Cloning servers allows users to apply patches, install or modify installed software on a managed server before propagating those changes to other servers.
After performing necessary maintenance tasks on one managed server, a cloning image can be collected from that server and deployed to other servers. This minimizes the time required for the software maintenance of multiple managed servers while preventing operation mistakes.
Using the network parameter auto-configuration function also enables automatic configuration of Public LAN settings for each cloned server. This is done by actually re-configuring the network interfaces used for the Public LAN following deployment of a cloning image.
Refer to "Chapter 8 Cloning [Windows/Linux]" of the "ServerView Resource Coordinator VE Setup Guide" for details on the cloning function.
Note
This function is disabled if ServerView Deployment Manager is used on the Admin LAN. Use the cloning function available in ServerView Deployment Manager instead. For more details, please refer to "Appendix H Co-Existence with ServerView Deployment Manager" of the "ServerView Resource Coordinator VE Setup Guide".
Software maintenance tasks performed using the cloning function only apply to servers that share the same hardware and software configuration.
Deployment of a cloning image will reset the VLAN settings used for the public LAN of each target server. Those settings should be restored either manually or automatically using the network parameter auto-setup function.
The following data will also be reset on the servers to which a cloning image is deployed. If necessary, this data should be manually backed up (copied) before deployment, and restore once complete.
OS system logs
Application settings and logs
This function is not available for servers running a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating system.
