HP XC System Software Administration Guide Version 3.1

10 Distributing Software Throughout the System
This chapter addresses the following topics:
• “Overview of the Image Replication and Distribution Environment” (page 129)
• “Installing and Distributing Software Patches” (page 130)
• “Adding Software or Modifying Files on the Golden Client” (page 131)
• “Determining Which Nodes Will Be Imaged” (page 135)
• “Golden Image Checksum” (page 135)
• “Updating the Golden Image” (page 136)
• “Propagating the Golden Image to All Nodes” (page 139)
• “Maintaining a Global Service Configuration” (page 140)
10.1 Overview of the Image Replication and Distribution Environment
The image replication and distribution environment is responsible for keeping the software on all client
nodes synchronized with the golden client. The image replication and distribution environment is
automatically configured on the HP XC system during the initial system configuration step, which is
described in the HP XC System Software Installation Guide.
Image replication and distribution environment involves the following concepts:
Golden client The node from which a standard file system image is created.
The golden client represents the configuration from which all other nodes are
replicated. In terms of hardware, the golden client is representative of (ideally,
identical to) all nodes in the system.
The head node is the golden client in the HP XC system.
Golden image A collection of files, created from the golden client file system, to be distributed to
one or more client systems. You can exclude specific files on the golden client from
the golden image if they are not appropriate for replication. The golden image is a
replication of the golden client's local file systems, starting from the root directory
(/).
Note:
You want the golden image to contain only those files and directories that are
appropriate for distribution to all client nodes. Keep the golden image free of
node-specific content, such as node-specific subdirectories of /var.
Exclusion files list files and directories to exclude from the golden image; these files
are discussed in “Exclusion Files” (page 138).
Image server The node specifically designated to hold the images to be distributed to client systems.
The image server distributes the golden image.
The head node is the image server in the HP XC system.
You synchronize client nodes to the golden client by distributing the golden image. When you update
nodes with a new golden image, only files that have changed in the golden image between the current
installation and the new image are distributed; this saves time and network bandwidth.
This chapter describes how to manage the image replication and distribution environment, and how to
use it to distribute software (including configuration changes) to all nodes in the HP XC system. The basic
procedure is as follows:
1. Install software or modify files on the golden client. See “Adding Software or Modifying Files on the
Golden Client” (page 131).
2. Update the golden image. See “Updating the Golden Image” (page 136).
3. Distribute the golden image or individual files to the client nodes. See “Propagating the Golden Image
to All Nodes” (page 139).
10.1 Overview of the Image Replication and Distribution Environment 129