Dell PowerEdge C1100 - Manual (Page 7)

Cloud Training in a Box: Inexpensive and Reproducible Training Environments for Cloud Solutions
7
• Configuration of a local repository for post-install package installations
• Installation and configuration of SSH and the FreeNX server
• Download of the Cloud Solution software to be used
• Configuration of the virtual machines and their virtual storage
• Configuration of the isolated virtual networks to be used
3. Integration of the Blade Servers and the Kickstart scripts into Dell’s local deployment Solution 1 ,
enabling reinstallation with a simple PXE boot.
Once the initial deployment is complete, each server is remotely accessible to students through the
NXclient or through the DRAC and is equipped to be a standalone lab station hosting multiple virtual
machines in a cloud configuration.
Deployment of the solution software can be performed in either of two ways:
1. To fully simulate the field deployment process, an “Installer” VM is used temporarily to act as a
PXE server for the installation of the admin node. This takes the place of the deployment
laptop described in the Crowbar Deployment Guide
2 and allows students to simulate the
process that will be used by Dell deployment teams.
2. The admin node can be configured for one-time boot from the Crowbar/OpenStack ISO. This
installs the admin node OS and copies all necessary packages for the installation of Crowbar
and the admin node services.
Outcome
Using this solution, Dell Global Support and Deployment is able to develop a combined course on
OpenStack, Hadoop
3 , and the Crowbar deployment tool used in both solutions. Support Services
achieved this outcome without purchasing new hardware. This solution provided a reproducible model
that Dell can use for future training in regional training centers globally.
After each class, the preparation process to refresh the solution completely for the next class takes
approximately 45 minutes, but can be mostly unattended once the process is initiated.
Conclusion
This model is not applicable to all Dell courses because many of them are dependent on particular
hardware requirements. But for courses that are focused on software training only, and on software
that is largely hardware-agnostic, this project provides an incredibly cost-effective model for training
1 This step is optional. Other sites may choose to deploy the Hosts using the Kickstart scripts as part of
a manual installation instead of configuring a PXE server as we did.
2 github.com/dellcloudedge/barclamp-
crowbar/raw/master/crowbar_framework/public/crowbar_deployment_guide.pdf
3 The Hadoop solution required some modification to this configuration and is not within the scope of
this whitepaper.