From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Mar 26 19:14:34 2012 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 480521065677 for ; Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:14:34 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bc979@lafn.org) Received: from zoom.lafn.org (zoom.lafn.org [108.92.93.123]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E77D68FC22 for ; Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:14:33 +0000 (UTC) Received: from [10.0.1.2] (pool-96-229-186-65.lsanca.fios.verizon.net [96.229.186.65]) (authenticated bits=0) by zoom.lafn.org (8.14.3/8.14.2) with ESMTP id q2QIs6Up076271; Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:54:06 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from bc979@lafn.org) Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1257) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii From: Doug Hardie In-Reply-To: <201203261820.q2QIKaFt008532@dc.cis.okstate.edu> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:54:06 -0700 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message-Id: <8CB1037A-9843-48E2-9F10-27FDC7721EE3@lafn.org> References: <201203261820.q2QIKaFt008532@dc.cis.okstate.edu> To: Martin McCormick X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1257) X-Virus-Scanned: clamav-milter 0.97 at zoom.lafn.org X-Virus-Status: Clean Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Remote System Builds X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:14:34 -0000 On 26 March 2012, at 11:20, Martin McCormick wrote: > Is there yet any way to remotely rebuild a FreeBSD > system? I have two FreeBSD systems on two remote campuses that > presently run FreeBSD6.3. They need to be running FreeBSD9.0 and > I don't really care how I get there as long as it can be done > over the network. If we were physically there, I would put a > CDROM in and blow them away since it is such a large jump. >=20 > I can have staff members there install CDROM's that were > remastered to use the serial console, but I am hoping that maybe > we are moving past this sort of logistics. >=20 > I just tried to unpack the 9.0 image using tar which has > worked in the past to let one modify loader.conf but I got a > bunch of errors this time about files that couldn't be created > so maybe this is not the recommended headless installation > technique any longer. I am going to be facing the same issue in a few months. My experiences = with the serial console are that it is great for correcting small = issues, trying to use it for initial configuration is not going to be = real easy. I would like to be able to build a custom CD for that = specific machine that doesn't need any operator input. They just = install it and boot the machine. It would need to format the disk and do = the complete installation (base and uniquely configured ports etc.). Is = that possible?=