Kick Start Installation in Linux

Kick Start Installation

• Linux allows you to do operating System installations via a network connection using a kick-start Server.
• It is frequently much faster than Using CDs and the process can be automated.
• The kick-start server creates an answer File
• Kick-start can be configured on an FTP, NFS or Apache server.
• The kick Start installation method is Called as Network Based Installation

Requirements For configuring Kick Start Server :

• A computer with Red Hat Linux Enterprise Server O.S
• The PC must configure with static IP Address (192.168.5.1)
•  Linux Server must configure DHCP Server
•  Linux Server must configure with FTP Server / NFS Server / Apache Web Server

Steps For Configuring Kick Start Server for FTP based Installation :

• Step1 : Configure IP Address as “192.168.5.1”
• Step2 : Install and Configure DHCP Server
• Step3 : Install and Configure “VSFTPD” for the FTP Server
• Step4 : Copy all RPM files from Linux DVD to “/var/ftp/pub/Server” directory
• Step5 : Install “System-config-kick-start” RPM package
• Step6 : Create “Kick start configuring file by running “system-config-kickstart” command
• Step5: Install “system-config-kickstart” rpm package
• Insert Linux DVD
• [root@mylinuxpc1 ~]# cd /media/CDROM/Server/
• [root@mylinuxpc1 Server]#
• [root@mylinuxpc1 Server] # pwd
• /media/CDROM/Server
• [root@mylinuxpc1 Server]#
• [root@mylinuxpc1 Server]# rpm -Uvh system-config-kickstart-2.6.19.1-1.el5.noarch.rpm
• Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
• 1:system-config-kickstart ################################## [100%]
• [root@mylinuxpc1 Server]#
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Step6 : Create “Kick start configuring file by running “system-config-kickstart” command

[root@mylinuxpc1 Server]# system – config – kickstart

Select “Basic Configuration” option

Type Root Password “xxxxxx” and type Confirm password “xxxxxx”

Select The check box “Reboot the system after installation”

             Select “Installation Method” – Select “Perform new Installation” – Select “FTP”

Type FTPServer IP address as “192.168.5.1” and FTP Directory as “/pub”

Select “Boot Loader Options” – Select “ Install new boot loader”

Select “Partition Information” – Select “Clear Master Boot Record”

Select “Remove all existing partitions” – Click on “Add” for creating partitions

Select Mount Point “/boot”

Type Size “100”

Click On “OK”

Select Mount Point “/”

Type Size “6000”

Click on “OK”

Select “File System Type”

Select “swap”

Type Size “1000”

Click on “OK”

Select “Network Configuration” – Click on “Add”

Select Network Device “eth0” – Select Network Type “DHCP” – Click on “OK”

Select “Authentication” option

Select the check box “Use Shadow Passwords”

Select the check box “Use MD5”

Select “Firewall Configuration” option

Select “Security level “Disabled” – Select SELinux “Disabled”

Select “Display Configuration” option

Select Resolution “800x600” or “1024x768”

Select Default Desktop “GNOME”

Select “Package Selection” option

                                               Select the Required Packages

Leave “Pre-Installation Script” option and Leave “Post-Installation Script” option

Click on “File” menu – Click on “Save File”

Type Name of the file as “ksftp.cfg”

Select the location “/var/ftp/pub” directory

Click on “Save”

Steps for Installing Linux O.S by using Kickstart / Network Based :

Client Computer :

1. A computer with HDD , LAN Card and DVD Drive

Insert Linux DVD in the client computer DVD Drive

Change the first boot device as “CDROM” in the BIOS Setup

Start the computer

You will get like

boot : type the following command

boot : linux ks =ftp://192.168.5.1/pub/ksftp.cfg

After booting Remove Linux DVD

Now Automatic Linux Installation will start , with out asking any options

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