Okay here is how I setup my basic stateless network. Please note that I am still adding more functionality to it, but for the basics it does work. 1. Requirements: A server capable of serving rsync, dhcp, nfs, apache. They do not have to be the same machine, you just need to have access. A set of workstations, optimally one that has already been completely setup. Meaning it allows for authentication across the network. 2. Workstation Setup Setup a workstation with any *NIX style os, Fedora, FreeBSD, Gentoo, etc.. I would highly recommend you setup nfs home directories, on a server. Also an authentication scheme would be highly advisable. 3. Setup a snapshot on a rsync server. An example rsyncd.conf file follows. [code] [stateless] path=/srv/Workstation comment=Post Workstation uid=0 [/code] Here is an example rsync command to do the copy. [code]rsync -e ssh -av --exclude '/proc/*' --exclude '/sys/*' IP-address-of-test-machine:/ /srv/Workstation [/code] 4. Next setup a Fedora install tree and export it via nfs. 5. Make available the attached kickstart file via a web server. Please remember to change the address of the install tree, and the address of the snapshot. 6. You now have a choice, you can setup a dhcp server and use a pxe boot to start the kickstart or you can make a kickstart install cd as described at the following link. http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/stateless/sn-caching-clients.html That should be enough to get you guys going. I have also attached the client-server program I use to individualize each computer after they boot. I am still working on a set of scripts to make the snapshot process a little more automated. It isn't that hard however to change the rsyncd.conf and copy a directory, so it may not occur. Happy Hacking and e-mail me if there are any problems with this. -- Christopher Hotchkiss (813)960-9273 http://www.post227.org
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