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dmu(8) System Manager's Manual dmu(8) NAME dmu - dataless management utility SYNOPSIS /usr/sbin/dmu DESCRIPTION dmu is the utility which is used to manage Dataless Management Services (DMS) environments and clients. In a dataless management environment, a server system maintains the root, /usr, and /var file systems for client systems. All swapping and dumping is done on the client's local disk. The dataless management utility (dmu) creates a root file system based on the software subsets installed in the DMS environment area on the server. This root file system is accessed by client systems over a Lo- cal Area Network (LAN). DMS lets system administrators customize the root file systems prior to client systems access. The server has a reserved disk area (known as the DMS area) on which copies of the /usr filesystem resides. The /usr filesystem is shared among client systems and is mounted with read only access for clients. The server also maintains multiple copies of the root area, one for each client. Each copy of root resides in a client root directory in the DMS area and is customized for the client to provide for differ- ences between environmental requirements. The server's DMS root and /usr areas are made available to clients by means of a network file system (NFS). The client accesses the DMS disk area through a LAN con- nection with the server. Each client is booted across the network from it's private root area on the server. Once booted, the client contin- ues to use it's root files and usr files from the server's DMS area. One or more DMS environments can reside in a DMS area. Each DMS envi- ronment contains one or more root areas; a root area exists for each general type of client to be supported. Client root areas reside in the /var/adm/dms directory. Client root areas have names of the format /var/adm/dms/dmsn.alpha, where n is a sequentially-assigned number be- ginning with 0 and alpha is a name identifying the client's machine ar- chitecture. The first DMS area for Alpha AXP clients would be named /var/adm/dms/dms0.alpha. A DMS client area, called /clients. Multiple copies of the root area are in the /clients area, each tailored from the appropriate generic root for an individual client system. Each client's root area contains a customized kernel to support that client's actual system configura- tion (including central processor, system memory, and peripheral de- vices). Each client computer sees its private root area and the shared /usr area from the appropriate /var/adm/dms environment as local although these areas are actually on the server and accessed through NFS. As with the /var/adm/dms area, multiple client areas can be established in different partitions. After the /var/adm/dms/dmsn.alpha and clients areas are created in the DMS area, the Install Software option of dmu is used to install soft- ware into the /var/adm/dms/dmsn.alpha file system. All software must be installed and configured in the DMS server area before clients can be added to the environment. The setld utility can be used to install additional software at a later date if necessary. Before dmu can be used to serve a client, the client must be registered with a network naming service (such as BIND or NIS) or an entry must be made in the /etc/hosts file on the DMS server. The following informa- tion must be known to register the client: The client's host name The /var/adm/dms/dmsn.alpha environment to which the client will be regis- tered. The location of the client's root directory. The path must be located under /clients and should not exceed 25 characters. The client's network interface, subnet mask, and default route for this network interface. The client's Ethernet or FDDI hardware address. The swap device and partition and swap device type The type of kernel build support to be provided for the client User's must have superuser privileges to invoke the dmu utility. The dmu utility allows the server's system administrator to perform the following functions: a - ADD a client to an environment c - CONFIGURE software environments d - DELETE software environments i - INSTALL software environments l - LIST registered clients m - MODIFY a client r - REMOVE a client s - SHOW software environments RESTRICTIONS DIGITAL UNIX servers cannot install the base operating system on clients that do not support the bootp network bootstrapping protocol. EXAMPLES The following command invokes the dmu utility from the root system prompt on the server: # /usr/sbin/dmu The DMU Main menu appears from which users can select dmu functions. *** DMU Main Menu *** a) ADD a client c) CONFIGURE software environments d) DELETE software environments i) INSTALL software environments l) LIST registered clients m) MODIFY a client r) REMOVE a client s) SHOW software environments x) EXIT FILES /var/adm/dms Base directory for Dataless Management Services /clients/hostname Default location of clients root direc- tory /var/adm/dms/clients/dmsdb DMS client database file RELATED INFORMATION Commands: setld(8), doconfig(8), pmerge(8), nissetup(8), bindsetup(8). Files: bootptab(4). Sharing Software on a Local Area Network Installation Guide delim off dmu(8)