User`s guide

Table Of Contents
Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading the
OS Provisioning Server and Components
3
Installing, Configuring, and Upgrading the
OS Provisioning Server and Components
The Operating System (OS) Provisioning Server serves as a repository of imported OS distributions and
manages the installation of the distributions on target machines. The installation of the distributions is part
of the OS provisioning function in VCM, which identifies machines that can be provisioned and initiates
the OS provisioning on the target machines.
You install and configure the OS Provisioning Server on a Red Hat server. After configuring the server,
you import the operating system ISO files. The database manages the metadata about the OS distributions
and the ISO files are saved in the OS Provisioning Server repository. After you import the distributions,
the server performs the installation process, which is managed in VCM. See "Getting Started with
Operating System Provisioning" on page 199 for provisioning machines instructions.
You cannot directly upgrade from OS Provisioning Server 5.4 to 5.4.1. Nor is OS Provisioning Server 5.4
compatible with VCM 5.4.1. You must install the new 5.4.1 OS Provisioning Server components, configure
the server, and import the operating system ISO files into the new database structure. See "Upgrade the
OS Provisioning Server to 5.4.1" on page 39.
When the OS Provisioning Server is installed and configured, consult the VCM Backup and Disaster Recovery
Guide and create a backup plan for your server and files.
Troubleshooting information is available in the VCM Troubleshooting Guide.
Restricted Network Environment
To maintain security during the OS provisioning process, install and run your OS Provisioning Server in a
private or restricted network. When you provision target machines, you connect the machines to this
private network. See VCM Security Environment Requirements.
Install and Configure the OS Provisioning Server
You install the OS Provisioning Server and configure the components used to manage your operating
system distributions. After you configure the components, you import the distributions and use VCM to
install them on target machines.
Procedure
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