[et-mgmt-tools] Cobbler-PXE-Kickstart

[Michael DeHaan]

Steve Pearson wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have some very basic questions on this relationship. I have read 
> through the Cobbler man page and some of the other available 
> information. I plan to setup a RHEL5 Cobbler server to do a PXE based 
> network installation of several servers. Here are my questions:
>
> 1) What network protocol is used to do the actual network OS 
> installation? This detail seems to be missing from the docs but from 
> what I have read it appears to be http…I am wanting to know how the 
> PXE client accesses the files on the cobbler server.
>

First there's DHCP
PXE uses TFTP
Kickstarts are served over http:// if using Cobbler templating, but also 
can be ftp:// or nfs://
The install by default, if using Cobbler import is http://, which most 
people use, but can also be ftp:// or nfs://

> 2) I am going to Import a loop mounted DVD iso for my RHEL5 distro (so 
> I do not have to expand the install tree). I plan to use Kickstart 
> Configurator to generate unique kickstarts…I may use ks templating 
> later. In the ks file, what do I put for “Installation Method” (CD, 
> NFS, HTTP, Hard-drive)? If I choose HTTP, what path do I use for the 
> “HTTP Directory”? It is supposed to be the location of the “Server” 
> directory from the distro but since I used iso’s I do not have one. 
> Will Cobbler explode the iso and create an Install Tree in 
> /var/www/cobbler? If so I can specify that dir…
>

The easiest way to start out is to just import the mounted DVD

cobbler import --name=foo --mirror=/mnt/dvdlocation

That will create cobbler distros and profiles, as well as assign a base 
kickstart (which lives in /etc/cobbler)

If you want to use templating you can, or you can use an existing 
kickstart you have available in your web space

cobbler profile edit --name=foo 
--kickstart=http://bootserver.example.org/foo.ks


> Sorry, I know I could do some experimenting but do not have the setup 
> for this yet and am in planning stage. Understanding some of these 
> basics will help me out greatly.
>

No problem...

You may also be interested in #cobbler on irc.freenode.net which is also 
good for quick questions like this.



> Thanks!
>
> *Steve Pearson*
>
> System Engineering
>
> Prodea Systems
>
> 214.278.1805
> www.prodeasystems.com <http://www.prodeasystems.com>
>
>  
>  
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>
> *Steve Pearson*
>
> System Engineering
>
> Prodea Systems
>
> 214.278.1805
> www.prodeasystems.com <http://www.prodeasystems.com>
>
> This message is confidential to Prodea Systems, Inc unless otherwise indicated 
> or apparent from its nature. This message is directed to the intended recipient 
> only, who may be readily determined by the sender of this message and its 
> contents. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an 
> employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended 
> recipient:(a)any dissemination or copying of this message is strictly 
> prohibited; and(b)immediately notify the sender by return message and destroy 
> any copies of this message in any form(electronic, paper or otherwise) that you 
> have.The delivery of this message and its information is neither intended to be 
> nor constitutes a disclosure or waiver of any trade secrets, intellectual 
> property, attorney work product, or attorney-client communications. The 
> authority of the individual sending this message to legally bind Prodea Systems  
> is neither apparent nor implied,and must be independently verified.
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