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Introduction

Mode: Multi Os Deployment Engine Server Tool

A Ruby script to configure server and client configuration for PXE/DHCP and BOOTP based install services, eg:

Solaris 11 base Automated Installer (AI) service
Solaris 10 and early Jumpstart services
Centos, Scientific, and RedHat Linux Kickstart services
Ubuntu Linux Preseed support
SuSE AutoYast support
ESXi Kickstart services
Simplify creation of VirtualBox VMs
Simplify creation of VMware Fusion VMs
Simpllfy creation of Solaris Zones
Simplify creation of Solaris VM Server for SPARC Control Domains
Linux Containers (Currently Ubuntu support only)

This script is a wrapper which sits on top of the exisitng tools. It changes defaults to be more suitable to customer environments, and sanity checks server and client configuration to ensure the chance of human error is reduced. By doing this the script reduces the time lost debugging installations, which in complex environments can be time consuming. It also reduces the time to deploy servers and increases the consistency of installations.

This script will provide the ability to install Solaris 2.6-10, Solaris 11, and Linux all from one server and OS, consolidating and simplifying installation services. This can be hosted on a physical server or a VM.

Using a deployment server provides an environment more like a traditional DC, with PXE boot. Using this method both Physical and Virtual servers can be deployed. Although this is more like a traditional DC deployment method, it does require an additional VM to act as the deployment server which the clients PXE boot from. This method does not currently support Windows deployments.

Packer can also be used to deploy VMs. In this case a deployment server is not required. However it doesn't use PXE boot and is less like a traditional DC deployment process. It does not support deploying physical machines, it does however support Windows.

License

This software is licensed as CC-BA (Creative Commons By Attrbution)

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Usage

Mode is designed to be used in a number of scenarios:

Testing vendor OS deployment technologies (e.g. Kickstart, Jumpstart etc)
- PXE boot
- Pre and post install scripts
A environment for quickly deploying VMs for testing purposes
- In a similar fashion to veewee or vagrant
An environment for quickly deploying servers in a Datacenter or testlab via cross-over cable