Beginner: Booting Ubuntu From a Network or an Image

Asked by millerwjr@msn.com

I've been using Ubuntu for over a year now and I'm hooked. I use very old hardware (I can't afford new) and I like to keep an ultra-clean system. Because of this, I'd like to find a way to boot from an image that cannot be changed except by an administrator. I'm a noob to this type of setup, but I'd like to see something that boots from either an image or a network (I do have a 2TB XP server that I run and NEVER touch, except for remote file storage).

I'm not sure how file management works in these scenarios, but maybe have the OS auto-move any files created during the session to a folder on the local harddrive?

So, to summarize, every time the computer boots up, it does so with a fresh image of the OS, plus maybe a folder from the local HD where all user-created files get stored before shutdown. Any updates performed or programs installed will no longer exist until logged in as an admin. The idea is I want to create a sort of "guest" computer.

Does anyone know how to set this up or a system that is similar? Can anyone recommend any documentation? Thanks!

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Vitaliy Kulikov (slonua) said :
#1

Ubuntu have 'Guest' account by default. So, U can use it to login.

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Oleg Ped (bonysan) said :
#2

I just install Ubuntu 10.04 and from the beggining I can't boot it , when it's usk me user name - i incert it, and password fresed and I cant insert anithing in the password window and it's start to reboot all the time, I restart cop of times but useless...
What shud I do???

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Oleg Ped (bonysan) said :
#3

I just install Ubuntu 10.04 and from the beggining I can't boot it , when it's usk me user name - i incert it, and password fresed and I cant insert anithing in the password window and it's start to reboot all the time, I restart cop of times but useless...
What shud I do???

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millerwjr@msn.com (millerwjr) said :
#4

Vitaliy, Thank you for your response, and yes I know there is a guest account. However, I'd like to create a client that I can replicate in a business atmosphere. So in other words, 20 computers boot from a network with identical operating systems, except for a folder on the local HD that contains personal files. On shut down (or at regular intervals) user files are dumped into this folder. I'm starting to think that this does not exist without special, third-party software and is not possible with native Ubuntu. Ah well, was worth a shot! :)

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Andy Hodges (ahodges) said :
#5

Have you tried the Linux Terminal Server Project route?

I've had my home directory mounted over the network on the server, but I don't see why you couldn't dump that to a local disk instead.

To sum it up very very briefly:

Your client systems need to be able to boot using the PXE (Preboot Execution Environment). As part of the boot process, the client systems send out a request for a IP to the DHCP server on your network. That DHCP server will be configured to point to a image file that can be used to get your system up and running. If you end up getting a upside down image in your desktop, try turning off the advanced desktop effects to get it back up the right way.

There are a bunch of resources for learning how to do this from this page:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuLTSP

Feel free to contact me if you need more assistance.

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millerwjr@msn.com (millerwjr) said :
#6

Awesome! I'll check that out... I'm looking at purchasing a couple of mini PCs and I think this is just what I'm looking for. Thanks!

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