Member Avatar for PirateTUX

Just recently, the development group that I work with decided to adopt Linux as our standard operating system for the server-side of our project. Linux is a great choice of server OS for many obvious, and not-so-obvious, reasons. It's extremely flexible, stable, and secure, and works on just about any hardware out there. Anymore, it's also very compatible with any other well-known desktop operating system, so you can integrate it with the Windows or Apple machines that you might already have. However, installation of the Linux OS could be an overly interactive nightmare, plagued with dangers of poorly burned CDs.

No more.

It was recently pointed out to me that Fedora Core (I'm not sure how many other distros have this capability. I only use Fedora. Please don't flame me.) has the ability to install via an FTP or HTTP server. All you need is a good copy of disk 1 of the install media, and the rest can be downloaded on-the-fly. This is achieved by using the command "linux askmethod" at the boot prompt right after booting from the first install disk. This installer will then load, and you will be prompted on what your source will be (i.e. hard drive, FTP, HTTP...), then you be required to give network information (i.e. do you use DHCP or static IP?), then you will be asked to provide information about where the install files are actually located. A more detailed look at the process can be found on RedHat's . If you look under the Fedora Core 6 Installation Guide, , you'll get a better idea of what the process is like. Also, check out . This page, and subsequent pages, give screenshots of all the screens you will see while using this method of installation. Finally, a list of FTP and HTTP sites that host mirrors of the installation media can be found .

Of course, if you choose to install Fedora Core using the network method, you must have a fast, reliable connection to the internet. I have done this quite a number of times using broadband cable internet with a great deal of success. It takes an average of 3 hours to install the operating system and all of the software included with the distribution, but it eliminates all user interaction, so you can just set up the install and walk away.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

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This thread correctly flags network-based installs as a way to avoid juggling multiple install discs. The landscape has changed since Fedora Core 6: the Fedora Project now publishes current images and up-to-date installation documentation on the Fedora site, and the supported, scalable approaches for unattended or repeatable installs are Kickstart and PXE-based provisioning. called out the value of network installs, and hinted at small unattended images; the practical, production-ready path is to combine a small netboot/boot image with Kickstart (and a PXE server for fleet deployment).

A concise example of how the installer can be told where to fetch a Kickstart file and the package tree (modern Anaconda syntax) looks like:

inst.ks=http://10.0.0.5/ks.cfg inst.repo=http://mirror.example.com/fedora/releases/X/Everything/x86_64/os/

Operational tips that avoid the most common gotchas: host a proper repository tree (repodata present) or export a mounted ISO; generate metadata locally with createrepo_c if mirroring; verify the installer can reach the URL from another machine before booting; prefer HTTP for initial testing to avoid certificate issues; and, for mass deployment, use a PXE/TFTP + HTTP combo and a tool such as Cobbler or Foreman to manage boots and Kickstart profiles.

For current downloads and the official, versioned installation guide consult the Fedora Project resources:

This complements the original posts by pointing to the supported automation tools and the up-to-date Fedora resources that replace the older Fedora Core references.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Do a google for installinux (not quite sure about the spelling) - you can chooose from many distros and choose your mirror and additional options on the website then download a small unattended netinstall image

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