Re: [gentoo-server] New GSDS snapshot

[Martin Hajduch]

> For those interested, a new snapshot of the GSDS is available. Testing
> and comments are still highly desirable. I know the docs are woefully
> incomplete, but if there's any python folks that could sift through
> the code, that would be extremely helpful. Also, comments regarding
> design would be great.

let me ask you a question - i went through a documentation of GSDS in 
order to find an answer but haven't succeed

does GSDS have any kind of support for binary packages ? if yes, then 
how does it work ?

i will deploy a number of gentoo servers in a near future and my plan 
(now) is:
1. take 'master' machine - one required for each processor architecture 
to be supported; install them manually with all needed software
2. tar/gzip / (with some filtering/cleaning beforehand of course)
3. use this tar/gzip instead of an 'official' stage archive
4. manually configure filesystems at the beginning; networking after the 
install process

this has to be done binary, because of the speed

on the other hand - what else can be automated in this deployment process:
- pre-config stuff like filesystems, etc ... ? - the disk is already 
partitioned and will contain some data which has to be kept - doing it 
manually is no more then 5 minutes per server and less dangerous
- network config ? - it is server environment with non-trivial 
networking structure (HA, backup NICs, etc ..) - auto-configuration is 
not possible

well, if could you find some time, it would be great if you could 
explain me the basic advantages of GSDS over the above way of 
deployment; it would be very helpful

thank you,
martin