Diskless Remote Boot in Linux

DRBL ( Diskless Remote Boot in Linux ) is a NFS-/NIS-Server which provides an installation environment for single-user computer.

Scope

DRBL can be used for

  • Duplicating (cloning ) of machines with the included Clonezilla
  • A network installation of Linux distributions such as Fedora, Debian, etc.
  • The provision of a small operating system via PXE (or similar), such as DSL, Puppy Linux, FreeDOS, etc.

All use is either

  • As the server variant of installation on a supported system using the provided installation script,
  • Or without installation from a live CD.

Installation is possible for machines with an already installed Debian, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Red Hat Linux, Fedora, CentOS or SuSE. Unlike LTSP, it does not use a centralized approach, but also allows the workstations using local hardware resources. It also includes Clonezilla, a partitioning and disk cloning tool similar to Symantec Ghost.

DRBL is provided under the terms of the GPL license, thus allowing the user the ability to easily customize for your needs.

Properties

DRBL support in two main areas: Disk Cloning and hybrid client.

Disk Cloning

Clonezilla (included in DRBL ) used partimage to copy only the disk space used and gzip to compress the result. The stored image can then be restored later on multiple machines simultaneously. To this end, multicast packets are used, and thus considerably reduces the time required to recover on many computers. The DRBL Live CD allows these activities without installation by the server from the CD is first operated and PXE boot the remaining jobs.

Hybrid client

The use of old hardware as thin clients is a good solution, but has some disadvantages, which does not have a hybrid client.

  • Streaming Audio / Video - The terminal server must decode first, then encode it again and then send the video over the network to the workplace. A hybrid decodes the data locally and can thus exploit the possibilities of the graphics card to accelerate.
  • Software that provides real- time inputs needed - Since all entries of a thin client over the network to the terminal server must be sent, it may here be a delay. This is a big problem for software that requires a quick response to inputs (eg, video games). Hybrid jobs process the programs locally and thus created not the problem.

DRBL allows for quick and easy placement of several hybrid clients.

How it works

For the operation of a DRBL server is required, which can be done without installation via the provided live CD. However, this variant allows only minor adjustments to their own needs and is therefore recommended only for a first test mode. Permanently the operation should be done as a server Edition (SE). This is provided as an installation script that is present for a well named list of distributions. First, one of the distributions listed is installed and then run the DRBL installation script. Configures the system for operation as DRBL server.

The workstation boots from the network using PXE. He obtains an IP address and uses TFTP to load the operating system and the initial RAM disk from DRBL. The work draws its root partition ( "/") via NFS from the DRBL server. After that, the work boots either the local Linux distribution, Clonezilla or the installation procedure of the various Linux distributions, depending on the setting on the DRBL server.

All system resources are available in the workplace, with the exception of the disk space that comes from the DRBL server.

Key points for a successful hybrid work with DRBL

The key point in a DRBL installation is the cooperation between the DRBL server and the workstation. A faster and safer disk space (RAID ) and a fast network connection ( Gigabit) are ideal for this type of operation.

Network File System Network Information Service Linux Terminal Server Project Preboot Execution Environment initrd
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