----- Original Message ----- From: Curtis Sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 11:56 am Subject: RE: (clug-talk) (admin) Linux deployment methodologies - was XP P asswords Useless!!!!
> I have been asked about the feasibility of using Linux instead of > MS - > across the board - at our shop. Totally caught me by surprise -- > I have > always extolled the virtues of Linux while at work, and even > convinced a few > different co-workers to try it, but I did not expect this kind of a > "complete conversion" question to come from the top down. > > Since we run a native-mode Windows 2000 shop with Active Directory, > Exchange, SQL, IIS - the whole gambit - this is quite a daunting > proposal.Of course, it is easy to match most services with > comparable daemons: LDAP, > Postfix, MySQL, Apache, Samba, etc. (examples only). But one > service I do > not yet know what I would transition to is Remote Installation > Services(RIS). > > RIS is basically an wizard-driven network unattended (scripted) > install. It > can also be used to install customized "images". These are > snapshots of the > OS with apps installed, configured, etc., without taking a byte- > for-byte > image like Ghost. It stores the current registry settings along > with the > installed files, and adds those into the unattended install. > Sounds like > you have at least a portion of what RIS does down pat, Mark. In > this case, > it's called "slipstreaming". You can update the appropriate files > from a > CD-based image to Service Pack X version files, so when you do the > install,SP(X) is already installed; no need to add SP(X) later. > > >Also we have a script that updates the install files so that when > we do an > install > >Red Hat, It is current without adding updates since it's release. > > Are you able to post the script (or send privately) for this > functionality,Mark? I'd love to see it. > > Does anyone have any comparable solutions for these kinds of > deploymentfunctionalities using Linux? This would be a key to > getting Linux on every > desktop here. > > Thanks, > Curtis. > > P.S. If people have experience with this kind of thing, I have > similarreplacement-type questions for Terminal Services, Group > Policy, etc. I am > very excited with the possibility of moving _everything_ to Linux > (and we > have a lot to move!). Network updates are mostly trivial. You can create your own RPM repository and make some shells to run in cron to wget said RPMs and rpm -i *.rpm them in. Or just use apt-get with Debian or Headrat. If your going to get the chance to do this, please keep us informed and document this process as much as possible... Thanx, Dan
