Getting ready to clone a KVM machine

[FlorinMarian]

Hello!
I run a SolusVM KVM slave and I would like to give for my further customers FreeBSD with auto-install via "Reinstall" button.
I would like to know:
1. What files should I delete from original KVM machine before cloning?
2. It's there any way to resize partitions at first boot or I need multiple clones for each disk size?
3. Any tips?

Thank you!

 

[SirDice]

What files should I delete from original KVM machine before cloning?

From the top of my head, make all log files empty so there's no "old" information lingering. Delete the /etc/ssh/host_* keys, new ones will be automatically generated when the sshd service is started the first time. If you don't do this all your clones will have the same host keys. Create a /firstboot file (empty file is fine, it just needs to exist). It's the trigger for various useful firstboot-* packages.

It's there any way to resize partitions at first boot

sysutils/firstboot-growfs, sysutils/firstboot-freebsd-update might be useful too.

3. Any tips?

Change the order of the partitions. Put the freebsd-ufs or freebsd-zfs partition last. That way it's easy to expand without the freebsd-swap partition getting in the way.

Use ifconfig_DEFAULT="DHCP" in rc.conf. The _DEFAULT will automatically pick the first ethernet interface it finds, in case you switch the driver for it.

 

[FlorinMarian]

From the top of my head, make all log files empty so there's no "old" information lingering. Delete the /etc/ssh/host_* keys, new ones will be automatically generated when the sshd service is started the first time. If you don't do this all your clones will have the same host keys. Create a /firstboot file (empty file is fine, it just needs to exist). It's the trigger for various useful firstboot-* packages.


sysutils/firstboot-growfs, sysutils/firstboot-freebsd-update might be useful too.

Change the order of the partitions. Put the freebsd-ufs or freebsd-zfs partition last. That way it's easy to expand without the freebsd-swap partition getting in the way.

Use ifconfig_DEFAULT="DHCP" in rc.conf. The _DEFAULT will automatically pick the first ethernet interface it finds, in case you switch the driver for it.

Can you tell me, please, how to proceed with firstboot-freebsd-* in my case?
I mean, I have to install fresh freebsd, install via pkg those modules and then?
Thank you!

 

[SirDice]

I have to install fresh freebsd, install via pkg those modules and then?

Add to /etc/rc.conf:

firstboot_freebsd_update_enable="YES"

Remove the SSH host keys: rm -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_*
Create the /firstboot file: touch /firstboot
Shutdown and clone away.