Howto clone complete system? [solved]

[Solak]

Hello

I have a little problem. I don't need exact solutions (however it would be nice ) but every bit of help and guidance counts. (I underlined the main points )

I have to clone my system (configured gentoo + some custom applications written by me) through above thirty identical computers. What's the best method to do so?

I thought about custom livecd with .tar file with disk image and custom script, which would unpack it. Is it possible? And if so, how to do it most simple and efficient?

What's important that the method should be as quick and automated as possible. There's a lot of work with 30 computers

Thanks in advance,
Solak

[frostschutz]

If these machines are connected in a fairly decent network (100Mbit+), you could just install Gentoo on a central server that allows netboot for all other machines. Cloning systems that many times is not without issues, as once the copy is done, you have to manage / update each and every machine on its own. Imagine there is a configuration error in your original copy and you have to correct the error 30 times, once for every clone... If there is no network, Live CD / external hard disk and running a clone script of your own creation on every machine is probably your only option. Manual labor...

[niceness]

I agree with frostschutz, netboot would be a good solution. But if it is not an option, you could use something like udpcast to copy the image to all machines. Of course, the machines need to be networked

[Solak]

Thanks, but netboot is not an option. Those machines has to be working on their own.

I'm thinking about custom livedvd build with catalyst. On the disc i would place an image of the disk and a script, which would unpack it. How can I make an image, that will be sufficient to boot? I mean, image, which will include MBR and every partition. A bit-by-bit clone of disk. What's the best way to do so?

[duckz]

have u try ghost for linux?
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[niceness]

Just use dd.

[Solak]

dd is what i was looking for.

Simple yet powerful unix tools is what I really like

[Mr. Tao]

I have here several machines with similiar configuration and I'd like to replicate Gentoo instalation I've made on one of them. I tared partition, excluding /dev /proc and /sys and untared to another machine. But it doesn't work as expected.

• device nodes are not recreated automaticaly
• when I recreated them manualy, replicated machine boots with read only root, so many init scripts just don't start.

Now I have almost not working copy of original installation. What am I doing wrong? Why it doesn't work similiar way like stage3 install does?

[d2_racing]

You can use a Stage 4 or a Stage 5 to backup your installation.

[d2_racing]

Stage 5 : https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-534039-highlight-.html

[d2_racing]

Stage 4 : https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-312817-highlight-stage4.html

[Mr. Tao]

Thank you! This looks like what I need. I'll try it and post back with update.

[d2_racing]

no problem

[nixnut]

merged above six posts here.
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[Mr. Tao]

After few attempts, I'm stuck. No matter how I try, my box keeps booting with RO rootfs