Install via FTP server

From openSUSE

Installing SuSE via a FTP server

You can install SuSE Linux from SuSE's own ftp servers.

This info is taken from the 9.2 readme, but the procedure holds for a generic version - bear in mind you need an internet connection to do this. As the boot.iso is a minimal system, it will not have many drivers, so it will be best to use a network connection to a network that has a fast internet connection - you'll be downloading approximately 1-2 GB.

System requirements

You need at least 96MB main memory. To install on a machine with less memory a (linux) swap partition is necessary.

Preparation

• booting from CD

Download the iso image boot/boot.iso and burn a CD with it.

• booting from floppy

Download the floppy disk image boot/bootdisk as well as the module disk image files you need (at least boot/modules1 and likely the network modules from boot/modules3).

Write the images to floppy disks using the 'dd' command:

dd if=[path_to_image] of=/dev/fd0 bs=36b

On non-linux systems, use the rawrite utility from the dosutils/rawrite directory (rawrite.exe).

Installation

Boot from CD/floppy and at the bootpromt enter the installation source:

linux26 install=ftp://ftp_server/directory

Remember to substitute 'ftp_server' and 'directory' with the appropriate values (e.g. install=ftp://[IP-ADDRESS]/pub/suse/i386/9.2 if you're installing from the SUSE ftp server).

Alternatively, choose 'manual installation' and configure the network in the installation program.

Preparing your own installation server

Just copy the whole installation tree to your local disk and make it available via network.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! IMPORTANT NOTE  !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you get errors such as "No installation media found on server" or "Package foo.rpm does not exist" it most likely means that a) The ftp/http server you are using is not accepting new connections. b) You've misconfigured the local network or proxy settings. In either case, please don't contact ftpadmin about this since we can't fix your network and/or have no control over how busy the ftp servers are.

Sources: SuSE's own ftp server at [ftp.suse.com ftp://ftp.suse.com]]

Credits: Storm