This section reviews tasks required to prepare the Administration Server tasks to build client images with ImageBuilder.
This task is required for all Administration Servers where you want to build images. You can copy the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs using either POSCDTool or POSCopyTool.
This task is required only if you are maintaining the product CDs in another directory structure-for example, if you store the product CDs on an NFS server to provide a single point of installation for Administration and Branch Servers throughout your network. You must use POSCDTool to link the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs.
This task is required only if you have multiple Administration Servers where you want to build images and you want to mount the servers to a single distribution directory rather than copy the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs to each server. You must use POSCDTool to mount the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs.
This task is required for all Administration Servers where you want to build images. You can manually generate the AdminServer.conf or Distribution.xml files with POSCDTool. POSCopyTool automatically generates these files after completing the copy procedure.
We recommend you verify the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs are available in the distribution directories before you try to build an image. You can manually verify the CD availability with POSCDTool. POSCopyTool automatically verifies CD availability after completing the copy procedure.
POSCDTool and POSCopyTool copy the RPM software packages used to build NLD-based client images to the following distribution directory structure:
NOTE:The following bullet list shows the NLD CDs in the default distribution directory structure, /opt/SLES/POS/dist.
POSCDTool and POSCopyTool copy the RPM software packages used to build SLES-based POSBranch images to the following distribution directory structure:
NOTE:The following bullet list shows the SLES CDs in the default distribution directory structure, /opt/SLES/POS/dist.
NOTE:POSBranch images can only be generated with the xscr tool. For more information, see Section 10.2, Building POSBranch Images.
After you copy the CDs using POSCDTool or POSCopyTool, ImageBuilder can use the copied files to build images.
The copy command syntax for POSCDTool is as follows:
poscdtool.pl --copy [--type=cd|dir] --source=source_media [--dest=distribution_directory]
For example, the following command copies the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs from a CD source to the default distribution directory, opt/SLES/POS/dist/:
poscdtool.pl --copy --source=/media/cdrom
The copy command syntax for POSCopyTool is as follows:
poscopytool.pl --source=path
For example:
poscopytool.pl --source=/media/dvd
When you use POSCopyTool, it performs the following functions:
ImageBuilder cannot access the RPMs on the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs unless they are stored in the distribution file structure.
Under the destination directory, ImageBuilder requires that the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs be archived in distribution directories (NLD, SLES, SLRS). Within each of the distribution directories are revision directories (FCS, SP1, SP2, and so forth). Under each revision directory are CD directories (CD1, CD2, and so forth).
If you are maintaining the product CDs in another directory structure—for example, if you store the product CDs on an NFS server to provide a single point of installation for Administration and Branch Servers throughout your network—you must link the source CDs to the distribution file structure.
IMPORTANT:This option is required only if the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs are not archived in the distribution file structure. If you copy the CDs using POSCDTool, the CDs are automatically copied to the distribution file structure.
The link command syntax is as follows:
poscdtool.pl --link --source=source_media [--dest=distribution_directory]
For example, the following command links the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs from a CD source on an NFS server to the default distribution directory, /opt/SLES/POS/dist/:
poscdtool.pl --link --source=/nfs/cd
This command links the CDs on the NFS server to the default distribution directory, opt/SLES/POS/dist/.
If you have multiple Administration Servers where you want to build images, you can mount a single distribution directory on each server rather than copying the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs to each server.
The mount command syntax is as follows:
poscdtool.pl --mount --source=mount_source [--dest=distribution_directory]
For example, the following command mounts the default distribution directory on an Administration Server to one on another Administration Server:
poscdtool.pl --mount --source=adminserver1:/hd1
The AdminServer.conf and Distribution.xml files define the paths to the distribution directories where you have copied the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs. ImageBuilder searches these paths to locate the RPM packages required to build images.
AdminServer.conf is used by scr. This ASCII, line-based file is located at etc/opt/SLES/POS/. For more information on the AdminServer.conf file structure and contents, see Section 8.2.2, AdminServer.conf.
The Distribution.xml document is used by xscr. By default, the Distribution.xml document is located in /opt/SLES/POS/system/templates/. For information on the Distribution.xml elements and attributes, see Section 9.2.3, Distribution Source Document (Distribution.xml).
Upon completion of the copy procedure, POSCopyTool automatically generates the AdminServer.conf and Distribution.xml files.
If necessary, you can use the following syntax to manually generate AdminServer.conf and Distribution.xml with POSCDTool (type the command all on one line):
poscdtool.pl --generate [--type=conf|xml] [--source=distribution_directory] [--dest=output_path] [--imageclass=NLD|SLES]
For example, the following command generates both AdminServer.conf and Distribution.xml using the default distribution directory. Distribution.xml is defined with both the NLD and SLES image classes and the document is saved to the default output path, /opt/SLES/POS/system/template/. The final AdminServer.conf file is saved to the default output path, /opt/SLES/POS/.
poscdtool.pl --generate
The following command uses the default distribution directory structure to create only the AdminServer.conf file in the default output path, /etc/opt/SLES/POS/.
poscdtool.pl --generate --type=conf
The following command uses the default distribution directory structure to create only the Distribution.xml document with the SLES image class. The document is saved to the default output path, /opt/SLES/POS/system/template/.
poscdtool.pl --generate --type=xml --imageclass=SLES
After all the initial configuration is complete, it is recommended that you verify the Novell Linux Point of Service CDs are available in the distribution directories before you try to build an image.
Upon completion of the copy procedure, POSCopyTool automatically verifies the source CDs were correctly copied to the distribution directory.
Use the following syntax to manually verify the source CDs with POSCDTool:
poscdtool.pl --verify [--source=distribution_directory]
[--imageclass=NLD|SLES]
For example, the following command verifies the both the SLES and NLD source files are available in the default distribution directory, /opt/SLES/POS/dist/:
poscdtool.pl --verify
The following command verifies only the NLD source files are available in /opt/SLES/POS/dist/:
poscdtool.pl --verify --imageclass=NLD