A base image is an image of all the partitions and data on a source computer's storage devices, such as hard disks and Jaz* drives. Normally, such an image is prepared with the intent to completely replace the contents of a target computer's storage devices.
The overall process to create a base image is:
The boot device or method can be PXE, diskettes, a CD, or a hard-disk partition.
You can do this manually or automatically. In manual mode, you interrupt the bootup process and issue an imaging command at the Linux* prompt. In automatic mode, you set a flag in the computer's Workstation object in NDS and then let the bootup process proceed without interruption.
The instructions you should follow to complete this process depend on the boot device and imaging mode you want to use, as summarized in the table below.
| Boot device or method / Imaging mode | For instructions, see |
|---|---|
diskettes / manual |
Manually Taking an Image of a Workstation in Testing Basic Imaging Operations in Workstation Imaging in Getting Started |
CD, partition, or PXE / manual |
Preparing an Imaging Boot Device or Method in Setting Up Workstations for Imaging in Workstation Imaging in Deployment |
any device / automatic |
Triggering an Unattended Imaging Operation in Testing Basic Imaging Operations in Workstation Imaging in Getting Started |