Difference between revisions of "Diskless netboot"
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| − | + | [[Category:Linux]] | |
| − | + | ==Target folder tree (server side)== | |
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| − | + | This is how we'll setup our files and folders: | |
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<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | ||
| − | + | # TFTP root | |
| − | + | /tftpboot/ | |
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| + | ############### | ||
| + | # Network bootable image(s) using NFS technology | ||
| + | ################ | ||
| − | + | #### Boot file | |
| + | /tftpboot/pxelinux.0 # Initial boot file - only use to load the PXE NetBoot manager | ||
| + | /tftpboot/{menu.c32 || vesamenu.c32} # PXE interactive menu managers (text or graphical) | ||
| + | /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/ # PXE configuration(s) | ||
| + | /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default # default PXE configuration | ||
| + | #### Kernel file | ||
| − | + | /tftpboot/images/ | |
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| − | + | # Debian 7.x [Wheezy] | |
| + | /tftpboot/images/wheezy/ | ||
| + | /tftpboot/images/wheezy/vmlinuz | ||
| + | /tftpboot/images/wheezy/initrd.img | ||
| − | + | # [X]Ubuntu 14.04 [Trusty] | |
| + | /tftpboot/images/trusty/ | ||
| + | /tftpboot/images/trusty/vmlinuz | ||
| + | /tftpboot/images/trusty/initrd.img | ||
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| + | #### NFS | ||
| + | # This is where the runnable will be. Each image will be in a dedicated folder. | ||
| + | /nfs/ | ||
| − | + | # Debian 7.x [Wheezy] | |
| + | /nfs/wheezy/ | ||
| − | + | # Ubuntu 14.04 [Trusty] | |
| − | + | /nfs/trusty/ | |
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
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| + | ==Client overview== | ||
| − | + | Each client must have, at least, 4 Go of RAM. | |
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| − | + | ===4 GO RAM configuration=== | |
| + | This is how we're gonna populate the client: | ||
| + | [[File:Client_composition.png|480px|NetBoot client RAM overview - 4Go]] | ||
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| − | + | As you can see, each client will have some space dedicated for swap + some RAMdisk to allow writing in /var, /tmp and /proc. | |
| − | + | Configuration of a '''4Go RAM''' disk: | |
| − | + | * No swap | |
| − | + | * Local TMPFS (read/write for /dev, /tmp, ...) : 1 Go | |
| + | ** /tmp = 512 M | ||
| + | ** /var/tmp = 128 M | ||
| + | ** /var/log = 128 M | ||
| + | ** /var/run = 8 M | ||
| + | ** /var/lock = 8 M | ||
| + | ** /run/shm = 256 M | ||
| + | * O.S (NFS read only) : all the rest ~ 2.8 Go | ||
| + | * Common share (NFS read write) : ''Remote disk'' | ||
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| + | ===2 Go=== | ||
| − | + | Due to budget restriction we might encounter some low memory machines with only 2 Go... | |
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| + | This is how we're gonna populate the client: | ||
| − | + | [[File:Client_mount_points_2Go.png|480px|NetBoot client RAM overview - 2Go]] | |
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| − | + | In case of '''2Go RAM''' then you have to use some tricks: | |
| − | + | * No swap | |
| − | + | * O.S (NFS read only) : ~ 1.2 Go | |
| − | + | * Common share (NFS read write) : ''Remote disk'' | |
| + | * Local TMPFS (read/write for /dev, /tmp, ...) : all the rest | ||
| + | ** /tmp = 372 M | ||
| + | ** /var/tmp = auto | ||
| + | ** /var/log = 128 M | ||
| + | ** /var/run = auto | ||
| + | ** /var/lock = auto | ||
| + | ** /run/shm = auto | ||
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| − | + | ==How big is the client image ?== | |
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| + | By default the ''deboostrap'' Ubuntu 14.04 LTS image is 239 Mo. With the applications we're gonna use that size will increase to about 1 or '''1.3 Go''' depending if you copy (or not) the kernel sources. It may even take 1.6 Go if you're using XFCE frontend. | ||
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The main ones are: | The main ones are: | ||
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| + | * Manually | ||
| + | ** debootstrap | ||
| + | ** copying the install from your server | ||
| + | ** Manual install on a client, then, when the system is ready, copy everything to the NFS share | ||
| + | * Using script and software like "Puppet" or "Chef" | ||
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| − | + | ==Setup client distribution== | |
You have to create one target for each distribution you want to serve: | You have to create one target for each distribution you want to serve: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | ||
| − | mkdir -p / | + | mkdir -p /nfs/trusty |
| − | + | mkdir -p /nfs/wheezy | |
| + | mkdir -p /nfs/common | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
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- NOTES - | - NOTES - | ||
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* The folder name should match your NetBoot settings. Folder name = a LABEL in the NetBoot config. | * The folder name should match your NetBoot settings. Folder name = a LABEL in the NetBoot config. | ||
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* The folder name should match a Linux (Debian like) distribution name | * The folder name should match a Linux (Debian like) distribution name | ||
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| − | + | ==Configure client distribution== | |
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| + | * Manual configuration: [[Diskless image configuration - manual setup]] | ||
| − | + | * Automatic [Puppet || Chef] configuration: [[Diskless image configuration - script setup]] | |
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| + | ==Backup distribution== | ||
| − | + | You can create an archive of your current distribution for later restore / re-use. | |
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| − | + | ===Compression=== | |
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | ||
| − | + | cd /nfs | |
| − | + | tar cvpjf trusty.tar.bz2 ./trusty | |
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</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
| − | + | ===Restoration=== | |
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<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> | ||
| − | + | cd /nfs | |
| + | tar -xvjf trusty.tar.bz2 | ||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
| + | =PXE interactive menu= | ||
| − | + | You can create interactive NetBoot menus, see: | |
| − | + | * [[PXE interactive menu - single level]] | |
| − | + | * [[PXE interactive menu - multi level]] | |
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| − | + | =Local server monitoring= | |
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| + | Install the following services: | ||
| + | * [[SNMP client]] | ||
| + | * [[Zabbix agent setup]] | ||
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| − | = | + | =Other services= |
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| + | ==File sharing== | ||
| − | + | If you want to expose the NFS common folder as a file-share, you have to install and configure Samba. See: [[Samba server]] | |
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| − | + | ''Note'' | |
| − | + | Samba is actually better than NFS for the file-share. You should remove Common from /etc/exports and use a samba share instead. | |
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| + | ==Management UI (webmin)== | ||
| − | + | Since there is a lot of services to manage, it's always convenient to use an UI for it. Check [[Webmin]] | |
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| + | ==VPN server== | ||
| − | + | See [[VPN]] | |
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| + | ==Apache2 server== | ||
| − | + | See [[Apache 2]] | |
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| − | + | =References= | |
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| − | + | Ubuntu diskless how-to: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DisklessUbuntuHowto | |
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| + | Mind reference: http://mindref.blogspot.se/2011/03/debian-diskless.html | ||
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| + | Super video tutorials: | ||
| + | * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9imsrqAMk | ||
| + | * http://www.stepladder-it.com/bivblog/14/ to /16/ | ||
| + | * https://blog.dlasley.net/2013/01/pxe-server-ubuntu/ | ||
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| − | + | Nice explanation of PXE process: http://www.linux.com/learn/docs/ldp/497-Diskless-root-NFS-HOWTO | |
| − | + | * How to improved /etc/fstab: http://www.askapache.com/optimize/super-speed-secrets.html | |
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Latest revision as of 14:37, 21 August 2014
Contents
Target folder tree (server side)
This is how we'll setup our files and folders:
# TFTP root
/tftpboot/
###############
# Network bootable image(s) using NFS technology
################
#### Boot file
/tftpboot/pxelinux.0 # Initial boot file - only use to load the PXE NetBoot manager
/tftpboot/{menu.c32 || vesamenu.c32} # PXE interactive menu managers (text or graphical)
/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/ # PXE configuration(s)
/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default # default PXE configuration
#### Kernel file
/tftpboot/images/
# Debian 7.x [Wheezy]
/tftpboot/images/wheezy/
/tftpboot/images/wheezy/vmlinuz
/tftpboot/images/wheezy/initrd.img
# [X]Ubuntu 14.04 [Trusty]
/tftpboot/images/trusty/
/tftpboot/images/trusty/vmlinuz
/tftpboot/images/trusty/initrd.img
#### NFS
# This is where the runnable will be. Each image will be in a dedicated folder.
/nfs/
# Debian 7.x [Wheezy]
/nfs/wheezy/
# Ubuntu 14.04 [Trusty]
/nfs/trusty/
Client overview
Each client must have, at least, 4 Go of RAM.
4 GO RAM configuration
This is how we're gonna populate the client:
As you can see, each client will have some space dedicated for swap + some RAMdisk to allow writing in /var, /tmp and /proc.
Configuration of a 4Go RAM disk:
- No swap
- Local TMPFS (read/write for /dev, /tmp, ...) : 1 Go
- /tmp = 512 M
- /var/tmp = 128 M
- /var/log = 128 M
- /var/run = 8 M
- /var/lock = 8 M
- /run/shm = 256 M
- O.S (NFS read only) : all the rest ~ 2.8 Go
- Common share (NFS read write) : Remote disk
2 Go
Due to budget restriction we might encounter some low memory machines with only 2 Go...
This is how we're gonna populate the client:
In case of 2Go RAM then you have to use some tricks:
- No swap
- O.S (NFS read only) : ~ 1.2 Go
- Common share (NFS read write) : Remote disk
- Local TMPFS (read/write for /dev, /tmp, ...) : all the rest
- /tmp = 372 M
- /var/tmp = auto
- /var/log = 128 M
- /var/run = auto
- /var/lock = auto
- /run/shm = auto
How big is the client image ?
By default the deboostrap Ubuntu 14.04 LTS image is 239 Mo. With the applications we're gonna use that size will increase to about 1 or 1.3 Go depending if you copy (or not) the kernel sources. It may even take 1.6 Go if you're using XFCE frontend.
NFS client image
There are different way to setup a NFS client image.
The main ones are:
- Manually
- debootstrap
- copying the install from your server
- Manual install on a client, then, when the system is ready, copy everything to the NFS share
- Using script and software like "Puppet" or "Chef"
Setup client distribution
You have to create one target for each distribution you want to serve:
mkdir -p /nfs/trusty
mkdir -p /nfs/wheezy
mkdir -p /nfs/common
- NOTES -
- The folder name should match your NetBoot settings. Folder name = a LABEL in the NetBoot config.
- The folder name should match a Linux (Debian like) distribution name
Configure client distribution
- Manual configuration: Diskless image configuration - manual setup
- Automatic [Puppet || Chef] configuration: Diskless image configuration - script setup
Backup distribution
You can create an archive of your current distribution for later restore / re-use.
Compression
cd /nfs
tar cvpjf trusty.tar.bz2 ./trusty
Restoration
cd /nfs
tar -xvjf trusty.tar.bz2You can create interactive NetBoot menus, see:
Local server monitoring
Install the following services:
Other services
File sharing
If you want to expose the NFS common folder as a file-share, you have to install and configure Samba. See: Samba server
Note
Samba is actually better than NFS for the file-share. You should remove Common from /etc/exports and use a samba share instead.
Management UI (webmin)
Since there is a lot of services to manage, it's always convenient to use an UI for it. Check Webmin
VPN server
See VPN
Apache2 server
See Apache 2
References
Ubuntu diskless how-to: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DisklessUbuntuHowto
Mind reference: http://mindref.blogspot.se/2011/03/debian-diskless.html
Super video tutorials:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9imsrqAMk
- http://www.stepladder-it.com/bivblog/14/ to /16/
- https://blog.dlasley.net/2013/01/pxe-server-ubuntu/
Nice explanation of PXE process: http://www.linux.com/learn/docs/ldp/497-Diskless-root-NFS-HOWTO
- How to improved /etc/fstab: http://www.askapache.com/optimize/super-speed-secrets.html
