On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 2:08 PM, Jason Pyeron <jpyeron@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> This is the best collection of minds I can think of on this topic, that's why it
> is on this list. I think it is too subjective for stackoverflow.
>
> So here is the problem:
>
> The community center has multiple computers for the children (and adult
> students) to use. These computer are always donated and the hardware is all
> different. Currently the systems are running Windows (but this may change). Most
> days the systems are "hacked" by the kids and all is well, but sometimes the
> changes to the systems requires a reinstall. The staff are not presently
> qualified to diagnose any problems.
>
> Here is the draft idea:
>
> 1. Have a CentOS image / PXE server.
>
> 2. Make a (bootable) utility CD that:
> * has a program to "save" the state of the computer to the image server
> * on boot gives an option to re-image the computer
> * has a (boot-time or OS) diagnostic program to check network connectivity to
> the image server
>
> 3. Make a single page instruction sheet on using the utility disc, including on
> how to boot from CD
>
> Implementation suggestions?
Follow the yum install instructions here:
http://drbl.org/installation/
You will get a pxe-booting system that can boot into clonezilla (a
menu driven image copy cloning system) that you can use if you want to
save or install images, or that can pxe-boot a live linux system so
you don't have to have anything installed on the clients at all -
they'll just pxe-boot and nfs-mount the server. You can also
download a clonezilla-live bootable iso to save/restore images where
pxe booting isn't practical. Clonezilla will deal with either windows
or linux systems and knows enough about filesystems to just save the
used blocks. Highly recommended - the only down side is that the
target disk in a restore has to be at least as large as the source.
--
Les Mikesell
lesmikesell@xxxxxxxxx
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