With the release of ZENworks 6.5 SP2, there are now two versions of the settings.txt file for the different zimgboot.exe utilities:
The settings.txt file contains parameters that control how the imaging boot-up process occurs.
Settings.txt is installed to the root of the imaging boot device (CD or DVD, hard-disk partition, the fifth diskette, or on the Imaging/Preboot Services server).
Settings.txt is a plain text file that contains various parameters, each on a separate line. Each parameter has the general format of PARAMETER=value. Lines that begin with a pound sign (#) are comments and are ignored during the imaging bootup process.
The format and function of each parameter in the settings.txt file are described in the following table:
| Parameter | Specifies |
|---|---|
PROMPT |
Specifies whether to prompt for each configuration setting when you boot a workstation from the imaging device. If you leave this parameter commented out or set it to No, the workstation boots using the configuration settings specified in settings.txt and you can't override the settings during bootup unless you type config at the boot prompt before the Linux operating system begins to load. If you set this parameter to Yes, you are automatically prompted for each configuration setting during bootup. |
PARTITIONSIZE |
The number of megabytes to allocate to the ZENworks Desktop Management Workstation Imaging (Linux) partition if you choose to create one locally on a workstation when you boot the workstation from the imaging device. The default size is 150 MB. The minimum partition size is 50 MB. The maximum size allowed is 2048 MB (2 GB). If you plan to store an image in the ZENworks Desktop Management imaging partition, such as to enable the workstation to be restored to a certain state without connecting to the network, you might want to specify a larger size on this parameter. Example: PARTITIONSIZE=500 |
IPADDR |
The IP address used by a workstation to communicate on the network when you boot the workstation from the imaging device, if a static IP address is needed. Example: IPADDR=137.65.95.126 If you want DHCP to be used, leave this and the next two parameters commented. |
GATEWAY |
The IP address of the gateway (router) to be used by the workstation, if the workstation is using a static IP address. Example: GATEWAY=137.65.95.254 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
NETMASK |
The subnet mask to be used by the workstation, if the workstation is using a static IP address. Example: NETMASK=255.255.252.0 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
DNSDOMAINSUFFIX |
The list of DNS domain suffixes to be used to identify connections used by this workstation. Use a space to separate entries. Example: DNSDOMAINSUFFIX=example.novell.com example.xyz.org If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
DNSNAMESERVER |
The list of DNS name servers, by IP address, to use for resolving DNS domain names used on this workstation. Use a space to separate entries. Example: DNSNAMESERVER=123.45.6.7 123.45.6.9 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented out. |
PROXYADDR |
The IP address or full DNS name of the imaging (proxy) server to connect to when you boot a workstation from the imaging device in auto-imaging mode. Examples:
This parameter is used to set the PROXYADDR environment variable in Linux when the workstation is booted from the imaging device. The imaging engine then reads this variable to determine which server to contact if it's running in automatic mode. Whether it's running in automatic or manual mode, the imaging engine attempts to log the imaging results to the server specified in this variable. |
MANUALREBOOT |
Specifies whether to access the bash prompt to reboot a workstation manually after it was booted from the imaging device in automatic mode. (If the workstation was booted from the imaging device in manual mode, you must always reboot the workstation manually.) If you boot a workstation from the imaging device and you let the bootup process proceed in automatic mode, the imaging engine starts and checks the imaging server to see if an imaging operation should be performed on the workstation. If so, it performs the imaging operation and then quits. If not, it quits without doing anything. What happens next depends on how you set this parameter. If you leave it commented out or set it to No, you are prompted to remove the imaging device (such as the CD or diskette, if necessary) and press any key to reboot the workstation to the native operating system. If you set this parameter to Yes, the workstation doesn't reboot automatically but instead displays the Linux prompt, allowing you to perform additional imaging-related tasks using the Linux menu or at the command line. This is helpful if you want to do things like check the current partition information or the image-safe data before booting to the native operating system. Example: MANUALREBOOT=YES |
LANGDISK |
Specifies whether to prompt for a language diskette when you boot a workstation from the imaging device. Set this parameter to Yes only if the workstation has a non-English keyboard and you have created a language diskette to support that keyboard as explained in the F1 help for the Imaging Boot Disk Creator (Zimgboot.exe) utility. If you need to support a language that's not listed in the Imaging Boot Disk Creator utility, see Imaging Bootup Languages (Zimglang.ini). Example: LANGDISK=YES |
LOADADDITIONALDRIVERS |
Specifies whether to prompt for a diskette with a /drivers directory containing additional Linux device drivers. This is a way to add drivers that might not be included, or to update existing drivers. Example: LOADADDITIONALDRIVERS=YES The location of the driver on the diskette depends on the type of driver. For example, a network driver would be in /drivers/kernel/drivers/net. There might also be a drivers.conf in the /drivers directory on the diskette that is used to configure the drivers in a specific way. For more information about adding or updating drivers, see Adding Linux Device Drivers. |
If you have problems obtaining an IP address for a workstation running dual NICs, put the following line in the settings.txt file:
export VALIDATE_NIC=$PROXYADDR
This line in the settings.txt file validates the NICs; you might notice a small performance decrease in the time it takes to obtain an IP address for the workstation.
The settings.txt file contains parameters that control how the imaging boot-up process occurs.
Settings.txt is installed to the root of the imaging boot device (CD or DVD, hard-disk partition, a blank diskette, or on the Imaging/Preboot Services server).
Settings.txt is a plain text file that contains various parameters, each on a separate line. Each parameter has the general format of PARAMETER=value. Lines that begin with a pound sign (#) are comments and are ignored during the imaging boot process.
You can edit this file manually in a text editor, manually using the Load Settings from Disk option in the zimgboot.exe utility, or by making configuration changes in the zimgboot.exe utility.
The format and function of each parameter in the settings.txt file are described in the following table:
| Parameter | Specifies |
|---|---|
MANUALREBOOT |
Whether you must reboot a workstation manually after it was booted from the imaging device in automatic mode. (If the workstation was booted from the imaging device in manual mode, you must always reboot the workstation manually.) If you boot a workstation from the imaging device and you let the boot process proceed in automatic mode, the imaging engine starts and checks the imaging server to see if an imaging operation should be performed on the workstation. If so, it performs the imaging operation and then quits. If not, it quits without doing anything. What happens next depends on how you set this parameter. If you leave it commented out or set it to No, you are prompted to remove the imaging device (if necessary) and press any key to reboot the workstation to the native operating system. If you set this parameter to Yes, the workstation doesn't reboot automatically but instead displays the Linux prompt, allowing you to perform additional imaging-related tasks using the Linux menu or at the command line. This is helpful if you want to do things like check the current partition information or the image-safe data before booting to the native operating system. Example: MANUALREBOOT=YES |
PARTITIONSIZE |
The number of megabytes to allocate to the ZENworks Desktop Management Workstation Imaging (Linux) partition if you choose to create one locally on a workstation when you boot the workstation from the imaging device. The default size is 150 MB. The minimum partition size is 50 MB. The maximum size allowed is 2048 MB (2 GB). If you plan to store an image in the ZENworks Desktop Management imaging partition, for example to enable the workstation to be restored to a certain state without connecting to the network, you might want to specify a larger size for this parameter. Example: PARTITIONSIZE=500 |
netsetup |
If you are using DHCP, keep this option enabled. If you are using a specific IP address, replace "dhcp" with "1" and uncomment and configure the other three IP address lines (HostIP, NETMASK, and GATEWAY). Example: netsetup=dhcp |
HostIP |
The IP address used by a device to communicate on the network when you boot the device from the imaging device, if a static IP address is needed. Example: HostIP=137.65.95.126 If you want DHCP to be used, leave this and the next two parameters commented. |
NETMASK |
The subnet mask to be used by the workstation, if the workstation is using a static IP address. Example: NETMASK=255.255.252.0 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
GATEWAY |
The IP address of the gateway (router) to be used by the workstation, if the workstation is using a static IP address. Example: GATEWAY=137.65.95.254 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
NAMESERVER |
The list of DNS name servers, by IP address, to use for resolving DNS domain names used on this workstation. Use a space to separate entries. Example: NAMESERVER=123.45.6.7 123.45.6.9 If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
DOMAIN |
The list of DNS domain suffixes to be used to identify connections used by this workstation. Use a space to separate entries. Example: DOMAIN=example.novell.com example.xyz.org If DHCP is being used, leave this parameter commented. |
PROXYADDR |
The IP address or full DNS name of the imaging (proxy) server to connect to when you boot a workstation from the imaging device in auto-imaging mode. Examples: PROXYADDR=137.65.95.127 This parameter is used to set the PROXYADDR environment variable in Linux when the workstation is booted from the imaging device. The imaging engine then reads this variable to determine which server to contact if it's running in automatic mode. Whether it's running in automatic or manual mode, the imaging engine attempts to log the imaging results to the server specified in this variable. |
export PS1="\`pwd \`#" |
Configures the string used by the bash shell. You can change the string by editing the text after the = symbol. The ' character is not a single quote mark, but is from the ~ key. |
export IMGCMD |
Use IMGCMD to alter the behavior of automated imaging. If this variable is defined as a script (or a series of commands), then that script (or those commands) are executed instead of the usual img auto command (see /bin/imaging.s). |
netdevice=eth0 |
Selects a specific network adapter. If necessary, replace eth0 with the correct interface. |
If you have problems obtaining an IP address for a workstation running dual NICs, put the following line in the settings.txt file:
export VALIDATE_NIC=$PROXYADDR
This line in the settings.txt file validates the NICs; you might notice a small performance decrease in the time it takes to obtain an IP address for the workstation.