[noctool-devel] compact configurations for identical machines

[Ingvar]

Jim writes:
> I'm still thinking about this one... 
> 
> > Or, wait, even better!
> > 
> > Does this look at least vaguely sane?
> > (cluster ("rtr-~3,'0d" 1 10)
> >   (machine name linux-host
> >      (user "testuser")))
> 
> Using your example from earlier, how would we specify something like 
> "rtr-f01-001" through "rtr-f03-999".  This is *different* than your 
> objection to my initial syntax - what in the heck would a format string 
> look like if this were actually trying to specify 3000 or so routers... (* 
> OK, imagine we're either not FORMAT ninjas or we're using something that 
> doesn't make julienne fries in addition to printing, like C's printf ;)  
> I UNDERSTAND IT IS POSSIBLE TO CURE CANCER WITH A SINGLE INVOCATION OF 
> FORMAT ;) *)

At the moment? A bit tricky, methinks. But, just ABOUT doable, I think:
(cluster ("rtr-f~2,'0d-~~3,'0d" 1 3 fmtstr)
  (cluster (fmtstr 1 999)
    (machine name linux-host
      (user "testuser"))))

If/when I finish a simplistic converter from C-style format strings, it'd be 
slightly easier, as you can have one as "C-style" and one as "lisp-style" and 
not need the double-escaping.

> This seems like a better place to screw things up royally than I had 
> initially anticipated :P :)  Its going to be difficult to get this right 
> I'm thinking...
> 
> *To get something working*, I'm thinking we should just accept a format 
> string something like Ingvar's suggestion quoted above.  There are, 
> hopefully, more interesting problems to solve. :)

Mmmm. I actually left the (cluster ...) as is, just so having 
"cluster-in-cluster" would be an option (most of the time, I don't think it'll 
be needed but I suspect we'll have to write some config documentation, one of 
these days, and having the "cluster" bit in the cookbook might well be a Good 
Thing).

//Ingvar