SPIN Overview

Spin is an easy-to-use authoring tool for creating complete, easy-to-manage software appliances based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Spin can be used by system administrators as a solution for managing system deployment configurations, by software vendors for building stand-alone application servers, and by hardware vendors for building hardware-specific operating systems.

How it works

Using a text-based definition file, users specify operating system components, applications, configuration and updates. Spin uses this information to create physical, virtual or live media appliance images. These images are ready to deploy to stand-alone hardware, virtual or cloud machines, or USB key devices using existing installation and deployment tools.

Performance tuned

Building appliances with other solutions can be tedious and time-consuming. Spin eliminates slow, repetitive steps by caching content and performing operations incrementally. As a result, Spin completes typical initial builds in 5-10 minutes and update builds in 1-2 minutes. Times vary based on network speed and number of packages included.

Easy operation

Setting up Spin is quick and easy. Install Spin (see download), modify an example appliance definition file, and run ‘spin’ from the command line. Spin runs on i386 or x86_64 machines installed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora or compatible operating systems. From a single installed machine, Spin can build appliances for a variety of operating systems and architectures.

Modular design

Spin builds appliance distributions using a series of modules which perform activities such as creating appliance-specific packages, gathering required packages, customizing installer steps, and creating CD/DVD installation images. Modules can be easily enabled and disabled, and developers can create and distribute extension and replacement modules.

Simple, reliable deployment and maintenance

Whether you are a hardware vendor, a software vendor or a system administrator, Spin lets you simplify configuration, deployment and maintenance for your end users by making it easy to create custom software appliances.