[ale] "easiest" way to clone setup from one machine to another across a network

[James Sumners]

You can boot both machines with a bootable disc such as SysRescueCD
(http://www.sysresccd.org/) and clone the configured machine to the
unconfigured machine over the network like so:

1) On the unconfigured machine partition the hard drive and apply the
desired file system (ext2/3, reiserfs, etc.). Mount the partitions.
2) On the unconfigured machine run `nc -l -p 5000 | tar xvf -` from
the "root" of the machine's filesystem.
3) On the configured machine, mount the partitions and run `tar xvf -
/mnt/mount_point/ | nc 192.168.1.3 5000`.

Sit back and wait.

I like this method best because it is basically just copying files.
tar just gives you some error checking on the receiving end. You could
pipe cp if you really wanted.

On 9/10/06, Preston Boyington <preston.lists at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have two identical machines and I want the same software installed
> on both (initially anyway).
>
> I was wondering if there was an easier way to do it other than first
> partitioning both, installing on one, taring the directories, and then
> untaring them on the victu--- err "guest" machine.
>
> I am about to start my own bit of detective work after the install,
> but thought I would get some ideas / experiences from others that
> probably do this more often than I.
>
> Should it matter, these are Toshiba Satellite A105-s2101 laptops and I
> run Debian on everything because I don't want to expend the energy to
> get used to anything else.  ;-)
>
> Thanks folks,
> Preston
> _______________________________________________
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> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>


-- 
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59