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Posted to users@cloudstack.apache.org by Len Bellemore <Le...@ControlCircle.com> on 2013/04/26 15:17:10 UTC

baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Guys,

Anyone know if it's possible to do baremetal/pxe booting of instances?

Say, I have a "dummy" template that calls a pxe server when it boots.  It would then pull down a server image depending on some criteria (actually not sure how I would do this bit.)

This would save me from having to maintain a template for every different OS type that I want to offer to my users

Thanks
Len

RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Posted by Geoff Higginbottom <ge...@shapeblue.com>.

HI Len,

I think I may have misread your original question,  Oliver's use case is to enable the cloud provider to only have to maintain 1 Template per OS, and then use Puppet to deploy additional software on top of the base Template.

You do still have to maintain a Template for say Windows Standard, and a separate Template for Windows Datacenter etc.

By using this approach you could have every Windows and Linux OS Base Template available to end users, which is still a very manageable number of Templates, and then rely on Puppet to add additional roles and features etc.

You would still be able to use the usage data to track which VM is using which Base Template and charge accordingly, assuming your charges only differ based on the OS, and not additional software installed on the VM.

Regards

Geoff Higginbottom

D: +44 20 3603 0542 | S: +44 20 3603 0540 | M: +447968161581

geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Len Bellemore [mailto:Len.Bellemore@ControlCircle.com]
Sent: 26 April 2013 15:24
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for that.

What is also influencing my thinking is the way that the usage engine tracks which operating system the customer is using.  If I want to charge more for a Windows Datacenter edition vs Windows Standard, don't I need to make sure that the customer is deploying from a Datacenter vs Standard template so that the usage engine knows which OS they are using?

If I deploy a base template, and then configure it after the fact, the usage engine doesn't have a view on which template (and associated OS) they are using.

Cheers
Len

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Higginbottom [mailto:geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com]
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:46
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Len,

A 'better' way if doing this is to use a base template, which just consists of the OS, say CentOS, then use Puppet to tell each VM what it will be and configure any additional software etc.

Oliver Leach gave a talk at the last CloudStack European User Group on this very topic, and his slide deck can be found here http://www.shapeblue.com/2013/04/16/cloudstack-european-user-group-meeting/

Regards

Geoff Higginbottom

D: +44 20 3603 0542 | S: +44 20 3603 0540 | M: +447968161581

geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Len Bellemore [mailto:Len.Bellemore@ControlCircle.com]
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:17
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Guys,

Anyone know if it's possible to do baremetal/pxe booting of instances?

Say, I have a "dummy" template that calls a pxe server when it boots.  It would then pull down a server image depending on some criteria (actually not sure how I would do this bit.)

This would save me from having to maintain a template for every different OS type that I want to offer to my users

Thanks
Len
This email and any attachments to it may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Shape Blue Ltd or related companies. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must neither take any action based upon its contents, nor copy or show it to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. Shape Blue Ltd is a company incorporated in England & Wales. ShapeBlue Services India LLP is operated under license from Shape Blue Ltd. ShapeBlue is a registered trademark.


This email and any attachments to it may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Shape Blue Ltd or related companies. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must neither take any action based upon its contents, nor copy or show it to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. Shape Blue Ltd is a company incorporated in England & Wales. ShapeBlue Services India LLP is operated under license from Shape Blue Ltd. ShapeBlue is a registered trademark.

RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Posted by Len Bellemore <Le...@ControlCircle.com>.

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for that. 

What is also influencing my thinking is the way that the usage engine tracks which operating system the customer is using.  If I want to charge more for a Windows Datacenter edition vs Windows Standard, don't I need to make sure that the customer is deploying from a Datacenter vs Standard template so that the usage engine knows which OS they are using?

If I deploy a base template, and then configure it after the fact, the usage engine doesn't have a view on which template (and associated OS) they are using.  

Cheers
Len

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Higginbottom [mailto:geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com] 
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:46
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Len,

A 'better' way if doing this is to use a base template, which just consists of the OS, say CentOS, then use Puppet to tell each VM what it will be and configure any additional software etc.

Oliver Leach gave a talk at the last CloudStack European User Group on this very topic, and his slide deck can be found here http://www.shapeblue.com/2013/04/16/cloudstack-european-user-group-meeting/

Regards

Geoff Higginbottom

D: +44 20 3603 0542 | S: +44 20 3603 0540 | M: +447968161581

geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Len Bellemore [mailto:Len.Bellemore@ControlCircle.com]
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:17
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Guys,

Anyone know if it's possible to do baremetal/pxe booting of instances?

Say, I have a "dummy" template that calls a pxe server when it boots.  It would then pull down a server image depending on some criteria (actually not sure how I would do this bit.)

This would save me from having to maintain a template for every different OS type that I want to offer to my users

Thanks
Len
This email and any attachments to it may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Shape Blue Ltd or related companies. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must neither take any action based upon its contents, nor copy or show it to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. Shape Blue Ltd is a company incorporated in England & Wales. ShapeBlue Services India LLP is operated under license from Shape Blue Ltd. ShapeBlue is a registered trademark.

RE: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Posted by Geoff Higginbottom <ge...@shapeblue.com>.

Hi Len,

A 'better' way if doing this is to use a base template, which just consists of the OS, say CentOS, then use Puppet to tell each VM what it will be and configure any additional software etc.

Oliver Leach gave a talk at the last CloudStack European User Group on this very topic, and his slide deck can be found here http://www.shapeblue.com/2013/04/16/cloudstack-european-user-group-meeting/

Regards

Geoff Higginbottom

D: +44 20 3603 0542 | S: +44 20 3603 0540 | M: +447968161581

geoff.higginbottom@shapeblue.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Len Bellemore [mailto:Len.Bellemore@ControlCircle.com]
Sent: 26 April 2013 14:17
To: users@cloudstack.apache.org
Subject: baremetal / pxe booting of instances

Hi Guys,

Anyone know if it's possible to do baremetal/pxe booting of instances?

Say, I have a "dummy" template that calls a pxe server when it boots.  It would then pull down a server image depending on some criteria (actually not sure how I would do this bit.)

This would save me from having to maintain a template for every different OS type that I want to offer to my users

Thanks
Len
This email and any attachments to it may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Shape Blue Ltd or related companies. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you must neither take any action based upon its contents, nor copy or show it to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. Shape Blue Ltd is a company incorporated in England & Wales. ShapeBlue Services India LLP is operated under license from Shape Blue Ltd. ShapeBlue is a registered trademark.