Kopidel

This module suggests you a simple interface for copying a configured working system to other PCs.

This module allows you to:

• create a "razlivochniy obraz" of the OS in RAW format (.img) or burn the image directly to external drive that allows you to quickly install a target OS similar to the original;
• specify the directories to exclude from copying;
• specify a directory or external drive for creating an image;
• enable OEM mode. You will be able to configure all personal settings when you first boot the target OS (for example, you can specify user name, language, password etc.);
• compress the copied file system using xz.

Note: You need to make sure that there is enough disk space to create a "razlivochniy obraz":

• when you create a RAW image, you need disk space approximately equal to the size of the system you copy;
• if you use xz compression, you need space up to twice the size of the system, since the final size of the compressed image cannot be predicted in advance.

When you create an image, a vm-profile.scm file containing the disk markup of the source system is generated. This markup will be applied on the target machine.

Warning! Installing the image on the target system will cause all existing data to be deleted.

Module interface

You can choose the image type using radio buttons:

• Razlivochniy obraz — a system image file will be created in .img format (razlivochniy.img);
• "Razlivochniy" external drive — the image is written directly to the selected external device (for example, a USB flash drive or an unmarked disk partition).

When you select the Razlivochniy obraz option, the Working Directory field will be displayed with a list of partitions suitable for creating the image. To update the list of directories, you can click the Update the list of working directories button (this is useful if the list of ignored files has changed).

Limitations for partition selection:

• you can choose only partitions that have enough disk space;
• the partition should be mounted;
• working directory cannot be located on file systems mounted with the ro (read-only) or nodev flags.

In the selected partition, the alterator-kopidel-workdir directory will be created, inside which the razlivochniy.img image file will be generated.

When you select the "Razlivochniy" external drive option, the External Drive field displays a list of devices suitable for creating the image. To refresh the list of drives, you can click the Update the list of external drives button.

Advanced options:

• Use the default list of files to ignore when copying — the file /usr/share/alterator-kopidel/default-ignored-files.txt is used as the source of ignored files. It lists the paths (one per line) that are not copied to the target system;
• Path to the custom list of ignored files — allows you to specify your own file with a list of ignored files and directories (one on each line);
• Installation in OEM mode — if this mode is selected, the first time you boot after installing the image on the target machine, the initial setup wizard will be launched, including the following steps by default:
  • Language selection
  • License agreement
  • Date and time
  • Setting a root account password
  • Creating a new system user account
  • Finishing the setup
  You can configure the system configuration wizard using the file /etc/alterator-setup/steps.
• Install GRUB with the --removable flag — enables bootloader compatibility installation mode. This mode is useful for creating hybrid images compatible with both BIOS and UEFI booting.
• Compress the copied file system using xz — enables maximum compression of the created image. This saves space but increases copying time.

Note: When installing in OEM mode, all users of the original system will be deleted.

Buttons:

• Create a razlivochniy obraz — starts the process of creating a "razlivochniy obraz";
• Terminate creating a razlivochniy obraz — becomes active after the start of the process and allows you to interrupt it.

During operation, two progress bars are displayed:

• The upper bar displays the currently running task;
• The lower bar displays the step's completion percentage.

Creating and using the "razlivochiy obraz"

The procedure for creating the "razlivochiy obraz" and transfering it to the target system consists of the following steps:

1. Install the system on the source PC marking up the disk as it will be marked up on the target machines.
2. Install the Kopidel module.
3. Configure the source OS (install packages, configure OS, etc.).
4. Make sure you have enough disk space to create the "razlivochiy obraz".
5. Launch the system control center, Kopidel module.
6. Choose the required options, press the button Create a "razlivochniy obraz" and wait for the OS image to be created (creating a "razlivochniy obraz" can take a long time). The creation of the image will be completed when the message Successfully created a "razlivochniy obraz" appears on the upper progress bar.
7. Boot from the "razlivochniy obraz" on the target PC.
8. Kopidel will transfer a copy of the source OS to the target PC (the transfer procedure can take a long time). The process will be displayed on the screen.
9. Disable boot device.
10. Boot from the target system.