The tool to create Ubuntu live server image with recovery function

A tool can convert Ubuntu live server ISO to disk image with recovery, and you can choose "factory restore" mode to back to being initial when system seems abnormal to you. Then the recovery function will give you prompt to confirm if you really want to do this (Data will be lost later!), otherwise you will enter system again due to timeout. In my case, I used intel-nuc for experimental purposes and it didn't plug any monitor/KB/mouse etc. What I'd like to do is that making recovery smooth without user prompt, so I preserve a option to disable prompt to get my mind. Enjoy it!

Support arches

amd64 (verified HW: intel-nuc)
arm64 (not tested yet, should be ok if go src compiled on native/cross)

Prerequisites

sudo apt install -y golang-go bzr pxz dctrl-tools fuseiso kpartx

Generate image with recovery

./tools/ubuntu-classic-recovery-image <ubuntu.iso>

Here the ISO I used can be gotten from ubuntu-18.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso, so the above can be issued by

./tools/ubuntu-classic-recovery-image ubuntu-18.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso

How to flash recovery image to intel-nuc

dd image to USB stick

Do the commands by any linux distro, here is for Ubuntu environment

xzcat ubuntu-server-bionic-<build-date>.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sd* bs=32M;sync
partprobe

Plug USB stick to intel-nuc and power on it

phase 1: copy recovery partition to storage(sata/nvme) in intel-nuc, poweroff once it's done. remove USB stick.
phase 2: Ubuntu installer goes well.
phase 3: Ubuntu server ready.

How to run recovery with intel-nuc

power on
press "esc" and enter grub menu
choose "factory restore"
type "yes" for user prompt
wait for installation complete

How to run recovery image with kvm+vnc

Install libvirt packages

sudo apt install -y qemu-kvm libvirt-bin virtinst ovmf

Create a VM using virt-install as recovery installer

fallocate -l 16G ubuntu-18.04.img
cp outdir/ubuntu-server-bionic-<build-date>.img.xz .
unxz ubuntu-server-bionic-<build-date>.img.xz
sudo virt-install --connect qemu:///system --name intel-nuc \
		 --disk <topdir>/ubuntu-server-bionic-<build-date>.img,device=disk,bus=virtio \
		 --disk <topdir>/ubuntu-18.04.img,device=disk,bus=virtio \
		 --ram 1024 \
		 --boot uefi \
		 --network bridge:virbr0 \
		 --os-type=linux \
		 --graphics vnc,port=5900,listen=0.0.0.0 \
		 --noautoconsole

Create a SSH tunnel for port forwarding from remote client

ssh -L 5900:localhost:5900 -N -f <username>@<host-ip>

Use VNC clinet to connect VM

e.g. Use VNC viewer to connect 127.0.0.1:5900

Create a VM for installing Ubuntu-server

sudo virsh -c qemu:///system shutdown intel-nuc
sudo virsh -c qemu:///system undefine --nvram intel-nuc
sudo virt-install --connect qemu:///system --name intel-nuc \
		 --disk ~/ubuntu-18.04.img,device=disk,bus=virtio \
		 --ram 1024 \
		 --boot uefi \
		 --network bridge:virbr0 \
		 --os-type=linux \
		 --graphics vnc,port=5900,listen=0.0.0.0 \
		 --noautoconsole

Manager current VM

sudo virsh -c qemu:///system list
sudo virsh -c qemu:///system reboot intel-nuc
sudo virsh -c qemu:///system shutdown intel-nuc
sudo virsh -c qemu:///system undefine --nvram intel-nuc

Run go tests

cd src
go test -check.vv

Create Ubuntu core with recovery function

TBC

Reporting bugs

If you have found an issue with this tool, please file a bug on github.

woodrow-shen / ubuntu-server-recovery Goto Github PK

ubuntu-server-recovery's Introduction