SDB:Network Installation - Local

From openSUSE

Version: 10 - Perpetual Relevance from V10

Notes

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

There is no issue with this procedure, however openSUSE v11.0GM in X_64 Hardware, has installation issues, both in Network Installation, Updates from older versions and complete DVD Installations. In all New Installations, the SWAP partition, MUST be formatted together with all other partitioning formats, AND in updates the SWAP Partition Must be Formatted to erase previously installed configuration details to be removed.

Situation

Installation or Updating multiple PC's Operating System and software to OpenSuse 10.3 and above using an NFS Local Server.

Procedure

The purpose of this installation (network type) has been provided where multiple PC's require simultaneous installs of different configuration; or those where the high volume of Internet traffic is an outrageous cost item for Home Networks and Enterprise environments. Without this procedure you download approx 3.58GB for each and every workstation and consume enormous bandwidth. Parallels can be drawn from previous or other Microsoft Products and this procedure is equivalent to an administrative 'SETUP /A' and subsequent 'SETUP /N' installation type.

It is imperative that you process and understand this procedure before you commence the whole installation. Whilst at first glance it may seem daunting, this procedure,once understood, is very very simple. Every effort in writing this procedure was devoting to enable both experienced and new users to achieve a practical solution to downloading and consuming bandwidth of an astronomical amount. It you do NOT use DHCP in your network it is important you know in advance, your designated source NFS servers IP, the installation destination PC IP, your Subnet Mask, your Internet Gateway IP, your DNS/ISP servers IP – Local or Public. If you use NAT (Network Address Translation) and are using Private Network IP's the subnet mask for the range of 192.168.0.0/24 is 255.255.255.0 and 10.1.1.1/8 is 255.0.0.0. If you are in doubt a subnet calculator can be found at http://www.subnetmask.info If you DO use DHCP in your network, you must know the IP allocated to your designated NFS server, your Internet Gateway IP and you DNS/ISP servers IP. Once DHCP has assigned an IP for the first time, subsequent allocations of address tend always to be the same IP. For example, if your designated NFS Server has been allocated by DHCP 192.168.1.2, you can almost be sure that every time the same PC is booted, DHCP will allocate the same address. This is achieved by DHCP using the MAC address of the network card as the only constant to map an IP against. An additional option to DHCP can be found in an existing 10.3 and above installation, which will allocate an IP via DHCP and guarantee the same IP's future allocation which is a convenient extension of DHCP that guarantees a static IP for every PC without the user specifying one. This great feature can be found as the option DHCP + Zero config and the author would suggest its wide application to every PC updated or running 10.3 and above in every situation where native DHCP was previously used.

Once an NFS Server has been setup to perform the installations of other PC's this PC MUST remain powered on and accessible to all other PC's as it will be permanently required for other PC's to perform either patch updates OR changes on the software loaded other PC's

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 for Linux and not to use this interface is in complete conflict with the products function,design and purpose.

0. Select a PC to be Setup as an NFS Server.

This PC Must contain a DVD Read writer unit and all other PC's must contain a CD Reader at minimum. Once Selected, the NFS Servers OpenSuse version must be a minimum of 10.1

1. Create the Installation Source Directory.

Firstly create a directory using a file manager running as ROOT to store the downloaded software. I would recommend a similar name to /home/i386_DVD or /home/X_64DVD. If you plan to purchase the physical media copy the entire contents of the physical DVD to the directory again using a File Manager running as ROOT. Exercise caution of using a 'space' in the name of the directory to be exported as earlier versions of OpenSuse will export the directory, however is will not be visible via browse. Use discretion in creating a directory above /home level.

2. Download Your Data Server Software.

Follow the directions of downloading a DVD for your Operating from http://software.opensuse.org/ as it contains ALL possible software media sources or it can be obtained in 3 working days from http://www.linuxcd.org/?ref=opensuse or sending an email to orders@linuxcd.org

3. The NFS Server

After the download DVD is complete or you have copied all the files from a Physical DVD you need to export the directory and create a NFS server. Open Yast>Network Services>NFS Server>Start the Service>Open the Firewall>accept other defaults>browse and add the directory>Accept a Host Wild Card '*' and other defaults, addition of the letter 'w' letter or allowing 'write' permissions is an Option>Finish. In the case of a KDE Desktop, the action of exporting the directory and running an NFS server will automatically create sharing rights to the KDE file Sharing Control Panel.

4. Check the File Permissions

Using a File Manager running as ROOT verify the file permissions of the directory with a right click. Copy the DVD or Save the downloaded DVD data to a new installation directory using a File Manager in Super User (root) mode. I.E \home\i386DVD. Make sure the installation directory was created by user root and group root. Make sure the file permissions are owner can 'View and Modify', Group can View and Modify, and Others can ' View and Modify'. When change the file permissions at the directory level make sure you tick the apply to all subdirectory and contents. The file permission should reflect drwxrwxrwx at the directory,sub directory and file levels. If the NFS Server has DNS servers allocated OR DHCP is used to access the WAN interface(Outside Internet Access) you might like to consider restricting 'others' to only have View Rights.

Often Internal Servers of many types that do not require access to the Internet or WAN Interface require careful assignments of file permissions. A File Server, Print Server, NFS Server, Installation Server, Syslog Server, Enterprise Server or other dedicated LAN only Interfaces need not have DNS Servers configured as they will function perfectly as they are offering only LAN Interface Services. You will, however, miss any updates from the Installation Repository from the Internet or WAN Interface.

5. 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 NFS server contain 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.

6. Start the installation program

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 a NFS Server and NFS Server IP and the exported directory and hit 'Enter'. The Kernel should load and may then fail with the error response 'Could Not Find the OpenSuse Repository – Activating Manual Setup Program'. The GUI installation program WILL failItalic text only if you do NOT use DHCP as the install program is reliant on DHCP allocating an IP to the new PC. Without DHCP IP allocation the GUI install Program will revert to a text base install screen and installation can proceed WITHOUT fear or 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 NFS 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 NFS Server' refers to the IP address of the PC that has been configured as an NFS 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/i386_DVD. 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.

Notes:

The newly created Installation should automatically have the NFS Installation repository included, however this can be manually created or recreated in YAST via Software Repositories

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.

Links

http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Installation_Server