[Bug 117084] Re: Ubuntu needs a "sysprep"-like tool, like Windows has

[Phillip Susi]

For a brand new idea, you should create a blueprint.  Since this doesn't
describe a bug in ubiquity, I am closing it.


** Changed in: ubiquity (Ubuntu)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/117084

Title:
  Ubuntu needs a "sysprep"-like tool, like Windows has

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in “oem-config” package in Baltix:
  New

Bug description:
  This is a feature request.  It's a brand new thing that would probably
  be a package of its own.

  Microsoft has a well-known, long-standing, somewhat-dodgy
  administrative tool called sysprep that puts a Windows machine into a
  newish state ready for use by some new user.  It's especially useful
  just after you've imaged/cloned a Windows machine, to give it unique
  qualities like new hostname (you don't want two machines on your LAN
  with the same hostname).  More background info on sysprep is at
  wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysprep

  We need a tool that would put the machine into this ready-to-hand-off state.  This tool I'm proposing (which acts like sysprep) would do this.
  I wish Ubuntu had a graphical, wizard-like tool for this.  

  Here are the use cases:

  -Freegeek (http://freegeek.org), System76 and Dell all sell computers
  with Ubuntu pre-installed.  Actually, Freegeek gives Ubuntu computers
  away for free if you'll just work as volunteer in their recycling
  facility for 24 hours! (shameless plug).  All these resellers of
  Ubuntu will definitely want an easy way to allow their customers to
  just power on their machine, be asked a few questions like: their
  chosen hostname, username, Real name, set a password, timezone, and
  then be able to log into their newly created account.

  -Say I have an older computer with Ubuntu installed and want to sell
  it to a friend.  Ubuntu's free licensing allows me to let that friend
  continue using that Ubuntu.  But I have alot of my own
  personalizations and data on that machine (which of course I've backed
  up before selling it).  And I don't want my friend to continue using
  my username and account.  I want to just have a nice sysprep-like tool
  offer to nuke my old account, do some magic, and power off the
  machine.  Then upon next boot, ask the next person who powers the
  machine on to create a new account (plus set timezone, and optionally
  ask for a new hostname to be set, for an extra touch of
  personalization).  Then my friend could power the machine on for the
  first time and be asked to create a fresh username (ie. an account
  with admin privaleges).  This friend would have a shiny new default
  desktop and feel like they are using a brand new computer, and not
  have to go through the trouble of freshly installing Ubuntu.

  In summary, please make it easy for these resellers, and all future
  resellers to put an Ubuntu machine into a state where it can be easily
  handed off to a new owner.

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