SDB:Installation Server

From openSUSE

Version: 10 - Perpetual Relevance from V10

Notes

In all New Installations, the SWAP partition, MUST be formatted together with all other partitioning formats, to erase previously installed configuration details that are meant to be removed.

Objective

The purpose of this document is to discuss the advantages of the 'Installation Server' available in openSuse 10.3 in YAST under the Sub-category 'Miscellaneous'. Multiple PC's can be simultaneous installed with different configuration without the high volume of Internet traffic many consider to be an outrageous cost item for Home Networks and Enterprise environments. Without this procedure you download approx 3.58GB for each and ever workstation and consume enormous bandwidth and possible download-limit caps.

It is imperative that you understand this procedure before you commence the whole installation. This procedure,once understood, is very very simple and much easier than the document that this author wrote, concerning an Network – Local - Installation.

Before we begin you will need a DVD copy of openSuse 10.3 or above for each Operating System type. For example I386, X86_64 etc. Within each of these DVD's a full KDE or Gnome installation RPMs.

If downloading and burning your own DVD is not undertaken they are easily obtainable from Novell or linuxcd.org at a nominal cost at http://www.linuxcd.org/?ref=opensuse

Procedure

This procedure is starkly written to use openSuse GUI interface to establish its goals. The author could have shortened the procedure considerably using command line entries, however openSuse has been created as a GUI interface for Linux and not to use this interface is in complete conflict with the products design and purpose

Network Using DHCP IP Assignment

If you DO use DHCP in your network, you must know the IP allocated to your designated Installation Server. Once DHCP has assigned an IP for the first time, subsequent allocations of address tend always to be the same IP. One significant feature of an installed openSuse 10.3 installation is the ability to use DHCP + Zero Config when setting your Network Card settings.

This will ensure that DHCP will always assign the same IP to a PC although the natural tendency of DHCP allocated address once assigned, tend to remain.

Network Using Static IP Assignment

It you do NOT use DHCP in your network it is important you know in advance, your designated source Installation Servers IP, the installation destination PC IP, your Subnet Mask, your Internet Gateway IP, your DNS/ISP servers IP – Local or Public. If you selected Installation Server can connect to your ISP/Local DNS Server take note of the current DNS Server(s) IP's before proceeding.

The console command 'ip r' will display the following

192.168.1.0/24 dev eth0

proto kernel scope link

src 192.168.1.10

127.0.0.0/8 dev lo

scope link

default via 192.168.1.80 dev eth0

where:-

192.168.1.0' = The total range of IP addresses available on the published default route

/24' = The number of hosts available on the default route, where /24 = 256 Hosts and subnet of 255.255.255.0

src 192.168.1.10' = The IP currently allocated to the PC on the default network card

default via 192.168.1.80' = The Gateway IP of the network

Note this display will NOT revile the DNS Servers that your ISP or local DNS Server require.

1. Select a PC to be Setup as an Installation Server

This PC Must contain a DVD Read unit and all other PC's must contain a CD Reader at minimum. Once Selected, the Installation Server must always be available, even to perform patch installations on other PCs on the Network. This PC should firstly be running openSuse 10.3 as a minimum. If you use static IP addressing in your network there is no issue. If you use DHCP to assign IP addresses take advantage of the feature in 10.3 with respect to choosing DHCP+Zero config in you network card setup. This option will ensure that the same IP is given to the Installation server although DHCP will be assigning it.

During installation of this PC you will need to select the Patterns - 'File Server' , 'Miscellaneous Server' and 'Network Administration' during the initial installation or add these 3 pattern groups to an existing 10.3 installation.

2. Create the Installation Server.

Open YAST>Miscellaneous>Installation Server. Select 'Configure as NFS Repository' and read the help instructions on the left hand side of the screen. If at some later stage you need to alter these setting you need to select 'Do Not Configure any Network Services' . This option should NOT be selected for a first time set-up but should be used for changes to an existing NFS Installation Server.

Click on 'Select Directory' and it is strongly advisable to create a New Directory from the browse window at top right hand side. If you hover over it, the symbol will display 'Create New Folder'

It is recommended that you create a New Folder with a descriptive name below the /home directory. I.E /home/install Do not change any of the default permissions unless you understand what you are doing.

Click Next > Add> Enter the Repository Name I.E 'I386' If your network has multiple routes you might contemplate selecting 'Announce as Installation Server with SLP'. If you only have one route it is advisable NOT to select this option. Click Next. Make sure the Installation DVD you have either downloaded or purchased from one of above provider is in the drive and select 'Next'

The full contents of the DVD will then be copied into the newly created directory. In this example /home/install/I386. Please be patient and ensure the DVD is clean BEFORE you insert the media. Click 'Finish' If you want to add another repository start the procedure again this time selecting 'Do not configure any Network Services' and add a second repository name of X_64 for example and insert the X64 DVD media into the drive to be copied and a second repository created.

The other option available ' Configure as FTP' and 'Configure as HTTP' are outside the scope of this document.

3. The Boot/Setup CD.

Now it is time to download and create the Boot and Installation CD. From the openSuse download site http://software.opensuse.org/ you select your operating system type then '2. Choose an Installation Medium' and select 'Network (Experienced Users only)' and finally 'Mini CD (73 MB)'and burn an ISO image of this software onto a CD.

This CD will become the source of the boot kernel and the installation program and the Installation Server contains ALL the required files for a complete KDE or Gnome installation.

The beauty of this procedure is once the first PC has started an installation or upgrade the CD can be ejected from the PC and this procedure can be started on an unlimited amount of other PC's noting the software licensing agreement.

4. Start the Installation Program from Boot/Setup CD

Insert the CD Boot image into the drive and boot from this source. At the GUI Installation screen quickly hit F2 and choose the Language, then F3 and select the resolution and finally F4 to select the source being an NFS Server and NFS Server IP and the Installation Server directory and hit 'Enter'.

The Kernel should load and provided your network uses DHCP, the only question to be answered is the IP of the Installation Server and the directory name repository. In this example the IP is 192.168.1.10 and the directory is /home/install/I386.

If your network has NO DHCP server and you use static IP addresses the GUI will fail as it cannot obtain an IP for itself via DHCP. If the GUI fails with the error response 'Could Not Find the OpenSuse Repository – Activating Manual Setup Program'. The Text Base Installation will follow WITHOUT cause for alarm.

IF you have no DHCP Services offered by you LAN due to high security measures the GUI Network Installation will always fail and revert to the text base initial Install with NO Issues.

When the Text Based Installation appears select the 'Language>Keyboard>Start Installation or System>Start Installation or Update>Network>NFS>Automatic Installation with DHCP? YES/NO ? Depending on your choice answer each question. The following answers are expanded below.

'Your IP Address' refers to the IP address of the PC you intend to install the software.

'Enter Your Netmask' refers to the normal default class C. Do not change this and accept the default unless you have a good reason to do so.

'If You Need a Gateway to Reach the Server, Enter the IP Address of the Gateway' refers to the IP address of the Gateway Internet address NOT the Installation Server.

'Enter the IP Address of the Name Server' refers to the IP address of your ISP's DNS server OR your own local DNS Servers IP.

'Enter the IP Address of the Installation Server' refers to the IP address of the PC that has been configured as an Installation Server as above.

'Enter the Directory on the Server' refers to the absolute path of the exported directory that contains the source installation files. I.E /home/install/I386.

This is the final question and if answered correctly the Kernel will load and normal GUI Installation screen will start as normal at which time the source boot CD can be removed and another installation started on another PC.

2. Limitations

The YAST 'Installation Server' utility has notable functionality issues. There is no warning during the DVD copy process to the hard disk in respect to invalid read or writes. If, during the copy media process the DVD drive is unable to read any files AND/OR fail to write and verify the files; no warning message will be issued. There are also major issues in configuring software repositories on the same PC's Hard Disk that the 'Installation Server' has created. There is confusion to be experienced in creating a 'local ISO Image' , a 'Local Directory' with or without the 'RPM files only' option chosen in the latter. It is most strongly recommended that you use the media check utility in YAST to validate the source DVD before creating an 'Installation Server' by this utility, however keep in mind that you will NOT be notified of Write OR verify issues to the HDD.

It may not be until you start your first PC install using an NFS source that file read or write failure become evident pointing to read and/or write errors you are not aware of during the creation of the 'Installation Server'.

IF you have problems in creating an 'Installation Server' you are far better off using the procedure to create a 'Network Installation' written by the same author which can be found in the link below.

Notes

Notes: After the new PC has loaded the Kernel and has commenced the installation the CD can be ejected and another PC on the network upgraded or installed.

It would be wise here to read the license agreement in detail before accepting and starting the installation. If you are not running openSuse 10.3 or above the Installation Server Option is not available and the procedure on Network Installation – Local should be undertaken at http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Network_Installation_-_Local

OpenSuse 10.3 DVD has NO GUI repair interface that is normally accessed by selecting Installation at time of Boot and then "other" as the installation type, unlike previous versions. Please ensure that before starting an upgrade or new installation you have double checked all installation/update variables presented to you via GUI. Don't bother to create or add to the existing bug report about the absence of a GUI repair module - Novel have closed the bug and will not correct this problem in 10.3.

In an existing X_64 installation and compatible hardware be aware that you can access the console via a 32-bit OR native 64-bit console. Advanced uses should be aware that the 2 console screens are available and used appropriately.

Links

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=203468&start=0

http://en.opensuse.org/index.php?title=SDB:Network_Installation_-_Local