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Add computers

Open Computers > Add computers to install or adopt a computer. Pending approvals appear before the network-boot instructions so newly detected computers are easy to find.

Add computers page showing installer steps and a pending computer.

  1. Open Cybex James and confirm that Delivery > Computer setup files is Ready.
  2. Connect the target computer to power and the James network using Ethernet.
  3. Enable UEFI network boot and select the network adapter from the firmware boot menu.
  4. Choose the James installer profile. James creates a short-lived boot session and serves the shared signed runtime.
  5. Wait for the pairing code before approving any installation.

Computer setup files reconcile automatically across compatible Cybex and James updates. If they are temporarily unavailable, new network installs wait while James continues its other work. Add computers says getting ready only for normal automatic reconciliation, needs attention for a genuine runtime problem, and could not be checked when current evidence is unavailable. If normal automatic recovery does not finish, record the visible issue and approximate time for support. Authenticated support tooling retains the stable runtime code and can exceptionally requeue the same signed identity without changing it. A failed candidate update does not stop installation while James can still serve its verified active computer setup files.

All organizations and profiles on a James share the same immutable kernel, bootstrap initrd, and SquashFS. Organization and profile information is carried only in the short-lived boot context. See Use Cybex James.

Settings > Downloads explains the difference between this workstation netboot bundle and the separately provisioned James appliance ISO. See Downloads.

  1. Match the pairing code displayed by the computer with the code in Waiting for approval.
  2. Confirm the proposed name and installation disk.
  3. Choose the Blueprint the computer should follow.
  4. Review the hardware driver choice when one is offered.
  5. Choose Install & add to prepare the exact reviewed NixOS target on James, or Add without installing to adopt an already installed system.
  6. Wait for Preparing exact installation on James to complete. Cybex prepares one exact installation per kind of computer and reuses it: when this model’s installation is already prepared (for example after an earlier Install & add, a reinstall, or a recent Blueprint release), installation starts right away.
  7. Review the confirmation naming the exact computer and disk, acknowledge that all data on that disk will be erased, and then continue.

The pairing code disappears after adoption. The computer restarts into its managed system after installation completes.