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Automatically Installing Linux from Bootable CD?
phorm asks: "While there are newer many distributions of linux that come bootable from CD, I've found that some are a bit difficult to customize and wonder how hard it would be to create my own. Currently we are looking at replacing some of our Windows desktops at work with Linux test-machines - and it would be nice to make the installation process as simple as possible. How hard would it be to create a bootable CD that would automagically install Linux onto the first detected hard-drive? How would you go about 'imaging' an existing machine to use as the base?
I suppose that in many cases a tar-gzip of the entire OS would work, provided you could partition the drive correctly, recreate some important handles as in /proc, and run lilo/grub to install a boot loader. Does anyone here have experience with this? I know morphix/knoppix make nice bootable distros but what I really want is a basic Linux bootCD which installs a preconfigured version of the OS of my choice."
You want Mepis [www.mepis.org] It's a knoppix-based Live CD distro that works as both a live CD and an installed distro. It's designed with a few of the Knoppix kinks worked out so that the LiveCD can "help" the installed version out when their's trouble...perfect for corperate environments. Also, it's based on Debian...so you can always get your favorite stuff if you get bored/ need special configs!
Try Mondo Rescue / Mindi http://www.microwerks.net/~hugo/
It can create a bootable CD image. Essentially, it can be used to clone/backup a harddrive. I use it to setup a customized distro. Using the recue CD your "install" image can be put on bare hardware and be up in running in less than 20 minutes. If you are using a distro with KUDZU, after the first boot it will recognize your hardware.
I have been very pleased thus far, it has allowed me to build "base" configuration of dedicated servers and quickly migrate data and test new hardware.
-MS2k
MEPIS would be a great choice.
Debian based, runs off the CD and the install consists of double clicking on a shortcut on the desktop, answering 2 or 3 questions and waiting for everything to be installed.
This probably isn't much of an issue anymore on FC1 and RH9, as it was with older releases but to achive completely unattended install, good idea would be to trial normal (of the CD) one and get entries for detected hardware and desired packages to be installed. This way file /root/anaconda-ks.cfg (created by installer and available after first reboot) can be almost entirely reused, with only alteration required for the line describing install method (change cdrom to whatever type of network install would happen). Also if one figures that some hardware is not detected properly, manual changes can be done and ks file entries changed accordingly as well.
"Google" answers are always annoying, nice to see somebody put the google trolls in their place.
Indeed, they are trolls for if they had read the question, they would have noted that I have looked at both knoppix/morphix and found them not quite what I wanted (so obviously I have been checking around before slashdot). Freshmeat has some projects too, some of which I've tried, but none of them quite did what I want either (some came close though).
Google is a great resource for generic information. Slashdot is a better resource for asking people with experience in what is a "good" solution as opposed to a "possible" one. Thanks for the support.
The main advantage of a network install of anything is that a config change to the installation image is as simple as modifying a file (or files) on a network server; with a CD, you have to change the file, burn the CD and test. If the change doesn't work, you've got a coaster.