How to configure kickstart with remote installation in rhel5 [kickstart + dhcp] or centos5

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KickStart [Unattended Installation]
When installing linux we have to sit if front of the system and answer the questions whenever it asks. This process is time consuming and needs one to attend while installation take process.Kickstart helps to install system unattended. We can create an answer file and notify the system to take the answers from the file. The file is known as kickstart file. We can configure dhcp such a way that it will automatically provide the system the path and details of the kickstart file in the network .In windows systems kickstart file is known as answer file. In this post we will see howto configure kickstart server linux step step and doing the remote installation using kickstart.

it is advised to read the remote installation post if you dont have much idea about remote installation.
These are the steps happening.
Server[dhcp+ks] client
1. asks IP and location of kickstart file
2.gives the info
3. Takes the ks.cfg file and mounts share of OS



dhcp [nfs / ftp / http] + ks.cfg [nfs]
The dhcp is using for getting IP for the client machine at first for instation and to get the location of Ks.cfg file. The remote installation image can be of NFS, HTTP or FTP. The kickstar file will be shared using NFS.

KickStart Configuration
package = system-config-kickstart
#yum -y install system-config-kickstart
#system-config-kickstart

Basic configuration
Default Language = English USA
Keyboard = U S English
Time Zone = Asia/Culcutta
Root Password = redhat
Confirm Password = redhat
check the encryption box
Target Architecture = x86,AMD64 or Intel EM64T
Check the reboot checkbox

Installation Method
Installaton method = Perform new installation
Choose the Installation Method = NFS //You can use HTTP or FTP if you want
NFS server = IP of the machine which contains NFS image of DVD
NFS directory = Path of NFS share

Boot Loader options
Install New Boot Loader
Use GRUB password if required
Install boot loader on MBR

Partition Information
Do not clear MBR
Remove all exisiting partitions //Removing linux partitions only wont work all time. Windows partitions will be deleted.
click add button and configure as required

Network Configuration
Click Add Network Devices button
Select the network device which is connected to ur machine
network type = DHCP or STATIC [manual]

Authentication
Authentication Configuration
check use shadow passwords
check use MD5

Firewall Configuration
Firewall Configuration
Security level = Disable firewall
SELinux = Disabled

Display Configuration
Check Configure the x-window system
In General Tab
Color Depth Resolution
8 1024*768 //Default 640*480 will give a blurred image
Default Desktop
Check Gnome
Check Start X window system on Boot

package selection
Nothing to do //We will add package lines

Pre-Installation Script
Add if wanted

Post-Installation Script
Add if wanted

Configuration over. Save the file. Open the file for further editing.
#vi ks.cfg

Add these lines - Otherwise it wont work.
key --skip
%packages

And these lines for Graphics

@admin-tools
@base
@base-x
@core
@dialup
@editors
@games
@gnome-desktop
@graphical-internet
@graphics
@java
@office
@printing
@sound-and-video
@text-internet

###Make it as NFS share###
copy the ks.cfg file to some dir and share it via NFS

#mkdir /kick
#cp ks.cfg /kick/


#vi /etc/exports
/kick *()

#exportfs -a

###DHCP Configuration###
Add these lines to DHCP Configuration file
#vi /etc/dhcpd.conf

filename "/kick/ks.cfg";
next-server 192.168.1.101; // [ip of the machine which contains kickstart file(ks.cfg)]

#service dhcpd restart
#service nfs restart

###Installation###

#Boot: linux ks
Have a break. The system will be ready when you get back!

If you are not using dhcp, you can use following format at boot
#Boot: linux ks=nfs:IP_ADDR_NFS_SVR:/location/of/ks.cfg ksdevice=eth0 IP:IP_ADDR_CLIENT netmask=255.255.255.0 gateway=IP_ADDR_gateway

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Recommended Reading

1. Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming, A (2nd Edition)
2. UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook (4th Edition)
3. Linux All-in-One For Dummies
4. Introduction to the Command Line (Second Edition): The Fat Free Guide to Unix and Linux Commands

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