Cluster Checker Training

1. Cluster Checker Training Installations and Rebuilds

2. Introduction The ICT Service Desk currently supports 15 clusters dispersed across the faculty. In order that the computers in these clusters may be kept in good working condition it is sometimes necessary to carry out a process of ‘re-imaging’ these machines to restore them to a stable state. This process completely wipes all data from the machines and sets them up with a standard set of applications.

3. Introduction It is also the procedure carried out when setting up new staff machines from scratch. There are currently two imaging CDs in circulation, one for cluster machines, one for staff machines. It is important that the correct one is used. The procedure described below is ‘Stage 1’. Staff machines are further customised with additional applications and staff requirements during the ‘stage 2’ process.

4. Imaging a machine

5. Prerequisites: Disconnect all printers, scanners, and other devices from the computer (usually only applicable to staff machines)

6. Step 1 Boot the machine from the CLIP 4 cluster boot CD. Note this MUST be the Staff CD not that used for cluster machines. Potential problem – The machine may not be set up to boot from the CD-ROM drive first. If this is the case the boot sequence must be altered in the BIOS to make the CD-ROM the first drive looked at during the boot up. (F2 to enter the BIOS)

7. Step 2 Choose menu option: Public cluster install. The machine will create a ZEN partition and carry out some initialisation. Remove the CD when prompted, and reboot the machine.

8. Step 3 Press escape [Esc] immediately after the Dell boot up screen. This loads the Zen interface displaying various options. DO NOT select any of these.

9. Step 4 Type ‘p’ (without the quotes) and enter the password when requested.

10. Step 5 Select Zen interactive. Hit enter, this will cause the BASH prompt to appear after a short delay. Potential problem – sometimes during this step the BASH prompt appears but further keyboard input does not appear on screen, in which case you will have to reboot the machine and start again from Step 3, until keyboard input is accepted at the BASH prompt.

11. Step 6 At the BASH prompt clear any current configuration by typing: zisedit –r

12. Step 7 Name the computer. To do this type zisedit n=BB-RRRRRXX according to the following convention: BB = Building Code. E.G., Lime Grove is LG RRRRRR = Room or Cluster Number. Example, the cluster on the second floor of the West wing in room 2.19 would be W219 XX = Computer number. Example, the third machine in the room according to its position would be 03

13. Step 7 continued So the name given to this machine would be LG-0W21903 Note: The name MUST have 10 characters. If it does not, pad the name with zeros immediately after the hyphen to bring its length to 10. Also note, the hyphen between the Building Code and the room number is a necessary part of the name.

14. Step 8 To check the configuration type zisview. This displays the machine name as well as some other configuration information.

15. Step 9 Delete any existing partition. If this is a completely new machine there will be no partitions yet created. Type img pd1 Note, this will display the disk size which is useful for the next step. Also note, commands are case sensitive.

16. Step 10 Create a new NTFS partition Type img pc1 ntfs nnnnn A bar will be displayed with the message ‘preformatting ntfs partition’ Note the value of nnnnn given here sets the partition size in GB. Set the value to the maximum possible. The value can be found from step 9. A typical value would be 76000.

17. Step 11 Set the machine imaging by typing the following command: img rp image.ds.man.ac.uk //uk-ac-man-image-fs1/images/zen/clip4core22.zmg a1:p1;grub.s; img rp image.ds.man.ac.uk //uk-ac-man-image-fs1/images/zen/clip4hum.zmg a1:p1;grub.s;init

18. This sets the imaging process going, visible as a large coloured bar on-screen, and taking about 1 ½ hours to complete. After the process has successfully completed the standard University CLIP login will be displayed, and the machine is ready for ‘Stage 2’ setup.

19. Note: Every year a new CLIP image is produced so the above command line may change with respect to the version number. So clip4core22.zmg may change to clip45coreXX.zmg for the latest image.

20. Additional Information Where do I pick up installation jobs from? All installation requests should come to the Service Desk located in Lime Grove W1.19.

21. The user needs to fill in a request for installation form; these are placed in a tray behind the desk. The installation form contains information necessary for the second stage of installation such as any software required and customisation of the machine once the first stage has been completed. For this reason it is very important that there is co-ordination between first and second stage staff involved in setting up a user’s machine.

22. The NIC database. The NIC database contains a record of the MAC address associated with each machine corresponding (1–to–1) with the IP address assigned to each machine. Every new machine need to be registered in the NIC database before it will login to the network. A member of the service desk team should register a new machine based on correct entry of the MAC address from the installation form, before the installation process is attempted.

23. If this has not been done the installation process will NOT succeed.

24. Location of new machines Ideally machines should be delivered to the user’s office and so be ready for installation. However there is a storeroom located in Lime Grove, South Lower Ground floor which is sometimes used as an intermediate holding place for new machines. Please see service desk team for access.