Installing Multiple Servers
Most Efficient Methods of Installation
The most efficient method of installation would be completely automated. Opening the Terminal application and using the installer tool to initiate each server software installation doesn’t accomplish this efficiently.
However, scripting the
To completely automate server installation, you must script the installer tool and have a high measure of control over the network infrastructure.
For example, to have known IP addresses and the appropriate hardware serial numbers included in your script, you cannot rely on the randomly assigned IP addresses. You can use DHCP assigned static addresses to remove that uncertainty and ease your scripting considerations.
Additionally, you can create a NetInstall server on the target servers’ local network that can install an operating system. If you combine this with saved auto setup files, you can easily automate installation of multiple computers without much human interaction.
The methods, scripting languages, and possibilities are too many to list in this guide.
More Interactive Methods of Installation
When running Server Assistant from an administration computer to install on multiple machines, you still have to open a connection to each server one at a time.
You can use VNC viewer software or the installer tool to initiate multiple server software installations.
After using a VNC viewer to control installation of Mac OS X Server v10.6 on one remote computer, you can use the VNC viewer to open a connection to another remote computer and control installation on it. Because this involves interacting with each server individually, it is a less efficient method of installing on multiple servers.
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Chapter 5 Installation and Deployment
