share_inst(1M)
share_inst, client_inst - diskless software installation tools
As shipped in IRIX 6.5. First release of IRIX 6.5.
NAME share_inst, client_inst - diskless software installation tools SYNOPSIS share_inst -r release [ -d ] client_inst -r release -c class -h host [ -d ] client_inst -r release -c class -h host -clone clone-root DESCRIPTION Share_inst and client_inst are tools that install the system software for diskless workstations. Share_inst installs the portion of the IRIX operating system that diskless workstations can share. This shared software is known as the share tree. A share tree can contain only one IRIX release; a separate share tree must be installed for each additional IRIX release that clients require. Client_inst installs the software that is used exclusively by an individual diskless client. This software, known as the client tree, contains the non-shareable portions of an IRIX release, such as configuration files and other private files that pertain only to a particular client. For each IRIX release, share_inst needs a parameter file, /var/boot/share.dat, to supply the necessary configuration information. Share.dat is a template file: /var/boot contains a working copy of share.dat for each IRIX release that the diskless server supports. The working copy of share.dat for a given share tree is assigned the name of the IRIX release that the share tree contains. Since share.dat is a shell script that is invoked from share_inst, it should always be executable. When modifying the file, a good practice is to change only the strings within the double quotes. share.dat contains the following variables: DISKLESS directory prefix for the share root, client root, and swap root SHARE directory name for share root SERVER_NIS indicates whether NIS is used for name lookups during installation. This option will not work with non-SGI NIS masters. The bootparam information which gets set in the SGI NIS master takes time to propogate back to the diskless server. The client.dat file performs that same function for client_inst as share.dat performs for share_inst. Client.dat contains parameters that configure a specific class or workstation architecture. The client.dat file contains the following variables: CLROOT directory name for client root SWAP name of the directory where the swap file will be created. The swap directory must be on the same server as client root. SWAPSIZE size of swap file. The default is set to 20 MB. NISDOMAIN NIS domain of client if the client's domain is different than the server's CPUARCH type of CPU architecture on clients in this class. If the supporting share tree is configured for this class of clients exclusively, this variable may be set in share.dat. CPUBOARD type of cpu board on the clients in this class. If the supporting share tree is configured for this class of clients exclusively, this variable may be set in share.dat. GFXBOARD type of graphics board on the clients in this class. If the supporting share tree is configured for this class of clients exclusively, this variable may be set in share.dat. MACH type of machine tag assigned to this clients in this class. If the supporting share tree is configured for this class of clients exclusively, this variable may be set in share.dat. VIDEO type of video option on clients in this class. If the supporting share tree is configured for this class of clients exclusively, this variable may be set in share.dat. Both share_inst and client_inst are shell scripts that call inst(1M) to perform the software installation. They also modify files, like /etc/fstab and /etc/hosts, in the resulting trees, so the diskless workstation can be brought up correctly. When share_inst creates the share tree, it populates the tree with the shareable files. By definition, files whose pathnames begin with /usr, /sbin, /lib, and /stand are shareable. When client_inst creates the client tree, it makes a swap file and modifies client boot parameters. It also exports necessary directories to the appropriate host. OPTIONS -r release Using release release. The file release.dat should exist in the /var/boot directory. -c class Using class class. The file class.dat should exist in the /var/boot directory. -h host Indicates the client tree is created for workstation named host. The host must be a valid hostname, i.e. it should have already been assigned an IP address. This parameter does not have any effect when creating the share tree. -clone clone-root Indicates that the client tree is to be created by cloning an existing client tree. clone-root is the full pathname of the source client tree. -d To remove the diskless tree. The default is to install the tree. EXAMPLE /var/boot/share_inst -r 5_1 will create a share tree for a specific release 5_1. The /var/boot/5_1.dat file should exist before you run the command. /var/boot/client_inst -r 5_1 -c 4D40 -h goldfinger will create a client tree for class 4D40 and machine goldfinger. The /var/boot/4D40.dat file should exist before you run the command. NOTE Please see the Diskless System Administration Guide for more details. This man page was not intended to give enough information to perform a complete install. The NFS release notes contain additional installation information not included in the guide. FILES /var/boot/share_inst Share tree install script /var/boot/share.dat Template for release.dat /var/boot/client_inst Client tree install script /var/boot/client.dat Template for class.dat SEE ALSO inst(1M), yp_bootparam(1M)