Red Hat Enterprise Linux Rescue and CentOS Rescue can be deployed to the RAM of a client system without impacting the on-disk contents and without running the native operating system.

 

The example below is for preparing and deploying a Red Hat Enterprise Linux or CentOS-based rescue system.

 

MAC-Specific Red Hat or CentOS Rescue

 

To prepare a provisioning role with a Rescue System, follow the same steps as you would to create a regular Red Hat or CentOS provisioning role, but imply enter a kernel parameter instead of leaving it blank. In the example below we are using CentOS 5.4 and the MAC-Specific provisioning mode.

 

First, create a CentOS Rescue System Template. Select a standard CentOS or Red Hat Linux from the drop-down:

 

Rename it, adding "System Rescue":

 

Now enter the kernel parameters ramdisk_size=10000 text rescue and save the template:

 

 

Next, from the Provisioning Dashboard, select then edit the system you need to rescue and assign it the System Rescue template from the drop-down:

 

 

Set the toggle to "Next Boot" then click "OK".

 

 

MAC-Independent Red Hat or CentOS Rescue

 

When preparing a MAC-Indy Role, select a Red Hat or CentOS and assign the same kernel parameters as noted above (ramdisk_size=10000 text rescue) and click "OK". The Role now appears on the MAC-Indy Dashboard.

 

 

Client-Side:

At the next boot, select the rescue mode:

 

 

If it is not a Linux system, or if Linux cannot be located, start a shell in RAM:

 

 

If Linux system can be located on disk, your system will be mounted before giving you shell access:

 

 

You now have full access to a shell. From the prompt you can run useful commands such as ssh, scp, ping, fdisk, restore and rpm to rescue your system: