[rhn-users] install without removable device

[Clifford Perry]

Captain Else Projects wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a dedicated server and the OS is a RH7.
>
> I would like to install a RHEL4 but I can't put a CD or other
> removable device on the server and i have no virtual kvm. My only way
> is to boot on a rescue mode (init 2).
>
> Somebody could help me to start the installation ?
>
> Thank
>
> Florent
> Atout Libre
>
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> rhn-users at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/rhn-users
I assume that you you have console access (for the booting to rescue 
mode) and that you can make the content of the ISO's available somewhere 
close to this system via ftp, http or NFS, if so, then the following 
should work.
Within the ftp/http/nfs location, extract and copy all data from the 
ISO's into a single directory.
On disk 1, go into the /images/pxeboot/ directory. You will see vmlinuz 
and initrd.img files, copy those to /boot/.
Edit your lilo.conf or grub.conf and add a new entry to be able to boot 
of this kernel (keeping your old entries to boot from if needed).
Reboot and select the new kernel, this will start the installation 
program, you will select network install, point it to the ftp/http/NFS 
location for the files it needs and proceed.

Another way, for automation is with your ftp/http/nfs location, using 
the above initrd.img and vmlinuz, you can also do kickstart, to automate 
the process, if so, you can also create a ks.cfg file and add/append 
that to grub/lilo with a ks=<path to find ks.cfg> ksdevice=eth0. Since 
you would have to create a working ks.cfg file first, this is not as 
easy as the first suggested method.

There is also the vnc method of installation of systems, where you pass 
vnc options and then can make a remote connection to the vnc session to 
complete the install.

Please note that I have not given all specific details, on assumption 
that you have a good working knowledge of linux to complete this task 
once pointed in the right direction for possible solutions.

Cliff.


-- 
Clifford Perry
Team Lead, RHN Sustaining Engineering
Red Hat, Inc. 
http://www.redhat.com/
+1 919 754 4403
RHCE# 803004507210710