On Sat, 2007-07-07 at 11:04 +0100, G T Smith wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Martin Vuk wrote: > > > > Isn't KIWI(http://en.opensuse.org/KIWI) supposed to be the tool for > > that purpose? It can be used to make Xen images, so I see no reason > > why it could not make normal disk images. > > > > KIWI seems to be targeted at getting boot images on various removable > media. To some extent XEN creates a similarly dynamic environment. This > is not system cloning, but has very similar requirements. > > Binary disk images for system cloning are IMHO problematic in that the > end product tends to be monolithic, to make a small change one has to > rebuild the whole thing. A further weakness is that if a disk image gets > damaged you can loose the whole thing, an installation rpm based > approach means you have the option of repairing just the damaged > component in a clean manner. > > (GHOST in particular suffers from this problem, 8 CDs into rebuild, > sorry no 9 is corrupt ... no cigar ... but smoke will be seen :-)... > ).... > > > > Anyway, I use autoyast for bootstraping the initial system and than > > use puppet(http://reductivelabs.com/projects/puppet/) for additional > > configuration. It takes a bit of learning, but it pays off after a > > while. > > > > The first is the target for me, a base system build image. Combined with > the regular backup of working data should allow rapid recovery from > failure. If I add a new system component configuration can be deployed > as either an additional custom rpm in (or separate from) the base image. > > puppet seems to do what Zenworks does. However, Zenworks was (and I > expect still is), closely tied to NDS tools and functionality and does > not really require learning a scripting language to deploy. Such tools > are useful for the after care and day to day phase i.e. for distributing > and maintaining applications dynamically. > > For my (and most people running small setups) this approach is probably > overkill. For educational lab scenarios and medium to large businesses > it is a worthwhile strategy. Online update (when functioning) is pretty > effective in this role in the small environment... > > This is a useful contribution. System cloning, System Restore and backup > are different but inter-related activities and disk cloning and dynamic > system maintenance are useful technologies to support these activities. > (One should not confuse the hammer with the house however :-) ). > Hey guys maybe we should put a paper together for the wiki? I found some interesting words about using the "firstboot" process. -- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Newmarket,NH http://en.opensuse.org/Education "let's make a difference"
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