Unattended operating system installation (Linux)

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An automated installation can be used with Unix and GNU / Linux operating systems so that an installation can be reproduced or a large number of computers can be equipped with operating systems without much manual intervention. Questions are normally asked interactively during the installation of the operating system, but in the case of an automated installation, these are answered using ready-made configuration files.

Details

The installation of individual operating systems is usually carried out using a wizard with a graphic (GUI) or character-oriented user interface (TUI) installed. However, if a large number of computers have to be set up, such manual interaction soon reaches certain limits - for example in data centers, in larger companies with standardized computers or educational institutions with computer rooms. With the automated installation, manual interaction can be dispensed with because the questions from the installation are answered in advance. These answers are passed to the installation routine in the form of configuration files (also called " answer files ") or boot parameters.

Demarcation

In addition to the automated installation using configuration files, there are other methods of automatically installing an operating system. For example, memory dumps can be used. An image of the hard disk of an installed system is created and transferred to the hard disk of another computer. In addition, installation media that do not provide any interactivity at all can also be used.

With configuration files, however, there is the advantage over these alternatives that both reliable hardware detection is possible and flexible parameterization of individual installations.

Different implementations

  • Debian: Debian installer by default ; also: FAI and kickstart
  • Ubuntu: actually Ubiquity , but also Debian Installer for automation
  • RedHat (Fedora / RHEL): Anaconda kickstart
  • Solaris: jumpstart, Automated Installer ("AI")
  • SUSE: AutoYaST
  • ArchLinux: AIF

See also

literature

  • Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Trent Hein: Linux administration manual . Pearson Germany, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8273-2822-9

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Linux magazine: FAI - Fully Automatic Installation
  2. ↑ pisch.at
  3. ↑ docs.oracle.com
  4. ↑ suse.com
  5. ↑ AIF: the Arch Linux Installation Framework [Out of date! ]