RevRdist: Hard Disk Management Software

By: Mike Kimball - Revised: 2006-06-28 devin

Download Video – MOV-File, 8.3 MB

Introduction

An overview of the hard disk management software, and other related utilities used to enhance RevRdist's functionality.

Table Of Contents
  • General Info
    • General information about RevRdist, how it works, uses, and strategies.

  • Basic Strategy
    • This strategy is recommended for beginners, or users who want to get started quickly. The advantage is its simplicity and easy setup. This strategy places the emphasis on the master image - it requires few lines of code in the distfile(s). Most of the work is in configuring a machine with the set of software you wish to distribute, which is then copied to the server - this will be the image to which RevRdist will synchronize all its machines.

  • Advanced Strategy
    • This strategy is recommended for advanced users who want more power and flexibility from RevRdist. The advantage of this setup its redundancy, its custom-fitting for each kind of machine in your lab, and its ease of updating software. It emphasizes the distfiles, by calling all software to be distributed (including its System components) with lines of code. The master images contain only the System software that will be on every machine. This method allows one to solve a whole set of new problems, discussed here.

  • Distfiles
    • Learn about distfiles and see basic and advanced distfile examples.

  • If-Then Code
    • RevRdist's built-in code for if-then expressions is fairly simple, though it has specific variable requirements, and of course a particular syntax. I'll start with the structure and then provide examples of how it can be used for things like IP address conditions, dealing with apps that use license or user ID files, or other custom configurations.

  • Downloads and Additions
    • Download RevRdist, RevRdist documentation, and our basic and advanced RevRdist templates. Get information about and download additions to RevRdist.

  • PSU RevRdist Theory & AppleScript
    • Get information about Penn State University's RevRdist theory and AppleScript.

  • ResEdit Hacks
    • Use Apple's resource editor to modify RevRdist prefs and image files.

  • Appendix: Hexidecimal Values
    • Learn how hexidecimal values work.

  • About Us
    • Information about the author and Mac OS support at the University of Utah.

  • Links