Using the self-serve net installer/CentOS Stream: Difference between revisions
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===The default kickstart profile=== | ===The default kickstart profile=== | ||
The default kickstart profiles for | The default kickstart profiles for CentOS 7.x and beyond perform a mostly automatic install. In particular, '''the default installer kickstart has automated partitioning and package selection.''' | ||
If you're curious about what the default kickstart profile contains, use the '''kickstart''' [[Xen Shell]] command to see the URL to the file. You can just view it in your web browser. | |||
Briefly, the default kickstart does this: | |||
* Automatically blanks your '''xvda''' disk then puts a single partition across the whole of it for a root filesystem. | |||
* Automatically blanks your '''xvdb''' disk then puts a single partition across the whole of it for a swap partition. | |||
* Installs a minimal package selection. | |||
* Leaves you to interactively set up a user account as the only manual step. | |||
===Selecting a different kickstart profile=== | ===Selecting a different kickstart profile=== | ||
Since version '''v1.48bitfolk16''' you can use the '''kickstart''' [[Xen Shell]] command to choose from some alternate kickstart profiles, or (from version '''v1.48bitfolk18''') to specify a URL to your own custom profile. | Since version '''v1.48bitfolk16''' you can use the '''kickstart''' [[Xen Shell]] command to choose from some alternate kickstart profiles, or (from version '''v1.48bitfolk18''') to specify a URL to your own custom profile. | ||
You should use BitFolk's default kickstart file as a template for making your own modifications. | |||
It is possible to make your install entirely automated if you're willing to put (crypted) password information in your kickstart file. | |||
==CentOS 5's text mode installer== | ==CentOS 5's text mode installer== | ||
Revision as of 15:31, 2 February 2021
Installing CentOS or Scientific Linux using the BitFolk installer.
Supported distributions
- CentOS 7.x
- CentOS 8.x
Supported install methods
CentOS 7.x
- Semi-interactive text mode (automated partitioning)
- Custom kickstart URL
CentOS 8.x
- Semi-interactive text mode (automated partitioning)
- Custom kickstart URL
About kickstart
All RHEL-like installs use a kickstart profile.
The default kickstart profile
The default kickstart profiles for CentOS 7.x and beyond perform a mostly automatic install. In particular, the default installer kickstart has automated partitioning and package selection.
If you're curious about what the default kickstart profile contains, use the kickstart Xen Shell command to see the URL to the file. You can just view it in your web browser.
Briefly, the default kickstart does this:
- Automatically blanks your xvda disk then puts a single partition across the whole of it for a root filesystem.
- Automatically blanks your xvdb disk then puts a single partition across the whole of it for a swap partition.
- Installs a minimal package selection.
- Leaves you to interactively set up a user account as the only manual step.
Selecting a different kickstart profile
Since version v1.48bitfolk16 you can use the kickstart Xen Shell command to choose from some alternate kickstart profiles, or (from version v1.48bitfolk18) to specify a URL to your own custom profile.
You should use BitFolk's default kickstart file as a template for making your own modifications.
It is possible to make your install entirely automated if you're willing to put (crypted) password information in your kickstart file.
CentOS 5's text mode installer
Partitioning
Soon after the install starts you'll see something like this:
Welcome to CentOS
+-------------------------+ Partitioning Type +-------------------------+
| |
| Installation requires partitioning of your hard drive. The |
| default layout is reasonable for most users. You can either |
| choose to use this or create your own. |
| |
| Remove all partitions on selected drives and create default layout. |
| Remove linux partitions on selected drives and create default layout. |
| Use free space on selected drives and create default layout. |
| Create custom layout. |
| |
| Which drive(s) do you want to use for this installation? |
| [*] xvda 10237 MB (Xen Virtual Block Device) ^ |
| [*] xvdb 251 MB (Xen Virtual Block Device) # |
| |
| +----+ +------+ |
| | OK | | Back | |
| +----+ +------+ |
| |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
<Space>,<+>,<-> selection | <F2> Add drive | <F12> next screenYou are advised to:
- move the cursor to the "Create custom layout." line
- hit tab to move drive selection, where you can toggle the drives with the space key
- when done there, tab again to the "OK" button and press return to continue.
You will then see something like:
Welcome to CentOS
+------------------------------+ Partitioning +------------------------------+
| |
| Device Start End Size Type Mount Point |
| /dev/xvda ^ |
| Free space 1 1306 10240M Free space # |
| /dev/xvdb : |
| Free space 1 33 256M Free space : |
| /dev/xvdc : |
| Free space 1 621 4864M Free space : |
| : |
| : |
| : |
| v |
| |
| +-----+ +------+ +--------+ +------+ +----+ +------+ |
| | New | | Edit | | Delete | | RAID | | OK | | Back | |
| +-----+ +------+ +--------+ +------+ +----+ +------+ |
| |
| |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
F1-Help F2-New F3-Edit F4-Delete F5-Reset F12-OKYou just need to remember the above advice to put root as type ext3 on xvda1 and swap as xvdb1.
The install will now proceed normally and should be finished in a couple of minutes.
Finishing the install
Once the install has completed you'll see something like:
sending termination signals...done
sending kill signals...done
disabling swap...
/tmp/xvdb1
unmounting filesystems...
/mnt/runtime done
disabling /dev/loop0
/proc done
/dev/pts done
/sys done
/tmp/ramfs done
/selinux done
/mnt/sysimage/sys done
/mnt/sysimage/proc done
/mnt/sysimage/selinux done
/mnt/sysimage/dev done
/mnt/sysimage done
rebooting system
Restarting system.
xen-shell>You should now be able to boot into the new CentOS install.
CentOS 7.x's text mode installer
On CentOS 7.x the default kickstart sets all defaults and leaves you to set your own root password. If you wish it is then possible at this point for you to alter most settings apart from disk partitioning. The initial installer screen will look something like the following:
Starting automated install......
Generating updated storage configuration
Checking storage configuration...
================================================================================
================================================================================
Installation
1) [x] Language settings 2) [x] Timezone settings
(English (United Kingdom)) (Etc/UTC timezone)
3) [x] Software selection 4) [x] Installation source
(Custom software selected) (http://lon.static.bitfolk.com/
5) [x] Network settings centos/7/os/x86_64)
(Wired (eth0) connected) 6) [x] Install Destination
7) [x] Kdump (Custom partitioning selected)
(Kdump is enabled) 8) [!] Create user
9) [!] Set root password (No user will be created)
(Password is not set.)
Please make your choice from above ['q' to quit | 'b' to begin installation |
'r' to refresh]:You will need to select '9' to set a root password.
In what appears to be a bug, after setting the root password the installer will insist now that "3) Software selection" now needs completing. Select '3' and then make your selection (e.g. just '1' for a minimal install), then 'c' to continue.
The installer screen will now resemble:
1) [x] Language settings 2) [x] Timezone settings
(English (United Kingdom)) (Etc/UTC timezone)
3) [!] Software selection 4) [!] Installation source
(Processing...) (http://lon.static.bitfolk.com/
5) [x] Network settings centos/7/os/x86_64)
(Wired (eth0) connected) 6) [x] Install Destination
7) [x] Kdump (Custom partitioning selected)
(Kdump is enabled) 8) [x] Create user
9) [x] Set root password (No user will be created)
(Password is set.)
Please make your choice from above ['q' to quit | 'b' to begin installation |
'r' to refresh]:'r' to refresh until it changes to:
1) [x] Language settings 2) [x] Timezone settings
(English (United Kingdom)) (Etc/UTC timezone)
3) [x] Software selection 4) [x] Installation source
(Minimal Install) (http://lon.static.bitfolk.com/
5) [x] Network settings centos/7/os/x86_64)
(Wired (eth0) connected) 6) [x] Install Destination
7) [x] Kdump (Custom partitioning selected)
(Kdump is enabled) 8) [x] Create user
9) [x] Set root password (No user will be created)
(Password is set.)
Please make your choice from above ['q' to quit | 'b' to begin installation |
'r' to refresh]:and then you are ready to use 'b' to begin the installation. There will be no further questions until the installation is completed.
If you desire an entirely automated installation then:
- Take a copy of the default kickstart file.
- Add an appropriate rootpw command.
- Host your kickstart file on some web server.
- Select your kickstart file from BitFolk's Xen Shell.
The addition of a rootpw command to the default kickstart will result in an entirely automated install that will not pause for input at all.