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question about copying container [message #48750]

Fri, 16 November 2012 00:43

Viacob
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2012

Junior Member

is there any way to copy a container into say 300 new containers? Or do they have to all be set up individually?

Thanks
Vlad

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Re: question about copying container [message #48751 is a reply to message #48750]

Fri, 16 November 2012 16:18

amissus
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2011
Location: Czech Republic - Ostrava

Junior Member

Yes, you can do so. You can copy private area and config file, of course you have to do some essential modifications in new copied container as redefine hostname, ip, private and root path if it is hard defined and so on ...

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Re: question about copying container [message #48752 is a reply to message #48751]

Fri, 16 November 2012 18:07

Viacob
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2012

Junior Member

ok that works. but theres no way to creat a new container from an already pre exisiting?

thanks!

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Re: question about copying container [message #48753 is a reply to message #48750]

Fri, 16 November 2012 21:16

amissus
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2011
Location: Czech Republic - Ostrava

Junior Member

What do you mean by "creat a new container from an already pre exisiting"? When you copy one container to other, you have two containers with same state, no more, no less.

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Re: question about copying container [message #48754 is a reply to message #48753]

Fri, 16 November 2012 21:18

Viacob
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2012

Junior Member

What i meant is create a whole new container with the same exact contents as the previous. for example i am going to run 300 vms and want the 1rst one to be a template once its all set up for the other 299

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Re: question about copying container [message #48755 is a reply to message #48750]

Sat, 17 November 2012 01:03

Ales
Messages: 330
Registered: May 2009

Senior Member

What amissus explained is basically this - you can use an existing precreated OS template to make the first container, start it up, make all needed modifications (if you need to) and than save it as an OS template again. And than use it for the next 299, of course.

OpenVZ has an extensive wiki and this is explained here:

http://wiki.openvz.org/Fedora_template_update
http://wiki.openvz.org/Updating_Debian_template

Besides the OS template, all a container needs is a textual configuration file. If you want to generate containers and later modify all 299 or 300 of them automatically, a little bash scripting (or python, perl, whatever floats your boat) will do the job just nicely, directly or by using vzctl in your script.

[Updated on: Sat, 17 November 2012 01:06]

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Re: question about copying container [message #48756 is a reply to message #48755]

Sat, 17 November 2012 01:39

Viacob
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2012

Junior Member

perfect that was what i was thinking! i appreciate the help Mad

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Re: question about copying container [message #48757 is a reply to message #48750]

Sat, 17 November 2012 08:55

amissus
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2011
Location: Czech Republic - Ostrava

Junior Member

Yes, as Ales said, It is what you want.

I have a few "template" containers which I keep up to date and when I want new "production" or "testing" container, I simply copy one of template one. OS template is actually only archived private area. It saves space and it is more "uniform" but I am not using it.

Modify config file for many CTs when using "copy" method by some type of script must be easy for person, who is playing with OpenVZ Smile