Fermi Linux Kickstart

First thing to know is that Fermi Linux Kickstarting is the same as RedHat's kickstart. So anything you see here works with RedHat, at the appropriate levels.

So lets start off by giving a few good links for those that are just using this page as a reference page.

Fermi Linux 6.1.2 RedHat Web Pages Kickstart Guide Kickstart Options Sample Files boot.msg - fermized syslinux.cfg - short, using kickstart ks.cfg - network based kickstart file ks.cfg - cd based kickstart file

Fermi Linux 7.1.1 RedHat Web Pages Kickstart Guide Kickstart Options Sample Files boot.msg - for kickstarts syslinux.cfg - using kickstart syslinux.cfg - using serial port kickstart syslinux.cfg - have all the options available ks.cfg - somewhat complex kickstart file ks.cfg - doing software raid in the kickstart file

OK now lets do some basic instructions on how to do a kickstart install Basic instructions are

1. make a installation floppy
   • dd if=bootnet.img of=/dev/fd0 bs=1440k
2. mount the floppy
   if using Fermi Linux 7.1.1
   • mount /mnt/floppy
   if using Fermi Linux 6.x
   • mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy
3. remove the extra files on the floppy
   • rm -f /mnt/floppy/expert.msg
   • rm -f /mnt/floppy/general.msg
   • rm -f /mnt/floppy/param.msg
   • rm -f /mnt/floppy/rescue.msg
4. copy over new kickstart file and syslinux.cfg
   • /bin/cp -f ks.cfg /mnt/floppy
   • /bin/cp -f syslinux.cfg /mnt/floppy
5. umount floppy
   • umount /mnt/floppy
6. put floppy in target machine and reboot machine
7. sit back and enjoy :)

Notes about syslinux.cfg (using the 7.1 file with everything in it)
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default - what start options gets done by default. Use ks, to use the kickstart file. Use sks if you want the output to go through the serial port instead. This is nice for a rack based server that already has everything comming out it's serial port. You can do (or watch) the whole install through the serial port.
prompt - Not totally sure, I believe it is if you want to be promped, or just use the default
timeout - how long it waits until it just picks the default statup (10 = 1 second).
display - what file on the floppy to show on the screen
label linux - standard install, normal video output, try to do graphical install
label text - standard install, normal video output, do a text based install
label expert - standard install, normal video output, asks for everything (including driver names)
label ks - use the kickstart file on the floppy, normal video output
label sks - use the kickstart file on the floppy, serial cable output
label nofb - standard install, normal video output, try to do graphical install with no graphical frame buffers
label lowres - standard install, normal video output, try to do graphical install in low resolution
label serial - standard install, serial cable output

Notes about the kickstart file with raid (ks.cfg)
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For details notes about the kickstart options see http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-7.1-Manual/custom-guide/s1-kickstart2-options.html
The 'part' and 'raid' areas are hopefully easy to follow. If you have any questions ask me or see the above web link.
The '%packages' area is where you get to select specific rpm's or workgroups. usually you just will need to replace GenericFarm with whatever workgroup you want, and then maybe the one or two extra rpm's that you want this machine to have.
The '%post' line need to be that way, but you can still add more lines too it, just remember that you have a different root, and will have to do a 'chroot /mnt/sysimage' if you want to do anything where you are pretending you are actually in the normal OS.