Thursday February 10, 2005

Another tool in the lab the jumpstart tool

Today I am writing about the tool we use to install an operating system onto our lab systems. We call this tool js_config.

It allows us to install on any Sun platform any of the Solaris or the Linux releases we support. Engineers can pick the release they want and of course we have all the 'dated' Solaris releases like 9-904, 9-404 and so on. We also pull new builds of the current Solaris being developed for testing etc.

Although Solaris jumpstart offers the ability to do hands off installs we need to do more than just this. Often we get an explorer file of a system and we need to match it exactley patch for patch, add on packages etc. The tool we have does this. We have a enormous filesystem, just under a terabyte that stores every revision of Sun patches from the year dot. The engineers just point the explorer data to js_config and do a boot net - install and let it get on with it.

Js_config also rebuilds Solstice logical volume manager or Veritas Volumes as per the explorer data when asked to do so. It allows specific Solaris package clusters to be installed and also select and size the boot disk.

Now we support a larger x86 platform base we also have to support the PXE boot found on the newer x86 boxes we sell. Js_config also sets up up other things for the engineers like name service, xntpd and other lab localalisations like ipv6. Finally (although I not have gone through all the options ) it also supports the use of optional post processing for specific customisations engineers wish to do.

The good news is that all Solution centre labs now use this common tool and other Sun customer support groups. Which will hopefully mean more Request For Enhancements so we can continue to make this tool do more and turn around customer issues even faster than we do now.

Road hogs time to give way...

During my drive to work I pass through many towns and villages. Not surprisingly a lot of these roads have cars or other obstructions on them. When I was taught to drive when I met an obstruction I was to wait until the other side of the road was clear and then pass by the obstruction. It appears that this old fashioned politeness is now no longer part of road etiquette.

Very often when I see an obstruction on the other side of the road and as I approach it a vehicle on that side of the road will barge his way through and then wave a thanks for me letting them pass! Sometimes they will even speed up to ensure they get past before I get to that part of the road. Driving through Hurst the other day two cars barged through and were then followed by a lorry. The driver of the lorry looked down at me as I was gesticulating. Next time I will give them the single finger salute F1 drivers do...