Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:17:26 -0700 From: George Allan <d1945@sbcglobal.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Automated installations Message-ID: <20061019231726.GA672@home> In-Reply-To: <20061018011558.rebcylgmsvr44wwg@www.be-known-online.com> References: <20061017024608.oz5nxhf483s4c444@www.be-known-online.com> <20061017033149.GA1064@home> <20061018011558.rebcylgmsvr44wwg@www.be-known-online.com>
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On Wed, Oct 18, 2006 at 01:15:58AM +0000, valentin_nils@be-known-online.com wrote:
Be considerate of others. Please don't top post.
> Quoting George Allan:
>> valentin_nils@be-known-online.com wrote:
>>> I am in search of an tool for automated installations. SOmething like
>>> Kickstart or Autoyast for Linux - just the BSD-able version ;-)
>>>
>>> Is anybody aware of such a tool that I perhaps overlooked or anybody
>>> perhaps currently developing one ?
>>
>> sysinstall(8) is your friend.
>> pxeboot(8) will buy the drinks.
>>
>> Be sure to read through Section 2 of the fine Handbook.
>
> That basically means that I have to compile/burn my own CD with the
> config file install.cfg in it right ?
Not at all. I'd advise against trying to compile/burn your own CD. I'd
even advise against using CDs altogether, except perhaps in the case of
emergencies. Once you're past the 1 system count, setting up a network
infrastructure to handle your installations (along with just about
everything else) is often more than just a good idea. The small
investment in time will give you the opportunity to learn something, and
will save you time and grief in the future.
> is there a version f.e. to start from the CD (with some parameters
> where the config file is located) and do that from a boot floppy -
> basically without PXEboot or can I point PXEboot to the CD image AND
> the install.cfg somehow ?
Again, drop the CD idea. You want to be booting off the network, and
installing from the network. The following link provides a
newbie-friendly description of how you can use PXE to perform a simple
network-based installation:
http://gja.space4me.com/things/Using_pxeboot_Install53.html
Once you're comfortable with the concepts, you can proceed to automating
the installation (and customising install.cfg):
http://www.tnpi.biz/computing/freebsd/pxe-netboot.shtml
Regards.
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