July 2003 - openSUSE Autoinstall - openSUSE Mailing Lists

cannot use keyboard other than language
by Michal Kubecek 06 Oct '03

06 Oct '03

I have a problem with automatic installation of SuSE Linux 8.1 and 8.2. I need to select czech language but english (US) keyboard map. Generated XML file contains <keyboard> <keymap>english-us</keymap> </keyboard> <language>cs_CZ</language> but the system is installed with czech keyboard map anyway. Is there a way to use czech language but english-US keyboard map? Michal Kubecek

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[Re: [suse-autoinstall] [Re: ... [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]]
by dfroehling 30 Jul '03

30 Jul '03

dfroehling wrote: > > I tried it but my grub bootprompt doesn't accept ifconfig. > > It tells me error 27 unknown command. > > I'm using SuSE 8.2 pro with grub 0.93-23 as installed from dvd. > > I recompiled grub and had the same error. > > Is there a difference between grub 0.93 and 0.92 installation as > > described at: > > http://sdb.suse.de/de/sdb/html/fhassel_grub_overview.html ? > > There is an error in the above mentioned document: > shouldn't be "dd if=stage2 of=/dev/fd0 seek=1" but > "dd if=stage2.network of=/dev/fd0 seek=1" The whole thing doesn't work. The network card is an onboard Intel eepro100 which isn't correctly recognized by grub's eepro100 driver. SuSE 8.2's driver recognizes the card. Image from http://www.rom-o-matic.com will recognize the card but uses DHCP which I can't use because I MUST ENTER my own IP address and hostname at bootprompt. So I'm back at the beginning: How can I tell autoyast to load module eepro100 from modules3 disk? If I enter this at the bootprompt it will be ignored. CU Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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Antwort: Re: [suse-autoinstall] Problems with Grub Floppy
by Alexander.Gehrig＠RSD.rohde-schwarz.com 29 Jul '03

29 Jul '03

Hi Thanks for this greate tipp! - Do you have any idea if it's possible to build a disk with more than one single dirver? On the URL you told, i can only download an floppyimage with one driver. Is there any problem by building a floppy disk with more than one driver? Thanks! Bye Alexander |--------+-----------------------> | | Eric Heydrick| | | <eric@heydric| | | k.com> | | | | | | 28.07.2003 | | | 19:32 | | | | |--------+-----------------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | An: suse-autoinstall(a)suse.com | | Kopie: (Blindkopie: Alexander Gehrig/RSD) | | Thema: Re: [suse-autoinstall] Problems with Grub Floppy | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------| For GX260s we use Etherboot and it works very well. The floopy images from http://www.rom-o-matic.com support the e1000 in the Dell. -Eric On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 Alexander.Gehrig(a)RSD.rohde-schwarz.com wrote: > Hi All > > At the moment we are use 4 bootdisks to install linux by using > autoyast. In the feature we want to have only one disk. So i test tftp > and bootp with grub. It works without problem on some systems... but > on our new systems (Dell GX260) it will not work because the > networkcard driver failed. Does anybody know how to add the "Intel > Ethernet Express 1000/MT" to grub? > > I just tried to compile (0.93) and create the grubbootdisk myself, but > i did not find anyway to include another driver. Which kind of driver > can i include to grub and how can i include this dirvers? > > Thanks! > > Bye > > > Alexander > > > > > > > > > -- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com > For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com > -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com

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[Re: ... [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]
by dfroehling 29 Jul '03

29 Jul '03

dfroehling wrote: > I tried it but my grub bootprompt doesn't accept ifconfig. > It tells me error 27 unknown command. > I'm using SuSE 8.2 pro with grub 0.93-23 as installed from dvd. > I recompiled grub and had the same error. > Is there a difference between grub 0.93 and 0.92 installation as > described at: > http://sdb.suse.de/de/sdb/html/fhassel_grub_overview.html ? There is an error in the above mentioned document: shouldn't be "dd if=stage2 of=/dev/fd0 seek=1" but "dd if=stage2.network of=/dev/fd0 seek=1" -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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[Re: [Re: Re: [Fwd: Re: [Re: Re: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]]]]
by dfroehling 29 Jul '03

29 Jul '03

dfroehling wrote: > Anas Nashif wrote: > > > > No chance the systems only have a floppy drive, a network interface, a > > > graphics adapter and a harddisk. > > > > > > > > Then I would use the grub floppy.. > > > I'll try that. I tried it but my grub bootprompt doesn't accept ifconfig. It tells me error 27 unknown command. I'm using SuSE 8.2 pro with grub 0.93-23 as installed from dvd. I recompiled grub and had the same error. Is there a difference between grub 0.93 and 0.92 installation as described at: http://sdb.suse.de/de/sdb/html/fhassel_grub_overview.html ? CU Dierk -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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Problems with Grub Floppy
by Alexander.Gehrig＠RSD.rohde-schwarz.com 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Hi All At the moment we are use 4 bootdisks to install linux by using autoyast. In the feature we want to have only one disk. So i test tftp and bootp with grub. It works without problem on some systems... but on our new systems (Dell GX260) it will not work because the networkcard driver failed. Does anybody know how to add the "Intel Ethernet Express 1000/MT" to grub? I just tried to compile (0.93) and create the grubbootdisk myself, but i did not find anyway to include another driver. Which kind of driver can i include to grub and how can i include this dirvers? Thanks! Bye Alexander

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[Re: Re: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

I need to enter IP address and hostname manually at the boot prompt because this is customer specific. I can't use DHCP or similar things for getting automatic addresses and so on. Later my pre install script reads the hostname out of boot parameters and creates a serial number from it. Harald Milz wrote: > Question - why do you use a boot floppy in the first place, as opposed > to > booting via PXE? If the machine's BIOS supports PXE this is far > easier. >> Hi, >> I've got a big problem. >> I try to install SuSE 8.2 with autoyast and use as bootdevice a >> floppy >> disk. >> The rest of the installation (config file for autoyast, installation >> directory) is available from the network. >> I enter at the bootprompt "insmod=eepro100" but the installer never >> asks >> for modules 3 disk. >> After manually loading the correct module the installation takes >> place. >> Is it possible to tell yast/autoyast to load modules not only from >> the >> boot disk and modules 1? -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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[Re: Re: [Fwd: Re: [Re: Re: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]]]
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Anas Nashif wrote: > > No chance the systems only have a floppy drive, a network interface, a > > graphics adapter and a harddisk. > > > > > Then I would use the grub floppy.. I'll try that. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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[Fwd: Re: [Re: Re: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy]]
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Anas Nashif wrote: > dfroehling wrote: > > I need to enter IP address and hostname manually at the boot prompt > > because this is customer specific. > > I can't use DHCP or similar things for getting automatic addresses and > > so on. > > Later my pre install script reads the hostname out of boot parameters > > and creates a serial number from it. > Booting from floppies needs alot of custimzations and module swapping. > Its easier to create a boot cdrom with a modified command line (or info > file) or even use the original CDs for that. No chance the systems only have a floppy drive, a network interface, a graphics adapter and a harddisk. -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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[Re: Re: [suse-autoinstall] output from pre install scripts]
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

No solution for me. My pre install script does a bad block check on the harddisk and will tell wether the hd is ok or not. If it's not ok the installation will be interrupted. So I have to see this during the installation. This is my own solution now for my question from 20030723 (formatting hd), Message-ID: <3F1E7C98.5040706(a)aycan.de> . > /var/adm/autoinstall/scripts in installed system. > dfroehling wrote: > > Where can I see the output of my pre install scripts except that I > > switch to tty2 and do "tail -f /tmp/..../logs"? -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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output from pre install scripts
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Where can I see the output of my pre install scripts except that I switch to tty2 and do "tail -f /tmp/..../logs"? Thanx in advance, Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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creating a swap partition
by Theytaz Antoine 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

hello List, I'm using SuSE version 8.0 and I love it. I'm trying with "yast autoyast" to configure a swap partition but it does not work. When the auto-install does his job I have the message "The hard disk has an unsupported partition table." or something similar (mainly all other things are working ok). What is the correct way to do this ? it does not work either putting 'swap' or not as the mount point. Here is the representation : ??Options?????????????????????? Partition Plan ? ?????General Options ? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? ?????Messages Logging ? ?Device ?Mount? Size ? Type ? File System ? ? ?????Bootloader ? ? ?swap ?auto ?Linux native? ? ? ?????Partitioning ? ? ?/data?max ?Linux native?Reiser ? ? ?????Network ? ? ?/ ?2.5gb ?Linux native?Reiser ? ? ???+?Authentication ? ?/dev/hda? ? ? ? ? ? My yast2 modules versions are : yast2-trans-autoinst-2.5.14-6 yast2-config-autoinst-2.5.16-1 yast2-module-autoinst-2.5.27-0 Has someone the same problem ? schon gehabt ? Or can someone post an "interesting-complicated-but-working" hand-made XML file ? Thank you ! Antoine

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Re: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy
by Harald.Milz＠computacenter.com 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

COMPUTACENTER (UK) LTD The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information which may be confidential and which may also be privileged. Unless you are the named addressee (or authorised to receive for the addressee) you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately and then destroy it. Computacenter information is available from http://www.computacenter.com This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. *************************************************************************************************************************** Question - why do you use a boot floppy in the first place, as opposed to booting via PXE? If the machine's BIOS supports PXE this is far easier. Mit freundlichen Gruessen - Best regards Harald Milz Consultant Enterprise Computing Solutions CC CompuNet AG & Co. oHG A part of Computacenter plc Hoerselbergstrasse 7, 81677 Muenchen, Germany Phone: +49 (0)89 45712-161, Fax: -331, Mobile: +49 (0)173 3866604 E-Mail : Harald.Milz(a)computacenter.com Visit us on the Internet: http://www.computacenter.com This email is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this mail in error, please tell us immediately by return email and delete the document. suse-autoinstall-return-1071-harald.milz=computacenter.com(a)suse.com on 28.07.2003 12:20:40 Please respond to dfroehling(a)aycan.de To: suse-autoinstall(a)suse.com cc: Subject: [suse-autoinstall] loading network drivers from floppy -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I've got a big problem. I try to install SuSE 8.2 with autoyast and use as bootdevice a floppy disk. The rest of the installation (config file for autoyast, installation directory) is available from the network. I enter at the bootprompt "insmod=eepro100" but the installer never asks for modules 3 disk. After manually loading the correct module the installation takes place. Is it possible to tell yast/autoyast to load modules not only from the boot disk and modules 1? Thanx in advance, Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-autoinstall-help(a)suse.com

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loading network drivers from floppy
by dfroehling 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Hi, I've got a big problem. I try to install SuSE 8.2 with autoyast and use as bootdevice a floppy disk. The rest of the installation (config file for autoyast, installation directory) is available from the network. I enter at the bootprompt "insmod=eepro100" but the installer never asks for modules 3 disk. After manually loading the correct module the installation takes place. Is it possible to tell yast/autoyast to load modules not only from the boot disk and modules 1? Thanx in advance, Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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Additional package not in ISO-image
by silverio.santos＠equant.com 28 Jul '03

28 Jul '03

Hi, I added an additional package into a newly created i386-folder and have run the create_package_descr as described. The package identifies itself as i386-arch. The problem is that the file is not added to the ISO-image, from which I would like to install the target-system. I found that an earlier version of the package that I created (compiled and packaged) on this system is found in every packages-file that has been created by create_package_descr. That means that there is the same package with 2 different version numbers in the packages files. Is this the cause for the malfunction? How can I get the additional package integrated into the ISO-file? Thanks Silvério Santos

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How do I adding users by using a usertemplate
by Ruprecht Helms 25 Jul '03

25 Jul '03

Hi, how can I add users for a bigger linux-lan by using a usertemplate. All users should have the same company-desktop. I tried copying the default files from an other userdirectory but after login in with the new user the kde fails. The useradding via above mentioned method should be possible by using a systemfunction or automaticly by using a script. Regards, Ruprecht ----------------------------------------------- Ruprecht Helms IT-Service & Softwareentwicklung Tel./Fax +49[0]7621 16 99 16 Homepage: http://www.rheyn.de email: info(a)rheyn.de ------------------------------------------------

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SuSE 8.0 autoinstall issue with Yast2
by Josarn 24 Jul '03

24 Jul '03

Hello everyone, the first time i installed SuSe 8.0 everything went just fine, i had some hardware problems involving a new HD so i find myself with the chance of installing linux again. Partitioning wise the linux dedicated hdb has a hdb1swap partition and hdb2 is the root partition, LILO was supposed to be on a floppy disk and default office with KDE desktop and the linux documentation where the packages i selected to be installed. It went fine during partitioning, package installation but, when it got to writing LILO to the floppy disk the system rebooted spontaneously. Any way i think i managed to complete installation by booting from the Cd and using the manual installation option in yast2 (LILO step was completly ignored) and then the boot installed system option, at least a password for root was set and a user was created. Once linux was loaded (working just fine) i went to the bootloader module in Yast 2 and to my surprise i find that lilo was configured to be installed in the MBR. Anyway, i changed that and configured linux to be booted from a floppy disk. Checked SuSE's support database in search for help but i cant seem to find a reference to the Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:42 error message. Can somebody enlighten this lost and searching soul? José Gabriel Arnewi

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formatting hd
by dfroehling 23 Jul '03

23 Jul '03

Hello, and just another question. I'd like to format the newly created partitions with badblock check. I know yast2 doesn't support this anymore, but maybe autoyast? Sometimes we get a delivery from our vendors with "weak" harddisks. I'd like to exclude those machines during the installation process. Thanx in advance, Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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Hostnames
by dfroehling 23 Jul '03

23 Jul '03

Hello, I know you discussed this already in may 2002. But I have a problem. I need to set the hostname before installation of the packages and can't use DHCP because the hostname will be customer dependent. A rpm package that will be installed needs to know the correct hostname because it creates a serial number from the hostname. Entering the IP address at the boot prompt is only the half way... Is it possible to ask the user during a pre install script to enter a hostname that is stored in an environment variable? Maybe yast/autoyast could get the name later from this variable? Thanx in advance, Dierk -- // Dierk Froehling // aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH // Innere Aumuehlstr. 5 // 97076 Wuerzburg // Germany // phone: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-0 // fax: +49 (0)931 2 70 40 9-1 // http://www.aycan.de Bitte beachten Sie unsere neue Adresse! Please notice the new address!

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classes
by Michael.Regner＠dbv-winterthur.de 22 Jul '03

22 Jul '03

Hello, I am using SLES 8 with autoyast. So far it works very well. But I didn´t understand, how to use "classes". I managed to to create different classes with different configurations in this classes. Using yast2 autoyast, I am able to create a new XML file for the normal repository for a new maschine. Insted of merging the classes,I can build a XML file which uses the defined classes. A XML file looks like: <?xml version="1.0"?> <!DOCTYPE profile SYSTEM "/usr/share/YaST2/include/autoinstall/profile.dtd"> <profile xmlns="http://www.suse.com/1.0/yast2ns" xmlns:config="http://www.suse.com/1.0/configns"> <install> <classes config:type="list"> <class> <class_name>Custom</class_name> <configuration>User</configuration> </class> <class> <class_name>Serverhardware</class_name> <configuration>HP_Vectra_430</configuration> </class> <class> <class_name>Software</class_name> <configuration>Minimalserver</configuration> </class> </classes> </install> </profile> But if I try to install an new maschine with this XML file, an error occures. I think, the installer doesn´t find it´s class files. Where do I have to put the class files ? I use something like this: install=nfs://1.2.3.4/export/install/SLES8 autoyast=nfs://1.2.3.4/export/install/SLES8/profiles Regards Michael

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RH's Kickstart vs. SuSE's AutoYast2 NFS installs
by Marc Christensen 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

Hello everyone, In our company, we have several developers who are porting services to both RH AS and SLES 8. We have set up NFS installs for them to install these OSes for development and testing. There is a variety of hardware to install on so our installs must let the user setup hardware (video, partitioning, etc.) themselves. The RH install uses Kickstart and sets defaults in the install (timezone, additional packages, etc). We can set kickstart to be interactive so that the user can control most of the install (this is nice and perfect for our environment). Our SLES NFS install is currently working perfectly however, I don't see a way to change default install options and be interactive like a kickstart install. After reading about and testing some AutoYast2 installs, it seems to be completely automated and require things such as partitioning and other hardware specific choices to be predetermined. Is this true? Am I missing something? Can I set AutoYast2 to be interactive and just take defaults from it's config? Is there a better way? Maybe AutoYast is not the answer to my questions. Is there a way using AutoYast or other other method to change the install defaults, to do an NFS install but change some of the default options and do some extra things and remain interactive? I need to: * autodetect NIC and use DHCP for initial configuration during install * let the user set up hardware (partitioning, video, etc) * Let the user select or remove software packages if they choose * install some custom developed RPMs on the user's system regardless of their choice of profile or individual package selection. (I have added these packages to the installation according AUtoYast2 instructions). * preset the timezone * install a custom ntp.conf * add entries to their /etc/fstab for some nfs entries -- Marc Christensen http://www.mecworks.com

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Re: [suse-autoinstall] User intervention with AutoYast2?
by Marc Christensen 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

See below for embedded comments... Thomas Mack wrote: [snip] >>I only want to: >> >> * install some custom developed RPMs on their >> system regardless of their choice of profile or >> individual package selection. (I have added these packages >> to the installation according Anas' instructions). >> >> * preset the timezone >> >> * install a custom ntp.conf >> >> * add entries to their /etc/fstab for some nfs entries >> >>That's basicaly it. Because of the diverse needs of the installers and > > > Interesting - why then you do not put SuSE on some NFS-Server, leave > the installation to the user and give them a small script to append > some entries to /etc/fstab, copy the ntp.conf, set the timezone, start > some rpm statements and reboot the machine? > > Autoyast seems to be massive overkill to do this...? > There are many reasons for this: 1) we need to control the environment that our testers and developers are working on. Already, we have had people installing what ever version of Linux they had lying around. This is very problamatic. 2) reduce cost and time. It is cheaper and faster for 700+ developers and testers to download 4 installations diskettes or a CD image made only for a network install than to download all the ISO images and burn them. 3) Allows easy update of the custom build software we are having installed 4) opens the door for future modification and additions to the install process (modifying or adding to the autoinstall). >>the various machines they will be installing, it is only feasible to >>have one control file and let then to most of the configuration >>themsleves as opposed to writting a custom control file for each type of >>hardware with different harddrives and videocards, etc. >> > > You will need different sections for different monitors, but not for > different videocards, as they will be configured automatically depending > on the monitor and the requested screen resolution etc.. On harddisks, you > can say something like "auto" for some partially automatic partitioning, > or you can say "max" to use the still available space etc. - so there is > some flexibility possible. Indeed, we have some working XF86Config files > for different machines, and we just copy them at the end of installation > to /etc/X11, so we don't even bother too much about automatic X11 > installation. Well, what I am saying is "can the user do all the video and such configuration themselves and leave all issues of hardware out of the autoyast2 process?". We have such a diversity of machines that it is impractical to even consider doing a custom configuration for different types of machines. The user needs to be able to partition drives, set up video, make other selections of software beyond the minimum that I'll setup, etc. In comparison, we are also developing for another Linux platform (who shall remain nameless but who's initials are RH 8^(). They provide a very easily configured network install which does all the above. The configuration of the install system is not hardware dependant (although it could be) and allows the user to take control of many aspects of the install if needed yet provides a way for us to do several customizations to the machines. Apart from the specific needs listed above, we also need to provide a similar experience for the users and testers so that they don't need to know two processes to set up their machines. Basicaly, I don't want total control, I want to be able to set defaults and add the above mentioned configuration changes and additions. -- Marc Christensen http://www.mecworks.com

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Keeping partitions (again)
by Bjorn Tore Sund 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

I've carefully read the autoyast partitioning documentation,I've gone through the last four months of archives, I've done the y2update thing from http://www.suse.de/~nashif/autoinstall/y2update/ and have verified that this is mounted and read - and still I can't get my partitions the way I want them. "Not enough free space on /dev/hda", alternatively "No free space" when creating the partition plan. Current partitions: /dev/hda1 /boot ext2 /dev/hda2 / reiserfs /dev/hda3 swap swap /dev/hda4 /scratch reiserfs I want to keep /scratch without formatting and smash the other three into two partitions, / and swap: <partitioning config:type="list"> <drive> <device>/dev/hda</device> <partitions config:type="list"> <partition> <create config:type="boolean">true</create> <format config:type="boolean">true</format> <mount>/</mount> <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id> <partition_type>primary</partition_type> <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr> <size>max</size> </partition> <partition> <create config:type="boolean">true</create> <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem> <format config:type="boolean">true</format> <mount>swap</mount> <partition_id config:type="integer">130</partition_id> <partition_type>primary</partition_type> <size>2gb</size> <partition_nr config:type="integer">2</partition_nr> </partition> <partition> <create config:type="boolean">false</create> <format config:type="boolean">false</format> <mount>/scratch</mount> <partition_nr config:type="integer">4</partition_nr> </partition> </partitions> <use>1,2,3</use> </drive> </partitioning> I've tried several variations, including fixed size for /, changing the /scratch partition number, but the error message remains the same. Setting "initialize" on the drive made it kill /scratch as well. Any suggestions to what I'm missing? Bjørn -- Bjørn Tore Sund Phone: (+47) 555-84894 Stupidity is like a System administrator Fax: (+47) 555-89672 fractal; universal and Math. Department Mobile: (+47) 918 68075 infinitely repetitive. University of Bergen VIP: 81724 teknisk(a)mi.uib.no Email: bjornts(a)mi.uib.no http://www.mi.uib.no/

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User intervention with AutoYast2?
by Marc Christensen 17 Jul '03

17 Jul '03

Hello, In reading the AutoYast2 documentation for SLES 8, I see two seemingly conflicting descriptions of the level of user intervention. In the first sentance of the first paragraph of chapter one, it states "AutoYast2 is the system for installing one of more SuSE Linux systems automatically and without user intervention". Later on, in second to last paragraph of secion 1.2, it states "Using a control file, Yast2 prepares the system for a custom installation and avoids any interaction with the user, unless specified in the control file". So, my question is, how well (or minimaly) can I control what the user can enter? In my situation, I am setting up an NFS install for several hundred testers and developers. They are working on various machines from a number of vendors and I want them to basicaly do everything in the installation themselves (apart from a few presets): I only want to: * install some custom developed RPMs on their system regardless of their choice of profile or individual package selection. (I have added these packages to the installation according Anas' instructions). * preset the timezone * install a custom ntp.conf * add entries to their /etc/fstab for some nfs entries That's basicaly it. Because of the diverse needs of the installers and the various machines they will be installing, it is only feasible to have one control file and let then to most of the configuration themsleves as opposed to writting a custom control file for each type of hardware with different harddrives and videocards, etc. Is this goal within the scope of AutoYast2? Thanks. -- Marc Christensen http://www.mecworks.com

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autoyast ask me "install now"
by Martin Schmiderer 17 Jul '03

17 Jul '03

Hello *, my autoyast works now very fine! The only problem is, autoyast ask me after parsing the controlfile in a little green popup-window "install now" or "abort installation". I want to do that automaticly. The next problem is the passwords for the users dosn't match after installation, that means i can't loggin :-( Thanks for any help, regards Martin -- ________________________________creating IT solutions Martin Schmiderer science + computing ag System Administration Hagellocher Weg 71-75 phone +49 7071 9457 225 72070 Tuebingen, Germany fax +49 7071 9457 211 www.science-computing.de

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