Multicast Procedure

There are a couple of ways to conduct a multicast session. You can:

Either way, here's the overall procedure:

  1. (Optional) Install the ZfD imaging agent on each of the target computers.

    See Why Use Multicast? for the reasons and for further instructions.

  2. Create a set of ZfD imaging boot diskettes for each person who will assist with the multicast session.

    If you don't know how to do this yet, see Creating Imaging Boot Diskettes in Preparing for Basic Imaging Operations in Workstation Imaging in Getting Started.

  3. At each computer, including the master computer that you will clone, do the following to access a Linux prompt:

    1. Insert the first imaging diskette and reboot the computer.

    2. As soon as the boot prompt appears, type manual > press Enter.

      IMPORTANT:  Don't leave the computer unattended after booting it, or it will go into automatic mode and you won't be able to access the Linux prompt.

    3. When prompted for the second diskette, insert it > press Enter.

  4. At the Linux prompt of each computer, enter the following command to start the multicast session:

    img s session_name

    where session_name is any string that uniquely identifies this multicast session from other multicast sessions that might be in progress on the network. Use the same session name on each of the computers in this multicast session.

    Example: img s doug

  5. At the master computer, type m > press Enter.

  6. At the master computer, after all the other computers have registered as slaves, type g > press Enter.

    The imaging engine begins creating the image of the master computer. Once the image is done, it is sent to and laid down on each slave computer. Any problems are reported back and displayed on the master computer.

  7. At each slave computer, when the imaging is done, do the following to boot the computer with the new operating system:

    1. At the Linux prompt, type export IMGSUCCESS=1 > press Enter.

      IMPORTANT:  This command is case-sensitive.

    2. At the Linux prompt, type lilo.s > press Enter.

    3. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

      HINT:  If the computer doesn't boot to the new operating system (that is, if the Linux prompt reappears), enter the lilo.s command again and reboot the computer a second time.

The img s command can take other parameters that allow you to designate the master computer and the imaging start time beforehand. See Imaging Engine (img Command) for details.