allow imagaing a dual boot system

* System Imager (Forrest’s favorite)
Many ways to boot and distribute
many management options
adaptable to various hardware
can push & pull images
can set a hostname
distribute over buttorrent
partition based on %
can image over SSH over the internet
may allow dual boot imaging (NTFS) (Forrest isn’t sure, but it obviously won’t allow changing settings in windows)
Revert to old image, has “deep freeze” capability.

okay, Forrest is great, but i got distracted and started looking a moodle again. i’m using ubuntu, and it took 10 minutes to get it up and running using apt-get moodle. VERY impressive!!!!!

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