Administering your system with SCOadmin

Managing host groups

Host groups allow the replication of SCOadmin operations across the network. Changes made to a designated ``master host'' are passed on to a group of machines known as ``managed hosts''.

When Host Open Host Group is selected in a SCOadmin manager, a new instance of the manager is invoked for the designated master machine. Any modifications made during that session are then propagated to each of the managed hosts in the group. This scheme is very much like NIS, where account information is distributed from a server to a set of clients.

WARNING: It is important to realize that host group operations are propagated literally. For example, if you add a local serial printer called Nemo as part of a group operation, a separate printer is added to each managed host with the same name and configuration. If the managed hosts do not have the same type of printer connected in the same manner, the operation will fail. The managed hosts will not be configured to use the printer on the master host.

Machine groups are only supported by a subset of SCOadmin managers. The following operations can be performed:

Configuring a host group

To use the host group feature, you must first create a host group:

Start the desired SCOadmin manager.
Select Hosts Open Host Group.
To define or change the master host, enter the host name in the ``Master Host'' field, or click on Select to choose from a list.
To add a managed host, enter a the host name in the ``Managed Host'' field, or click on Select to choose from a list. Click on Add.
To delete a managed host from the group, select it from the ``Managed Host List'' list and click on Delete.
Choose the type of alerting desired:

Never
display no messages

On Error
display error messages and ask whether to skip to the next host in the group only when an error occurs

Always
display errors and always ask for confirmation before proceeding to the next host
Click on OK when your changes are complete.
An additional copy of the manager is started for the master host you selected. You can proceed with making changes to the group as described in ``Performing a host group operation'', or simply finish by closing both copies of the manager.

Performing a host group operation

Once you have a host group defined, follow these steps to make a change to a group of machines:

Start the desired SCOadmin manager. For example, the Defaults Manager.
Select Hosts Open Host Group.
Click on OK.
After a moment, another instance of the SCOadmin manager appears. For example, if you are running the Defaults Manager, another copy is started on top of the first.
Perform the desired operation(s) using the manager. Each time you perform a complete operation (for example, editing a default file), it is replicated on each of the managed hosts.
If you have elected to receive alerts, they are displayed as the replicated changes are performed.
When your changes are complete, close the second copy of the manager and then the first.

Reading or writing a host group file

You can save a host group file for use elsewhere and then read it in:

Start the desired SCOadmin manager.
Select Hosts Open Host Group.
Select Read or Write in the ``Open File'' field. A standard file dialog is opened to select the file.
Click on OK.
Close both copies of the manager.