[debian-lan-devel] Customization of Skolelinux

[Andreas B. Mundt]

Hi Franklin,

On Tue, Mar 04, 2014 at 02:49:57PM +0800, Franklin Weng wrote:
>
> 2014-03-03 1:00 GMT+08:00 Andreas B. Mundt
> >
> > > In the bootstrap page https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLAN/bootstrap and CD
> > > creation https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLAN/bootstrap/wheezy  it told me
> > > that we need to install a FAI server first.  I don't quite understand the
> > > steps to deploy the whole system in a computer classroom.  For example,
> > if
> > > I want to use Debian-LAN as our base system, do I have to install a pure
> > > mini debian system first, install fai server, then debian-lan system?
> >
> > You can use two different approaches:  Either start with a minimal
> > Debian (Debian installler, nothing checked in the tasks selection) and
> > convert this installation to the mainserver (which contains a faiserver).
> >
> > Or you can prepare a CD from which you can install the mainserver.
> > Cf.
> > http://anonscm.debian.org/gitweb/?p=collab-maint/debian-lan.git;a=blob;f=debian/README.Debian
> >
> > Once the mainserver is operational, all other machines in the network
> > are installed via PXE-boot from the mainserver (which, as I said
> > above, contains the faiserver).
> >
> > So for example if you want to serve several schools, you would prepare
> > a CD which you probably want to customize and optimize first for your
> > needs and then you take this CD to each school to install the
> > mainserver.  After that all machines in the network can already boot a
> > debian-lan live system via PXE-boot from the mainserver and you can
> > install the clients at the same time. (You get a menu at PXE-boot
> > where you can choose "install" or "live-system").
> >
> >
> I failed to install mainserver (I sent the kernel panic message in another
> thread in mailing list) and hence could not test yet.
>
> Did you mean that, if I install the debian-lan main server, the client
> would boot from PxE and could choose to "boot a live system" or to "install
> a standalone workstation"?  If I choose to boot a live system, it would act
> like a diskless workstation, right?  Please correct if I'm wrong.
>

Yes, if you choose  "boot a live system" it's like a diskless
workstation (but not monitored in icinga/munin as it's the case for
diskless workstations added 'officially' to the setup).

You can also choose to install a 'roaming workstation' or standard
Debian.  To install a normal workstation, you have to add the machine
on the mainserver with the command 'debian-lan add2dhcp' as a
'workstation', after that it will be installed after booting via PXE.
(Cf. <URL:https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLAN/Setup_A#User_and_Machine_Management>

Best regards,

     Andi