The Automation Hour - 11
Presenters
Section titled âPresentersâ- DVJD
Live Demo Introduction
Section titled âLive Demo Introductionâ(3:42) Martin Tønnesen introduced David, who presented a work-in-progress live demo on VMware deployment of a physical service. David mentioned that the demo is almost production-ready and highlighted the challenges faced during testing.
Zero Touch Installation
Section titled âZero Touch Installationâ(5:12) David explained the zero-touch installation process, which involves collecting information, removing old data, creating new disks, and installing the operating system without any manual intervention. The process uses customized installation DVDs for each server.
Deployment Script
Section titled âDeployment Scriptâ(8:27) David demonstrated the deployment script, which collects information such as server name, operating system, IP address, and IPMI network details. The script then starts the deployment process automatically.
Deployment Network
Section titled âDeployment Networkâ(9:35) David connected to the deployment network and explained the use of IP addresses instead of names. He showed the script in action, deploying multiple servers simultaneously.
Physical Server Deployment
Section titled âPhysical Server Deploymentâ(12:46) David discussed the challenges of deploying physical servers, including the need to remove old data, create new disks, and handle multiple reboots. He emphasized the importance of automation to save time and effort.
IPMI Network
Section titled âIPMI Networkâ(16:45) David explained the IPMI network, which allows managing servers without any power or network connection. The IPMI network is used to connect to the server, mount the customized DVD, and start the installation process.
Deployment Process
Section titled âDeployment Processâ(17:43) David provided an overview of the deployment process, including the creation of custom operating system images, deployment part files, and the use of IPMI network for installation. He highlighted the advantages of this approach over traditional PXE networks.
Deployment Progress
Section titled âDeployment Progressâ(22:58) David monitored the deployment progress, showing the status of various servers being deployed. He addressed questions and suggestions from participants, including the possibility of skipping certain steps to save time.
HP Server Deployment
Section titled âHP Server Deploymentâ(24:32) David attempted to deploy HP servers using the same process, demonstrating the flexibility of the deployment system. He discussed the differences between Dell and HP servers and the need for specific configurations.
Deployment Server Configuration
Section titled âDeployment Server Configurationâ(44:07) David explained the configuration of the deployment server, including the use of IIS to host ISO files and the creation of custom installation media. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and updating the deployment server.
Future Plans
Section titled âFuture Plansâ(44:50) David and the team discussed future plans for the deployment system, including the possibility of using content libraries and automating the deployment of clusters. They also considered the need for firewall openings and the potential for remote deployments.
Deployment Completion
Section titled âDeployment Completionâ(45:22) David confirmed the successful deployment of multiple servers, demonstrating their functionality and readiness for use. He highlighted the benefits of automation and the potential for further improvements.
Q&A Session
Section titled âQ&A Sessionâ(50:52) David addressed questions from participants, including the need for specific hardware models, driver management, and the importance of maintaining consistency in hardware and software configurations.
Closing Remarks
Section titled âClosing Remarksâ(56:41) Martin Tønnesen thanked David for the impressive demo and encouraged participants to reach out with any further questions or suggestions. The meeting concluded with well wishes for the weekend.