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LWM-Linux/14 - Linux Troubleshooting and Recovery/Automated Installations and PXE boot.md

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Automating installations and setting up PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) boots on Linux Mint can streamline the deployment process for multiple systems. Here’s a guide to help you get started:

Automated Installations

  1. Using Preseed Files:

    • Preseed files allow you to automate the installation process by providing answers to the installation prompts.
    • Create a preseed file (preseed.cfg) with your configuration: 
      d-i debian-installer/locale string en_US
d-i keyboard-configuration/xkb-keymap select us
d-i netcfg/get_hostname string mint
d-i netcfg/get_domain string local
d-i mirror/country string manual
d-i mirror/http/hostname string archive.ubuntu.com
d-i mirror/http/directory string /ubuntu
d-i mirror/http/proxy string
d-i passwd/root-password password rootpassword
d-i passwd/root-password-again password rootpassword
d-i passwd/user-fullname string User
d-i passwd/username string user
d-i passwd/user-password password userpassword
d-i passwd/user-password-again password userpassword
d-i clock-setup/utc boolean true
d-i time/zone string UTC
d-i partman-auto/method string regular
d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe select atomic
d-i partman/confirm boolean true
d-i partman/confirm_nooverwrite boolean true
d-i partman/confirm_write_new_label boolean true
    • Use the preseed file during installation by appending it to the boot parameters: 
      linux /install/vmlinuz auto=true priority=critical preseed/url=http://yourserver/preseed.cfg

  2. Using Kickstart:

    • Kickstart files are another method for automating installations, commonly used with Red Hat-based distributions but also supported by Debian-based systems.
    • Create a kickstart file (ks.cfg) with your configuration: 
      lang en_US
keyboard us
timezone UTC
rootpw rootpassword
user user --password userpassword
reboot
    • Use the kickstart file during installation by appending it to the boot parameters: 
      linux /install/vmlinuz ks=http://yourserver/ks.cfg

Setting Up PXE Boot

  1. Install and Configure a TFTP Server:

    • Install the TFTP server: 
      sudo apt-get install tftpd-hpa
    • Configure the TFTP server by editing /etc/default/tftpd-hpa: 
      TFTP_USERNAME="tftp"
TFTP_DIRECTORY="/var/lib/tftpboot"
TFTP_ADDRESS="0.0.0.0:69"
TFTP_OPTIONS="--secure"
    • Restart the TFTP server: 
      sudo systemctl restart tftpd-hpa

  2. Install and Configure a DHCP Server:

    • Install the DHCP server: 
      sudo apt-get install isc-dhcp-server
    • Configure the DHCP server by editing /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf: 
      subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  range 192.168.1.10 192.168.1.100;
  option routers 192.168.1.1;
  option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4;
  filename "pxelinux.0";
  next-server 192.168.1.1;
}
    • Restart the DHCP server: 
      sudo systemctl restart isc-dhcp-server

  3. Prepare PXE Boot Files:

    • Download and extract the PXE boot files: 
      sudo apt-get install syslinux
sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/pxelinux.0 /var/lib/tftpboot/
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg
sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/menu.c32 /var/lib/tftpboot/
sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/memdisk /var/lib/tftpboot/
sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/mboot.c32 /var/lib/tftpboot/
sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/chain.c32 /var/lib/tftpboot/
    • Create a PXE configuration file (/var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default): 
      DEFAULT menu.c32
PROMPT 0
TIMEOUT 300
ONTIMEOUT local
MENU TITLE PXE Boot Menu

LABEL Linux Mint
  MENU LABEL Install Linux Mint
  KERNEL /install/vmlinuz
  APPEND initrd=/install/initrd.gz auto=true priority=critical preseed/url=http://yourserver/preseed.cfg

  4. Boot from PXE:

    • Configure your client machines to boot from the network (PXE) in the BIOS/UEFI settings.
    • The client machines should now boot from the PXE server and start the automated installation process.

These steps should help you set up automated installations and PXE boots on Linux Mint¹²³⁴. If you have any specific questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 7/19/2024