[Infrastructures] System Installation Suite

[Durell, Matt]

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IMHO one of it's biggest shortcomings is the use of BOEL.  Basically the
author decided to go for a small (tiny actually) distro to do the image
from.  This means hacking in support for things like LVM is a real
nightmare where you have to figure out how to make the LVM tools fit.

FAI isn't without issues either.  It suffers from a lack of
documentation and has a notably less polished feel to it compared to
SISuite.  However, it's method of using an NFS-mounted root image allows
for *much* easier hacking and extendibility of core functionality.

I've been tempted to take the strong elements of both approaches and
combine them into an easy-to-swallow package (think systemimager's rsync
scripts launched from an FAI-like nfs-mounted root).

Which method to use really depends on what your needs are.  SISuite is
really better suited for 'image'-based cloning where FAI basically
automates the installation process.  While the end result is the same
(having a baseline configuration) the two approaches have their
strengths and drawbacks depending on the context in which they are used.
If you require something like LVM in the base install you're in for a
ride either way.  Regardless of the method you choose be prepared to
spend a good bit of effort into customizing and testing it for your
circumstances.  In other words there is no turnkey solution that works
equally well for everyone if every situation (such a thing would be the
holy grail in our business).

-----Original Message-----
From: James Neal [mailto:neal-infrastructures@timestudies.skylab.org]
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 4:49 PM
To: Burrill, Jim
Cc: infrastructures@terraluna.org
Subject: Re: [Infrastructures] System Installation Suite 


In message
<777056A4A8F1D21180EF0008C7DF75EE01E66850@accnt.sunbelt.org>you writ
e:
>Just curious and wanting some feedback the System Installation Suite.
Has
>anyone used it before?  Is it viable?

If this is the package formerly known as "VA SystemImager" (I think it
is), then we use it.

It's your  basic image-based  installer.. It consists  of a  boot floppy
(which I  serve up  using dhcp->tftp->grub->more  tftp), which  copies a
shell script  from the install  server and  runs it. You're  pretty much
responsible for that shell script (which in our case partitions the hard
disks and  rsyncs over the image),  and creating the image  (though they
have tools to do that).

The advantages  are that it's pretty  quick and simple. Create  an image
(by either rsyncing a live image, using their tools, or writing a script
that runs debootstrap),  create a script that uses that  image, and away
you go.

The   disadvantages   are   that    it   doesn't   perform   an   actual
from-install-media install (like Solaris's  Jumpstart, or Debian's FAI),
which I think allows a single configuration to work on a greater variety
of hardware, and that it pretty  much leaves YOU responsible for all the
steps of  pre and post  installation configuration. For example,  if you
want a machine with a different partitioning, you must edit your install
script  (a  normal  shell  script),  change  the  "sfdisk"  lines  which
partition  the disk,  then  create  a new  fstab  that  matches the  new
configuration, and possibly a new bootloader config, among other things.

All that  being said, it's  still what we  use, for the  primary reasons
that we've  adapted to  its strengths and  weaknesses and  haven't found
anything better.

Hope this helps,
-James
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