Deploy only working with the original machine... Why??

[Xibeaga]

Hey Troy!

I know your problem!

to be precise: you have got 2 problems.

1. Bootloader

2. udev

3. is simple:
   the NAME of the disk does not exist on the other machines, so u must not boot off that disk
   solution:
   in grub-config: replace the NAME of the boot-disk with its real partition name

4. is a f*cking heck!
   i did not manage to solve it really satisfying up to now.

at install time the NICs get bound in into the udev config with the mac adresses.
so, things get srewd! when you got past problem 1) aou will see these Nics on the non-masters
eth11, eth13,… aaargh!

so: u must replace the mac adresses in the udev-config with those which are really present.
i wrote a script for that. what that script does is simple:
a) it checks if the script has already been started, if yes it terminates
b) it replaces all the MACs in the udev config stuff ( i have 3 MACS per PC)
c) it reboots to let the kernel get known of the new macs

Unfortunately it does not work to 100%, just 90%. I have no idea.
Maybe there is a bug in my script.

Greets,
Xibeaga

[Xibeaga]

2 troy again:

in /boot/grub/menu.lst there are lines like:

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.1.10-1.9-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST9320423AS_5VH5W2C7-part3 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST9320423AS_5VH5W2C7-part4 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x367

change them to:

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.1.10-1.9-desktop root=/dev/sda1 resume=/dev/sda1 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x367

replace /dev/sda1 by your partition number

if u use some “pseudo-beautified” distro like Ubuntu u might have to change this line somewhere else and reconfigure grub.
But be careful, the auto-reconf of grub will put the OLD value in place of your partition-name. So finally you will end up changing the file /boot/grub/menu.lst which says somewhere in a comment “do not touch me”

if u want to have my script to reconfigure your NICs, let me know, I am back in my lab tomorrow.

greets,
Xibeaga

[Troy]

Hi Xibeaga,

thank you very much,

I have good news, the problem appear to be solved. The only change I’ve made was in the type of the partitions, for the ubuntu 11.10 ext3 primary, and for the swap instead of logical a PRIMARY PARTITION. After this changes I can image different machines and with different hardwares too. Wonderfull!

troy

[Xibeaga]

Great!

Did u verify the NIC-Names? I had eth11 and higher on the clones with ubuntu 11.10 and suse12.1
so i reconfigured the udev stuff

xibeaga

[Troy]

Oh boy!!!

Another issue,

I’m testing now 4 machines with identical hardwares:

• Upload the image of the machine 1 - OK

• Deploy the image of the machine 1 on machine 1 - OK

• Deploy the image of the machine 1 on machine 2 - OK

• Deploy the image of the machine 1 on machine 3 - OK

• Deploy the image of the machine 1 on machine 4 - No Go!! Boot looping

4 machines with Identical hardwares, how could this be possible??

Using Ubuntu 11.10 with ext3

Troy

[Xibeaga]

Hi!
I experienced this problem too.
It happens always to the SAME machine at my site.
This machine “forgets” - no idea why - the BIOS-Boot-Order and drops the harddisk off the bootlist.
It does this ALWAYS after cloning.
So, i just reconfigure the BIOS sigh .
Maybe this happens at your site too.
xibeaga

[Xibeaga]

tell me ur NIC-names (the names of the Ehternet-Interfaces) - I would really like to know if this works or not

[Troy]

Hi Xibeaga,

thank you again, how can I reconfigure the bios sight? I don’t know what this mean for sure. And the NIC-names that you want, tell me more about how get this so I can post to you.

Troy

[Xibeaga]

you must enter the BIOS by pressing “DEL” or something at power-up and then reorder the boot-devices,
that means for example: boot from PXE, CD, Harddisk

The NIC-Names: after cloning open a shell and enter “ip add” or “iconfig”
then you can see som config stuff, a few lines will begin with “eth0” or “eth1” or “eth12”. these are the names i am asking for.
NIC = Network Interface Card

Thanks!

[Troy]

Xibeaga,

the boot order remains correct, and teh NIC is eth1.

I’m testing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS today single boot ext3 and no success, it’s getting hard to continue.

Troy

[Troy]

Updating,

Two very importante things that I’ve experienced:

• Wipe the disk before the image
• Run FSCK if the image is not uploading properly

Now seems to be working well in all hardwares.

Thanks!

Troy