Customized Remote Install

[Jerry McAllister]

On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 11:51:32PM +0200, Polytropon wrote:

> On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:42:32 -0600, Scott Seekamp <sseekamp at risei.net> wrote:
> > My hope was that I could make an automated install CD/DVD that  
> > configured all the options I want AND change some base config files so  
> > I can actually get to the box (or install an SSH key).
> > [...]
> > I'm open to other options if someone has gone down this road before!
> 
> I'd like to advertize a method that I think is very comfortable
> in such a setting. It's worth mentioning that this method
> usually requires (a) modern enough PCs or (b) you to know what
> is the hardware profile of the PC.
> 
> The method works as follows:
> 
> First create a FreeBSD as you want it to be on the clients.
> Install and configure everything as you intend.
> 
> Then dump the created partitions onto a CD or DVD and create
> a simple script that:
> 	1. initializes the client's hard disk
> 	2. slices the disk and newfses the partitions
> 	3. dumps the partition images onto the disks
> 	4. reboots the machine into operating state.
> 
> After this, you should be able to SSH into the client and
> change settings that need to be changed.

This works very well.   I have done essentially the same many times.
The one thing missing is that you need to have something to set the
network information -- hostname, IP address, gateway, netmask
and name-server.    These will be different for each machine.
So, your script will have to accomodate this - read console
input for these items and plug them in to the proper places
before rebooting.

////jerry


> 
> You always have your "reference machine" at hand, because it's
> exactly installed and configured as the clients.
> 
> Under controlled conditions, it's even possible to build the
> needed system in a virtualized environment.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Polytropon
> >From Magdeburg, Germany
> Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0
> Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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