4. Manage Computer Group

4.1. Defining the Group

Using Rpmdrake's parallel mode you can define groups of machines to install the same software packages on. This greatly simplifies managing a large number of systems, for example on a LAN. Make sure park-rpmdrake, urpmi-parallel-ssh and urpmi-parallel-ka-run are installed.

[Nota] Nota

This tool is accessible only in expert mode. Choose OptionsExpert mode from the menu and then access the Software Management section of Centro di controllo Mandriva Linux.

Click on New Group, provide a Name for the group, select the Protocol to use ( ssh in our example), check the networks to be scanned for hosts in the list or add other networks: by default, only your local network is listed, and click on Scan.

[Nota] Nota

Hosts on the network must have an SSH server running and the corresponding ports ( tcp/22 by default) open if they also host a firewall. The rsync package must be installed as well. Also, root must be allowed to login using SSH ( PermitRootLogin yes in /etc/ssh/sshd_config, on the hosts).

Wait a few minutes until the network scan finishes and then check the hosts to be made part of the group (see Figura 7.10, «Adding Computers to a Group»).

Figura 7.10. Adding Computers to a Group

Adding Computers to a Group

You are then asked for root's password on each of the selected hosts in order to automate package installation on them.

4.2. Managing Packages in the Group of Computers

[Nota] Nota

For package installation or removal on the computers part of a group to succeed, all computers in that particular group must be available.

Simply select the group and click on the Use Group button . You can now install packages on the selected computers group as you would on a single computer.

You can also install packages on the computers group from the command line, use:

urpmi
      --parallel <group_name>
      <package_name>

For example, issuing urpmi --parallel GraphicDesign gimp will install GIMP on all computers which are part of the GraphicDesign group.

To remove a package from a computer group, use:

urpme
      --parallel <group_name>
      <package_name>

For example, issuing urpme --parallel GraphicDesign gcc will remove the C compiler from all computers which are part of the GraphicDesign group.