How to configure Kickstart on Redhat,Centos and Fedora.


How to perform a Kickstart Installation?

There are various sources like,
CD-ROM, a local hard drive, or via NFS, FTP, or HTTP.
Required items are in the Kick start file,
  1. Create a boot media with the kickstart file or make the kickstart file available on the network.
  2. Make the installation tree available.
  3. Start the kickstart installation.
ie.
  • Language
  • Installation method
  • Device specification (if device is needed to perform the installation)
  • Keyboard setup
  • The upgrade keyword
  • Boot loader configuration
Example ks file:-
(which is taken from my Linux box and created automatically while installation)

file: anaconda-ks.cfg
# Kickstart file automatically generated by anaconda.
2
3 install
4 cdrom //installation method
5 lang en_US.UTF-8 //language
6 keyboard us //Keyboard setup
7 xconfig –startxonboot //boot loader configuration
8 network --device eth0 --bootproto dhcp
9 network --device eth1 --onboot no --bootproto dhcp
10 rootpw --iscrypted $1$bHCjwJ.O$E/spc/Ail3nRpm6rMexgY0 //root password
11 firewall --enabled --port=22:tcp
12 authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5
13 selinux --enforcing
14 timezone Asia/Kolkata
15 bootloader --location=mbr --driveorder=sda --append="rhgb quiet"
16 # The following is the partition information you requested //partition details
17 # Note that any partitions you deleted are not expressed
18 # here so unless you clear all partitions first, this is
19 # not guaranteed to work
20 #clearpart --linux --drives=sda
21 #part /boot --fstype ext3 --size=100 --ondisk=sda
22 #part pv.11 --size=0 --grow --ondisk=sda
23 #volgroup VolGroup00 --pesize=32768 pv.11
#logvol / --fstype ext3 --name=LogVol00 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=1024 --gr ow
25 #logvol swap --fstype swap --name=LogVol01 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=1008 - -grow –maxsize=2016
26
27 %packages //packages needs to be installed
28 @base
29 @core
30 @dialup
31 @editors
32 @gnome-desktop
33 @games
34 @graphical-internet
35 @graphics
36 @kde-desktop
37 @office
38 @printing
39 @sound-and-video
40 @text-internet
41 @base-x
42 keyutils
43 trousers
44 fipscheck
45 device-mapper-multipath
46 kdegraphics
47 libsane-hpaio
48 kdepim
49 kdemultimedia
50 xorg-x11-server-Xnest



Creating ks file

Steps:-
  1. install system-config-kickstart
redhat users #yum install system-config-kickstart
      2) goto terminal
                          type #system-config-kickstart
  1. you will see gui window
if you want installation should be like the same mashine you are working with then
go File->open locate anaconda-ks.cfg file in the /root/anaconda.cfg
(OR)
do fresh configuration(don't open file anaconda-ks.cfg)
  1. configuration: this is where you can give entire details os installation which os ask while installation, for the sake of doing automation we need to give every data and how our system should like after installing os automatically
tab 1) basic configuration:
you can specify -language, keyboard, root password and architecture(x86..)
tab 2) installation method:
you can tell how do you wanna install os(which is source of os)
I you have http or ftp server then copy iso in to one directory
                                                                i) configure http server //you can also configure nfs,ftp...
                                                                ii) copy entire os DVD content into /var/www/html/Linux
                                                                iii) turn of firewall and selinux (or) give appropriate permissions
                                                                     for devices accessible
make sure it is accessible across the wire
Then select http in the radio button
HTTP server 192.168.1.X
HTTP Directory /os/path
tab 3) Boot Loader option:
let it be the same unless you need some
tab 4) Partition Information:
you can create partitions
/boot
/swap
/
/var
/home
/tmp
tab 5) Network Configuration: //this is important to communicate to http server
goto Add Network Device
give Network Device :eth0
Network Type : DHCP or Static
IP
Net Mask …
tab 6) Authenticate and Firewall:
let Authenticate and Firewall default
tab 7) Display Configuration:
you need to make sure you video card supports initial graphics
unless edit this in to basic, like
Color Depth : 8
Resolution : 640x480 and
Default Desktop : Gnome
tab 8) Package Selection:
you can select what are all the packages you need install
  1. thats it File->save into /var/www/html/ks.cfg

  1. boot up computer with bootable cd or DVD
  2. while you see prompt
    give linux ks=http://serverip/ks.cfg //if you have os in nfs you can give nfs://
  3. bingo