Topic: PXE installation - how to skip the question of which card to use

[michelandre]

Hi all!

I am trying to install 7.3 with PXE
I want also to use VNC for remote installation.

I am stopped because the installation is asking which card to use for the installation.
After I chose one of then the server goes on and start the VNC then I can connect remote without problem.

I would like to pass a parameter to the PXE configuration file to tell which card to use.

I found the parameter ether= which is absolute and replaced with netdev.
But it is used mainly to force detection of the card or give them i/o parameter.

I would like to disable one of the card if possible

Any help appreciated

Michel-André

[slords]

Try one of the following:

ksdevice=eth0
ksdevice=eth1
ksdevice=link

The first two pick which of the interfaces to use.  The third one pick the fist device that has a link detected.

[michelandre]

Thank you so much for your help.
I was loosing hope after a full day on that.

I used ksdevice=eth0 and all went well.

***************
I have another small problem: I want to use VNC to install remotely.

I included:   vnc vncpassword=password-here
I am able to connect without problem using:   vncviewer   ip-addr:1
It installed well except at mid-installation, when the server reboot to continue the installation I loose VNC connection.

There should be a way to still have connection and continue with  the second stage of the installation...

Any help appreciated

Michel-André

[SoftDux]

I'm just curios, if you use VNC, did you install an X manager?

[CharlieBrady]

It installed well except at mid-installation, when the server reboot to continue the installation I loose VNC connection.

There should be a way to still have connection and continue with  the second stage of the installation...

That isn't the second stage of installation - it's the first boot of the fully installed system. There is no support for VNC connection to the initial configuration console.

[michelandre]

*****I'm just curios, if you use VNC, did you install an X manager?*****

No, I was installing from scratch with PXE.
I used ( vnc vncpassword=any-password ) as a parameter to the (append) line in the PXE configuration file.

The first screen  displayed at the server  shows : "to connect use: http://ip-address:5801 or vncviewer ip-address:1" then the server screen stay that way and you can continue the installation only through VNC.  All the installation screens are the standard ones. It is quite nice.

*****There is no support for VNC connection to the initial configuration console.*****

Will it be possible to include, in the kickstart file, in the %post section something to start a VNC server like inserting some script in rc.local or enable ssh but then the firewall rules will stop it???

That way you will be able to install and configure entirely in remote mode.


Michel-André

[CharlieBrady]

Will it be possible to include, in the kickstart file, in the %post section something to start a VNC server like inserting some script in rc.local or enable ssh but then the firewall rules will stop it???

That way you will be able to install and configure entirely in remote mode.

SME install does not use a kickstart file.

The initial configuration console also runs when there is no networking configured. So even if you were to start a VNC server, or enable ssh, you wouldn't be able to access either.

[SoftDux]

Charlies, if SME doesn't use a kickstart file, how does it work then? I'm rather curios cause I want todo something similar, in terms of giving the user limited install options, and doing some custom partitioning in the background. I haven't looked at the CD yet, but now that you mention it, what does it use?

[CharlieBrady]

I haven't looked at the CD yet, ...

So look at the CD... And the source code.

Sorry, I'm not available for unlimited unpaid consulting.

[markehle]

Dang, Charlie - sometimes you are just plain rude.

[CharlieBrady]

Dang, Charlie - sometimes you are just plain rude.

As are you, apparently Nothing better to do than criticise me (in two threads), this fine late winter evening?

Do you think, perhaps, I should be available for unlimited unpaid consulting?

[thomasch]

Dang, Charlie - sometimes you are just plain rude.

I think he is just in bad mood because some dog bite his hands while he is feeding them.

Go to bed Charlie. You need to take a rest.

[markehle]

As are you, apparently Nothing better to do than criticise me (in two threads), this fine late winter evening?

Two thread where you were unreasonably short with users who simply are trying to make things work.

Do you think, perhaps, I should be available for unlimited unpaid consulting?

No, sir, of course not! But - did he ask for it? If you don't want to help, don't answer a post. Some of us on this forum (myself included) are not linux/server gods. At times you can be pretty short with us. It would be better, from my point of view, for you not to comment if you are going to belittle us. Just let somebody else answer, or let it go unanswered if you don't feel we deserve help.   

[SoftDux]

Two thread where you were unreasonably short with users who simply are trying to make things work.

No, sir, of course not! But - did he ask for it? If you don't want to help, don't answer a post. Some of us on this forum (myself included) are not linux/server gods. At times you can be pretty short with us. It would be better, from my point of view, for you not to comment if you are going to belittle us. Just let somebody else answer, or let it go unanswered if you don't feel we deserve help.  

Wich is why I'm not even going to bother helping with the wiki, or anything else. I've learned a lot about SME itself, and having used Linux & FreeBSD since 1998, I do know quite a bit, but when people become so cocky about simple matters I wonder where their real priorities lie. Charley, I and many other use SME & enjoy the effort gone into it, but I do agree that you need to learn some people skills. Remember that not everone thinks, reasons, speaks, listens, or even breathes the same as you do. And different languages also cause a communication barrier. What may sound fine to you, comes across very rude to others

[byte]

but I do agree that you need to learn some people skills.

To be honest here our core developers should not have to check forums as they have enough on their plate developing SME Server with what little time they may have, so please all remember when a core developer whether thats Charlie, Gordon or Shad takes time to answer a post they will do so with the (maybe) quickest way of answering and while that may come across as "rude" this can be interpreted wrongly. We don't want to scare off one of our core developers do we.

Please all stick to the topic as there is no need for this unnecessary posting.

Lets draw a line under this now