Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:34:32 -0400 From: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> To: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> Cc: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu>, complists@risei.net, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org, Scott Seekamp <sseekamp@risei.net> Subject: Re: Customized Remote Install Message-ID: <20090422143432.GC4378@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> In-Reply-To: <20090422074743.6914db5b.freebsd@edvax.de> References: <F348B094-122C-42E7-ABE0-0B910D769B76@risei.net> <20090421235132.e08c3ff0.freebsd@edvax.de> <20090421224711.GA1729@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> <20090422074743.6914db5b.freebsd@edvax.de>
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On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 07:47:43AM +0200, Polytropon wrote: > On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:47:11 -0400, Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> wrote: > > On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 11:51:32PM +0200, Polytropon wrote: > > > > > On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:42:32 -0600, Scott Seekamp <sseekamp@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 just realize that I missed something: Better than dd, I think > dump & restore are the preferred tools to create the partition > images. When you're done on your "template system", umount its > partitions (in SUM) and use dump to dump them into files. These > files go to the installation DVD and are later on restored onto > the (empty) partitions using the restore command. This will > preserve any permissions and other file properties. > > > > > 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. > > That's correct. I always used a kind of "CHANGE THIS!" items > to do so, or, if none are given, they are automatically created > so the system boots up and runs, but then again, require service > afterwards. This can be made work this way: When the "incomplete" > system is up and running, it mails the distant administrator (or > contacts him in another way) requiring him to finish the settings. > But I think it's the best solution to propmt for these > specific settings at "installation time" (read, when the > restore job is done, the partitions can be mounted -o rw and > the files neccessary to be changed can be created or modified). > > The "installation" will then continue and finish. > > Of course, the dump & restore method lacks a lot of bling, > blitzen, eye candy, bells and whistles, but it honours the > abstinence to such stuff with speed and easyness of use. But > it's still neccessary to read (and understand) and press a > few keys on the keyboard. :-) the dump/restore method's best and biggest bling and bell and whistle is that it works correctly and is the most straight forward and easy. ////jerry > > > > -- > Polytropon > From Magdeburg, Germany > Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 > Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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