[et-mgmt-tools] Kernel Parameter Space Limits...

[Ken Robson]

Hi Folks,

When evaluating Cobbler I noticed that it seems to be unaware of the maximum
space limit for kernel parameters.  Cobbler seems to generate a very large
but highly meaningful parameters.  This instantly caused me issues with my
ks= directive being truncated and my install failing.  My distributions file
looks like:

---
-
    arch: x86
    breed: redhat
    initrd:
/var/www/cobbler/ks_mirror/redhat.fedora.6.core/cdrom/images/pxeboot/initrd.
img
    kernel:
/var/www/cobbler/ks_mirror/redhat.fedora.6.core/cdrom/images/pxeboot/vmlinuz
    kernel_options: {}
    ks_meta: {}
    name:
var_www_cobbler_ks_mirror_redhat.fedora.6.core_cdrom_images_pxeboot
-
    arch: x86
    breed: redhat
    initrd:
/var/www/cobbler/ks_mirror/redhat.fedora.6.core/cdrom/images/xen/initrd.img
    kernel:
/var/www/cobbler/ks_mirror/redhat.fedora.6.core/cdrom/images/xen/vmlinuz
    kernel_options: {}
    ks_meta: {}
    name: var_www_cobbler_ks_mirror_redhat.fedora.6.core_cdrom_images_xen

The errant /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default files looks like:

    default linux
    prompt 0
    timeout 1
    label linux
        kernel
/images/var_www_cobbler_ks_mirror_redhat.fedora.6.core_cdrom_images_pxeboot/
vmlinuz
        append ksdevice=eth0 lang=en_US text syslog=192.168.1.133:25150
devfs=nomount ramdisk_size=16438 append
 
initrd=/images/var_www_cobbler_ks_mirror_redhat.fedora.6.core_cdrom_images_p
xeboot/initrd.img
        ks=http://192.168.1.133/cobbler_track/kickstarts_sys/default/ks.cfg

And the settings file created by the import looks like:

---
    bootloaders:
        ia64: /var/lib/cobbler/elilo-3.6-ia64.efi
        standard: /usr/lib/syslinux/pxelinux.0
    default_kickstart: /etc/cobbler/default.ks
    dhcpd_bin: /usr/sbin/dhcpd
    dhcpd_conf: /etc/dhcpd.conf
    httpd_bin: /usr/sbin/httpd
    kernel_options:
        append: ~
        devfs: nomount
        ksdevice: eth0
        lang: en_US
        ramdisk_size: 16438
        text: ~
    koan_path: /usr/bin/koan
    manage_dhcp: 1
    minimize_syncs: 1
    next_server: '192.168.1.133'
    server: '192.168.1.133'
    syslog_port: 25150
    tftpboot: /tftpboot
    tftpd_bin: /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
    tftpd_conf: /etc/xinetd.d/tftp
    webdir: /var/www/cobbler

When I try to kickstart using this set-up the append line get truncated and
the install fails.  If I alter the settings file to the following it works
fine:

    ---
    bootloaders:
        ia64: /var/lib/cobbler/elilo-3.6-ia64.efi
        standard: /usr/lib/syslinux/pxelinux.0
    default_kickstart: /etc/cobbler/default.ks
    dhcpd_bin: /usr/sbin/dhcpd
    dhcpd_conf: /etc/dhcpd.conf
    httpd_bin: /usr/sbin/httpd
    kernel_options:
        devfs: nomount
        ksdevice: eth0
        lang: en_GB
        ramdisk_size: 16438
        text: ~
     koan_path: /usr/bin/koan
     manage_dhcp: 1
     minimize_syncs: 1
     next_server: '192.168.1.133'
     server: '192.168.1.133'
     syslog_port: 25150
     tftpboot: /tftpboot
     tftpd_bin: /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
     tftpd_conf: /etc/xinetd.d/tftp
     webdir: /var/www/cobbler

Thanks for your help.

Kind regards,

Ken.
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