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Automating Installation with Kickstart

Objectives

  • Explain Kickstart concepts and architecture.
  • Create and modify Kickstart files.
  • Validate Kickstart files and publish them to the installer.
  • Install Kickstart on the network.

Introduction to Kickstart

Kickstart automates RHEL installations using text files to configure disk partitioning, network interfaces, package selection, and customization. It supports unattended installations similar to Windows answer files.

Kickstart File Structure

  • Commands define installation steps.
  • %packages section specifies software.
  • %pre and %post sections contain scripts for pre- and post-installation tasks.

Key Commands

  • url, repo: Specify installation source and additional repositories.
  • part, autopart: Configure disk partitions.
  • network, firewall: Configure networking and firewall settings.
  • lang, keyboard, timezone: Set language, keyboard, and timezone.
  • rootpw, selinux, services: Define root password, SELinux mode, and system services.

Example Kickstart File

Contains bootloader configuration, partitioning, installation options, software selection, and post-installation scripts.

Creating Kickstart Files

  • Use Kickstart Generator website or a text editor.

Kickstart Installation Steps

  1. Create a Kickstart file.
  2. Publish the Kickstart file for Anaconda.
  3. Boot Anaconda and point it to the Kickstart file.

Questions and Answers

  1. What is the purpose of Kickstart in RHEL?

  2. To automate system installations.

  3. What types of configurations can Kickstart files include?

  4. Disk partitioning, network interfaces, package selection, and customizations.

  5. How does Anaconda use Kickstart files?

  6. For a complete installation without user interaction.

  7. What character indicates a comment line in Kickstart files?

  8. The number sign (#) character.

  9. What character denotes a directive in Kickstart files?

  10. The percentage sign (%) character.

  11. What does the %packages section specify?

  12. Which software to include in the installation.

  13. How do you exclude a package in Kickstart?

  14. Precede it with a hyphen (-) character.

  15. What are %pre and %post sections used for?

  16. %pre for scripts before partitioning, %post for scripts after installation.

  17. What command specifies the installation media URL?

  18. url

  19. What does the repo command do?

    • Specifies where to find additional packages for installation.

  20. What command forces a text mode installation?

    • text

  21. How do you enable VNC for remote graphical installation?

    • vnc

  22. What command removes existing partitions before creating new ones?

    • clearpart

  23. What does the part command configure?

    • Size, format, and name of a partition.

  24. What command automatically creates root, swap, and boot partitions?

    • autopart

  25. How do you prevent Anaconda from modifying specific disks?

    • ignoredisk

  26. What is the purpose of the bootloader command?

    • Defines where to install the bootloader.

  27. How do you create LVM volume groups and logical volumes in Kickstart?

    • Using volgroup and logvol commands.

  28. What command sets the system language?

    • lang

  29. How do you define the system's time zone in Kickstart?

    • timezone

  30. What command enables or disables NTP?

    • timesource

  31. How do you set the initial root user password?

    • rootpw

  32. What command sets the SELinux mode?

    • selinux

  33. How do you modify the default set of services to run under systemd?

    • services

  34. What command creates a local user on the system?

    • user