RoboInst is an automated software installation tool for Silicon Graphics computers. A RoboInst job is submitted from a single workstation, in order to simultaneously install software on one or many client systems connected to the network. RoboInst is a script-driven tool that performs disk partitioning, filesystem creation, simple software upgrades, from-scratch system software installations, and execution of site-specific commands or programs provided by the administrator. In this talk we will discuss the design goals of RoboInst, provide a walk-through of how the administrator uses the tool, and cover some of the implementation details and plans for future versions.

Will Rusch is software engineer at Silicon Graphics in Mountain View, California, USA. He is a co-author of Silicon Graphics' network software installation tools, and is the lead engineer on the RoboInst project. Will has a BSEE and BSCS from the University of Southern California.