UPDATING AN IMAGE IN THE VCL

Updating an Image

Updating images is a simliar process to Creating new images. In order to update an image the user must be the owner of the image. The ownership of an image can be transferred by the original owner of that image or by a VCL site administrator.

How to update a VCL image:

  1. Select “Manage Images”

  2. Select “Create / Update an Image” -> Submit

  3. Select image you wish to update from the pull-down menu

  4. Check Now button – Submit

  5. If the image you have choosen is preloaded wait time will be less than a minute, else you may wait from 10-15 minutes while the remote node is being loaded.

  6. Click the “Connect” button when it appears. A one-time password for the user account will be displayed, login using Remote Desktop Connection for a windows image or use an ssh client for a linux image.

Note: You can request up to 12 hours to configure and save your reservation. If you reach the end of your time, the VCL will automatically save your image at that point so you don’t lose your work. If you need longer times, you can request that your account be enabled to specify the end time of your reservation.

  1. Run windows update if it is a windows image, for linux use its corresponding update utility.

  2. Reboots are ok. It usually takes about 4-5 minutes to completely come back to connect again.

  3. Make any changes you want to the image, for windows similiar to the Creating a Windows Image in the VCL. Make sure any changes are reflected for All users i.e. application icons on All users desktop, etc. **10.IMPORTANT STEPS FOR WINDOWS 7

      • Failure to perform these steps may result in the image capture failing.
        • Open windows explorer and navigate to c:\cygwin
        • Double-click Cygwin.bat to open a Cygwin window
        • Inside the window, run cygrunsrv –stop sshd
        • exit
        • Navigate to c:\cygwin\bin
        • Double-click ash
        • Inside the window, run /usr/bin/rebaseall
        • exit
        • Navigate back to c:\cygwin
        • Double-click Cygwin.bat
        • Inside the window, run cygrunsrv –start sshd
        • exit
  1. When you’re done with your changes and ready to save the image, logoff the remote machine.

Note: It is important to logoff the remote machine before saving the image, otherwise it will not function correctly.

  1. Go back to the vcl.unc.edu site

  2. Select “Reservations”

  3. Select “More Options” and “End Reservation & Create ** Image**”

  4. Click button “Update Existing Image” -> Submit

  5. In about 20-25 minutes you will receive an email saying it is ready for testing.

Updated images are stored as image versions and must be tested and moved into production. A newly created image (version 0) is always a production image. Only the owner of the image will have access to the multiple image versions.

Moving an updated image to the production state.

  1. All updated images will need to be tested before they are made production. Any time after you receive the notice that the image creation process has completed, return to the VCL site.

  2. Select “Reservations” and click the New Reservation button.

  3. Select the image you were working on from the environment menu, the image name will be the same as the original image. select timeframe (now). Click Submit

  4. You will be prompted to choose a image version. Select latest version, the one you last created.

  5. Once you are done testing, return to the VCL site

  6. Choose Reservations

  7. Select Delete Reservation Button

  8. Select Make this image production. At this point the updated image will be the production image for all users who have access to your image.

If there are any problems with these steps, send an email to research@unc.edu.

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Last Update 4/25/2024 3:49:20 PM