I have a ghost image of a fat partition that contains a Dos OS configured
to do the install when the machine is booted to the hard disk. The
install is completely unattended and I make changes by editing the scripts
if needed. I add or update the files in the ghost image whenever
hotfixes come out so that I can install with no network connection and get
the thing current before I expose it to anything. I also make a ghost
image of each server before it goes into service so I can reimage it if it
gets whacked. You can also use those clean images to clone servers to
identical hardware - just use sysprep to change the SID and then change the
netbios name after it's running. I'm supposed to be getting a SAN pretty
soon - then I'm going to be able to bring up servers for projects in a
matter of a few minutes. Just make a copy of the logical disk on the
San, do a little configuration and we are ready to rock.
I also have a library of application 'dif' files made with Sysdiff. I
have scripts that will create a new dif, and I have scripts that will
configure a workstation depending on job function. If none of my
existing scripts meet the needs of an employee, I make a new script and
either define it as a new job function or in rare cases keep it as special
to just that one employee. I also have a dif file that applies my system
configuration changes such as the explorer settings, some hot keys, etc.
I could set up the system install process so that the difs would be applied
automatically at the end of system install, but I havent gotten that far
yet. That would make it possible to completely generate a finished
system with no input. A little VB program that would allow filling in a
form for the netbios name and any other 'selections' could be used to
generate the scripts, so the whole process would be completely automatic.
"Flanagan, Kevin"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "MSWinNT Discussions"
Sent by: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
bounce-mswinnt-135232@ls cc:
.swynk.com Subject: Automated build
processes?
09/25/2001 05:20 AM
Please respond to
"MSWinNT Discussions"
Hi all,
We currently use a homegrown tool to automate the process of
installing a server. I'm interested in what other folks do.
The process that we use is mostly unattend.txt based, but adds
several things after the fact and uses a boot disk that partitions and
formats the disk for the OS.
I think it could be an interesting conversation.....
Kevin
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Kevin Flanagan
C/S Planning Engineer III
I/T Implementation Department
Branch Banking & Trust Company
3261 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 116
MC: 172-85-01-00
Raleigh, NC 27604
Voice: 919-716-6209
"You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and
forgot about leadership. It might help if we ran the MBAs out of
Washington." - Admiral Grace Hopper.
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