linux_wiki:os_install_bare_metal

OS Install: Bare Metal

General Information

Installing on bare metal systems using the “net-install” method and kickstart.

Checklist

  • Distro(s): Enterprise Linux 6/7

Net Install

Installing a system over the network procedure.

  • Netinstall ISO ⇒ used to bootstrap the system and define network,hostname,kickstart file and NFS source install location
    • Alternatively, PXE Boot can replace needing any physical installation media.
  • DVD ISO ⇒ located on the NFS server and is the source for the install
  • Kickstart file ⇒ located on the NFS server in the same location as the DVD ISO and automates the installer

  • Download the OS net install image (to boot from)
    • Put this image on your local desktop/laptop or create a bootable USB flash drive

Setup a NFS Server if you do not have one already.

  • Download the OS standard DVD install ISO (to provide the installation files over the network)
    • Put this image on your NFS server in an exported directory
  • Prepare ISO+images directory on NFS server (If they don't exist already)
    • Mount the DVD ISO image temporarily
      mount -t iso9660 -o loop /iso/centos6.7-dvd/CentOS-6.7-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso /mnt
    • Copy the images/ directory from the mounted ISO image to the same directory as the ISO image
      cp -pr /mnt/images /iso/centos6.7-dvd/
    • Unmount ISO image
      umount /mnt
    • Example: the directory /iso/centos6.7-dvd/ now contains:
      • CentOS-6.7-x86_64-bin-DVD1.iso
      • images/ (directory copied from ISO)

Create a kickstart file and put it in the same location on the NFS server as the ISO image.


  • Connect to system console (via KVM, other remote access solution, or physically in front of it)
  • Mount a netinstall ISO image from a location on your desktop/laptop
    • OR plugin a USB flash drive with a netinstall ISO on it to the server
  • Boot server to the netinstall ISO

On the Welcome to CentOS screen:

  • Highlight “Install or Upgrade an existing system” and press “tab” or “e” to edit boot options. (depending upon bios or uefi system)
  • CentOS 6
    • BIOS ⇒ After “vmlinuz initrd=initrd.img”, append:
      ks=nfs:<nfs-ip>:/iso/centos6.7-dvd/centos6-ks-bios.cfg ksdevice=link hostname=<fqdn-hostname> ip=x.x.x.x netmask=x.x.x.x gateway=x.x.x.x nameserver=x.x.x.x
  • CentOS 7
    • BIOS ⇒ After “quiet”, append:
      inst.resolution=1024x768 inst.ks=nfs:<nfs-ip>:/iso/centos7.2-dvd/centos7-ks-bios.cfg ksdevice=link hostname=<fqdn-hostname> ip=x.x.x.x netmask=x.x.x.x gateway=x.x.x.x nameserver=x.x.x.x
    • UEFI ⇒ After “quiet”, append:
      inst.resolution=1024x768 inst.ks=nfs:<nfs-ip>:/iso/centos7.2-dvd/centos7-ks-efi.cfg ksdevice=link hostname=<fqdn-hostname> ip=x.x.x.x netmask=x.x.x.x gateway=x.x.x.x nameserver=x.x.x.x
  • Note: This can be pasted into most consoles by using KVM menus. (Keyboard > Send Text to Target… > Paste in text > click Ok)

  • linux_wiki/os_install_bare_metal.txt
  • Last modified: 2019/05/25 23:50
  • (external edit)