Welcome to the world of Plunder, a versatile tool designed to streamline the provisioning of servers, platforms, and applications. Like a plundering treasure hunter, this single-binary server not only helps identify resources but also automates the entire process, making it easier than ever for users to manage their infrastructure.

Overview of Plunder

Plunder operates as an api-server that allows end-users to control and automate server operations. Interaction is currently specified in the source code, which you can explore here. For more practical use, the control utility named pldrctl is available, enabling users to query and set up deployments easily. You can find it here.

Services Offered by Plunder

Plunder comes loaded with essential services:

• DHCP: Allocates IP addresses and directs to a TFTP server.
• TFTP: Bootstraps operating system installations via iPXE.
• HTTP: Offers services to pull necessary components for OS installations.

It supports various installation methods, including **preseed** or **kickstart**, and allows for custom kernels and init ramdisks tailored by MAC address.

Automation Made Easy

Once your operating system is provisioned, Plunder can assist with post-deployment tasks, such as:

• Remote command execution via SSH (after key configuration).
• A scripting engine supporting JSON/YAML and extending with plugins.

You can also explore existing deployment maps in the small repository found here.

Additional Features of Plunder

• ISO Support: Supports reading files directly from ISO files without elevated privileges.
• Online Updates: API-driven configuration facilitates changes without downtime.
• In-Memory Configurations: Maintains statelessness by holding configurations in memory.
• VMware Deployment Support: Deploys installations seamlessly with vSphere.
• Management of Unclaimed Devices: Monitors and manages unallocated devices effectively.
• Logging of Remote Execution: Stores execution logs in memory until cleared.

Getting Started with Plunder

You can find prebuilt binaries for Darwin (MacOS), Linux, and Windows on the releases page. If you prefer building the code yourself, simply run:

go get -u github.com/plunder-app/plunder

Alternatively, clone the repository and compile it using either go build or make build; using the makefile ensures accurate versioning.

Usage Basics

Plunder is designed to reduce complexity in bootstrapping servers. It seeks to minimize cumbersome configuration files by auto-detecting settings and generating necessary configurations automatically. Importantly, it poses no threat to your existing infrastructure — it works seamlessly alongside what you already have.

For detailed documentation, please refer to the documentation.

A Cautionary Note

As Plunder implements low-level networking services, it should only be run on secure networks. Be wary of conflicts with existing DHCP services to avoid unexpected behavior, which can lead to frustrated network administrators.

Please note that since DHCP, TFTP, and HTTP all operate on low ports (under 1024), root or sudo access is essential to start the Plunder services.

Troubleshooting

PXE booting can often be mysterious with minimal feedback when issues arise. If things aren’t functioning as expected, verify the hand-off between DHCP and TFTP booting. Logs from Plunder should provide insight into any issues occurring via the CLI.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Roadmap Ahead

The team behind Plunder is continuously enhancing the platform. Future updates may include:

• Automated deployments over VMware VMTools.
• Windows deployment capabilities.
• Improved logging mechanisms.
• Stability improvements.
• Additional plugins for extended functionality.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.