HP XC System Software Installation Guide Version 2.1

H
Customizing Client Node Disks
Use the information in this appendix to custom ize the d isk partition layout on client node disk
devices. The following topics are described:
• An overview of the client node im aging process and customizing disk partit ions on client
nodes (Section H.1)
• Dynamic disk configuration process (Section H.2)
• Static disk configuration process (Section H.3)
H.1 Overview
The XC client node imaging process requires a single system disk on each client node on which
the operating system is installed. Client node disk devices are partitioned automatically as part
of the automated client imaging process. The default disk partition layout for client disks i s
shown in Table 4-3.
HP does not recommend creating user data partitions on the client system disk that contains the
operating system because the system disk is subject to a complete recreation (new partitions
and n ew file systems) during the imaging installation process. HP recommends that you use a
separate disk device on client systems where user data is required. Non-system disk d evices are
not subject to recreation a s part of the imaging installation process.
This appendix describes two methods to modify client disks:
• Dynamic disk configuration
Dynamic d isk configuration identifies the actual client disk device type and size
during the actual au toinstallatio n operation. Identification is based on a list of possible
disk architectures supported within an XC system configuration. With one master
autoinstallation script, an y supported di sk device can be automatically configured (with
partitions and f il e system s) based on dynamic logic to identify disk type and size, using the
default partition layout based on a percentage of disk size. Dynam ic disk c onfigu ration is
the default method used during the X C imaging installation .
See Section H.2 for details about using the dynamic configuration procedure to customize
your client disk partitions.
• Static disk configuration
Static disk configuration relies on preconfigured (static) disk configuration file(s) that
describe the disk type, size, desired parti tio n layout, and file syst em type of the disks in
your c li ent nodes. Static disk configur atio n files must follow a particular template as
described in the autoinstallscript.conf
(5) manpage.
Several pre-defined static disk configuration files a re shipped as part of the HP XC software
distribution and are available for your use, mod ification, or both. These files are located in
the /opt/hptc/systemimager/etc directory and possess a .conf file extension.
See Section H.3 for details about using static configuration files to customize client node
disk partitions.
HP recom mends the following guidelines:
• Use the dynamic disk configuration procedure (Section H.2) when you wan t to change the
size of the existing d efau lt par tit ion s o r swap space on the client di sks.
Customizing Client Node D isks H-1