About This Guide
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## About This Guide

The Diskless Workstation Administration Guide explains how to configure and maintain Silicon Graphics software so that one or more networked workstations can operate without a local disk. It introduces the terms and concepts needed to understand a diskless implementation and explains how to plan an implementation. It also describes the procedures needed to install, maintain, and troubleshoot a diskless implementation.

## Product Requirements

Silicon Graphics' implementation of Diskless software should be used with these requirements in mind:

- Diskless Workstation software must be used in conjunction with Silicon Graphics' Network File System (NFS) software option.

- A diskless server must be running an IRIX release that is the same as or later than the IRIX release used by any of its clients.

## Summary of Contents

The Diskless Workstation Administration Guide is organized into seven chapters:

Chapter 1, “Understanding Diskless Operation” |  | Introduces the elements of a diskless network and explains the organization of diskless software on the server. Read Chapter 1 to understand how diskless implementations work.
Chapter 2, “Preparing for Installation” |  | Explains how to get client and server systems ready for a diskless implementation and describes how to organize diskless software directories. Use Chapter 2 as a guide to setting up a diskless implementation for the first time.
Chapter 3, “Creating a Share Tree” |  | Explains how to use the program that automatically creates a share tree. Use Chapter 3 when installing a new share tree. Do not use Chapter 3 to update an existing tree with a new software release (see Chapter 5).
Chapter 4, “Creating Client Trees” |  | Explains how to use the program that automatically creates a client tree. Use Chapter 4 when installing a new client and swap tree. Do not use Chapter 4 to update an existing tree with a new software release (see Chapter 5).
Chapter 5, “Updating Software on Diskless Trees” |  | Explains how to upgrade a diskless software installation to a new software release and how to add software options to a diskless implementation.
Chapter 6, “Maintaining Diskless Implementations” |  | Contains instructions for performing routine server maintenance. Use the information in Chapter 6 to move a diskless server or software to a new location, remove a server or diskless software from service, or reconfigure the client with local resources.
Chapter 7, “Troubleshooting Diskless Installations” |  | Describes problem-solving techniques for diskless setups and suggests how to get the best results from service calls to Silicon Graphics' Technical Assistance Center.

## Audience for This Guide

The Diskless Workstation Administration Guide is written for system and network administrators who will be responsible for managing a Silicon Graphics server that supports one or more diskless workstation clients. It assumes that the audience has experience with basic system administration on an IRIX or other UNIX-based system.

Experience in maintaining IRIX filesystems and NFS and in installing Silicon Graphics software is helpful, but not required, for installing and maintaining Diskless software. A familiarity with various families of Silicon Graphics workstations is also helpful, particularly for doing troubleshooting procedures. At some sites, familiarity with network administration is required to prepare network software for the diskless implementation.

## Notation Conventions

This document uses the standard UNIX convention when referring to entries in IRIX reference pages. The entry name is followed by a section number in parentheses. For example, `cc(1)` refers to the cc manual entry in section 1 of the IRIX reference pages.

File and directory names and commands are shown in italics and options appear in bold. Command syntax descriptions appear in `typewriter font`, with variable names in italics. User entries are shown in `typewriter bold`.

## Related Documentation

The documents listed below provide supplementary information on topics covered in the Diskless Workstation Administration Guide:

IRIX Admin: Software Installation and Licensing
IRIX Admin: Disks and Filesystems
NFS Administration Guide
NIS Administration Guide
The owner's guide for your client and server systems

## Product Support

Silicon Graphics, Inc., provides a comprehensive product support maintenance program for its products. Refer to the Diskless Workstation Release Notes for product support information.

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