We are installing a group of stand-alone RHEL 7.1.3 servers for a new application in our environment. We are new to RHEL and would like to know what is the best way to clone the OS once we have the 1st install in the LAB with all the apps installed and passed all security checks. From there we'd like to clone the image on the other machines. Preferably a method that can also recreate exact partitions (this is desired, but not necessary). Also would be nice to setup a kickstart server with image.
Many thanks in advance for suggestions/solutions. And please let me know if you have any questions.
When it comes to cloning / DR / bare metal type activities, I always suggest Linux, AIX and Solaris Backup and System Recovery Software as a good place to start. Costs depend on your setup, but you can have a play with the demo to see how you like the tools. It allows for network and disk layout changes in the restore step so you can correct poor practice (e.g. one huge root filesystem) and clone, safe in the knowledge that you can avoid IP conflicts the first time it boots. You can clone to & from physical or virtual servers as required. You can choose to include the application & data or not, but if you rely on a 3rd party backup tool for these, make sure it is part of the root volume group you clone.
Install everything i need in lab (the OS and packages).
You want to maintain a list of what you did.
Do everything from repositories, local repositories best.
Install everything you need using yum or yum localinstall.
Once you have completed the OS install and all the packages, create a kickstart file from it.
Using kickstart you can define disk layout, hostname, network configuration, packages to install (from list you took) and post install stuff (wget something or whatever ).
Play with it until you achieve perfect install, then just PXE a new environment using that kickstart file with minute changes over numerous protocols (http, tftp etc.) and local repositories.
If you upgrade or patch, remember to review and test the installation using kickstart file.
So it's not actually a clone, but a fresh system with everything you require.