PXE network booting, images, updating

[manicmenace]

Hi everyone I've come unstuck and would be hugely grateful for any ideas/brainstorms you guys could come up with

The Situation
I have multiple servers (3 types and around 4 of each type all are X86) with multiple hard drives in each, for testing, the OS's range from RH3&4 SLES9&10 Win2k and 2k3. Using them on test the OS's tend to go "peet tong" often and I’m spending most of my time reinstalling OS's, SLES9 Update3 is 9 CD's for example.

All the servers have PXE and I would like to try to have is a server that broadcasts PXE that I can store a backed up image of these OS's on and then just restore that Image when a server goes down.

I have scrawled the internet for information but I’m finding it hard to think of a solution.

If anyone has idea's, input on what they currently do if you have a similar situation, or any links etc. it would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks
Martin

 

[blue68f100]

One you have a clean install you could use Digital Dolly, Ghost or any other drive imaging software. I know DD allows for sending to network storage. Or if you have spare drives, just image to one. HD to HD is the fastest way to clone a drive.

 

[manicmenace]

hey thanks for the reply, i've been looking today actually into DD planning on running it from knoppix, see what i can manage with it.

Thought about the HD - HD but it would require a heck of a lot of mirror hard drives, and we dont have any spare, plus there all SCSI 10k ones. I'm going to have a look at Digital Dolly never heard of it before after the dd tests.

Thanks again for your reply
Martin

 

[blue68f100]

You can store multiple image sets on one drive. You could make a folder for each os and still use the HD to HD. The only limit would be if the HD is large enough for all that you require.

I use DD for BU's. Copy my notebook HD and desktop pc to My NAS's. You need to remember if you do a restore it does not automaticly copy the MBR, need to issue a seperate cmd for it. It is copied with the clone but not restored.