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Figure 2–2: Sample RIS Area Overview
ris0.alpha
product_001 product_002
ZK-0620U-AI
/var/adm/ris
subsets
subsets
kit/isl
Client Installation
Tools
In Figure 2–2, the RIS area /var/adm/ris contains one product
environment, ris0.alpha. Each product environment contains products
for a specific platform. In Figure 2–2, the target platform is machines using
Alpha processors. Multiple product environments can exist in a single RIS
area. Each product environment contains one or more product directories,
each product directory contains several product kit archives, called software
subsets. Figure 2–2 shows a product environment named ris0.alpha
containing directories called product_001 and product_002.
Figure 2–2 also shows the kit/isl directory. The kit/isl directory
contains installation tools required by clients when they install software
over the network. If your environment is in Direct CD-ROM (DCD) format,
the kit/isl directory does not exist. An environment in DCD format is the
same as a system disk format, it includes root, /usr, and so on.
The server itself usually does not use any of the RIS areas. System
administrators can access the product area as required for maintenance and
for installation or removal of product kits.
For more flexibility, you can establish multiple RIS areas in separate
partitions. RIS areas on a given server can be exported to other servers
using the Network File System (NFS). Servers that import such RIS areas
can use them as if they were local, supplying the imported subsets to their
own set of clients. Section 4.5 describes how to use NFS to mount a RIS area.
The Network Administration: Services manual describes how to export and
import file systems.
2.4 RIS Client Characteristics
A RIS installation uses the LAN as its installation media instead of a
distribution CD−ROM. A RIS client can install any software kit for which
2–4 Remote Installation Services