1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration
Chapter 15
Deploy SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

2. Objectives Objective 1—Installation Options and Deployment Strategies
Objective 2—Autoinstallation Basics
Objective 3—The Configuration File for AutoYaST
Objective 4—Installation Server: Setup and Use
Objective 5—Automated Installation
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

3. Objective 1—Installation Options and Deployment Strategies
If you are installing a single machine, a manual installation using the installation DVD is the best option
However, alternatives are needed when the number of machines you plan to install increases
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

4. Installation Options Boot Media Installation DVD Floppy disk
PXE-capable network card
Installation Source
Installation Server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

5. Installation Options (continued)
Configuration
Local
Remote (VNC or SSH)
AutoYaST
Boot media, installation source, and configuration methods can be combined according to your needs
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

6. Deployment Strategies
Deploy Up to 10 Workstations
The approach that takes the least preparation is a manual installation using the installation DVD
Because an installation server is very convenient and does not take long to set up, you might still consider using one
Deploy Up to 100 Workstations
An installation server and the remote installation capabilities of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 greatly facilitate the task
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

7. Deployment Strategies (continued)
Deploy Up to 100 Workstations (continued)
Using remote access via VNC or SSH, you can control the installation of multiple machines at the same time
Setting up DHCP and TFTP servers in addition to the installation server makes it unnecessary to physically access the machines to boot them
The more machines you have to install, the more worthwhile it becomes to avoid the manual configuration
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

8. Deployment Strategies (continued)
Deploy More than 100 Workstations
Remote configuration becomes cumbersome
AutoYaST controls the installation with an XML file that contains the machine-specific information
AutoYaST allows you to create profiles containing all configuration information
If the differences in hardware are significant, you can create rules that determine which of several AutoYaST files should be used
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

9. Objective 2—Autoinstallation Basics
AutoYaST is used for automated installations on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
All information needed during installation is provided by a control file in XML format
No manual intervention is necessary during the installation process
If you have to install several systems with the same setup, you can save time by automating the installation
Or you can configure systems individually with specific control files
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

10. Objective 2—Autoinstallation Basics (continued)
You should not confuse auto installation with cloning or imaging
AutoYaST is optimally used in conjunction with an installation server that is also providing a TFTP and a DHCP server
Advantages:
To start the installation, you only have to insert a suitable boot disk
The computer receives all information necessary for the installation via the network
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

11. Objective 2—Autoinstallation Basics (continued)
Advantages: (continued)
Even on-site attendance of an administrator is unnecessary for the installation if the network card supports Wake on Lan
The installation server can be accessed via the NFS, HTTP, and FTP protocols
AutoYaST can also be used to copy additional files to the installed system
Can include scripts that are executed at the end of the installation
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

12. Objective 3—The Configuration File for AutoYaST
The easiest way to create a configuration file for AutoYaST is to use the YaST Autoinstallation module
Select Computer > More Applications > yast2 > Miscellaneous > Autoinstallation
Or log in as root and enter yast2 autoyast in a terminal window
See Figure 15-1
The configuration information is written to the AutoYaST control file
Nothing is changed on the installation you work on
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

13. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration
Figure 15-1 The YaST Autoinstallation module
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

14. Objective 3—The Configuration File for AutoYaST (continued)
If you want to perform completely unattended installations
Uncheck Confirm Installation in System > General Options
After you have completed the configuration, select File > Save As
You can change the default directory for AutoYaST configuration files via the Preferences menu
To use the current machine as a template
Select Tools > Create Reference Profile
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

15. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration
Figure 15-2 Create a reference control file using the current machine
as template
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

16. Objective 3—The Configuration File for AutoYaST (continued)
The reference profile is created by reading information from this system
By default, an exact copy of the configuration for all basic resources is created
To add other necessary information for your machine, use the check boxes in the main window
See Figure 15-3
To view the configuration created, select View > Source
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

17. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration
Figure 15-3 Add additional information
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

18. Exercise 15-1: Create an AutoYaST Control File
In this exercise, you create an AutoYaST control file
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

19. Objective 4—Installation Server: Setup and Use
An installation server offers the files needed for the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop via the network
To provide such a server in your network, you need to understand how to:
Set Up an Installation Server
Use the Installation Server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

20. Set Up an Installation Server
YaST Installation Server module
Creates the necessary directory structure, and prompts you to insert the CDs or DVD to copy their content to the proper directories
Sets up the server (NFS, HTTP, FTP) used to distribute the files
You can also use SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 as an installation server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

21. Set Up an Installation Server (continued)
Fill the Installation Repository
Create a directory where you want to store the installation repository
Insert the SLED 10 Installation DVD and copy all files on it to the repository
You can add external packages
Only a few more steps make these available
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

22. Set Up an Installation Server (continued)
Configure the NFS Server
Edit the /etc/exports file
Start the NFS server
Make sure the NFS server is started automatically when the system boots up
If SuSEFirewall is running, you have to start YaST, select Security and Users > Firewall, and add NFS Server within the Allowed Services dialog
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

23. Use the Installation Server
To use the installation server, you have to specify the server when the initial boot screen shows up
With the Down key, move to Installation; press F3 and then F4
In the menu, select the installation server type you want to use
See Figure 15-4
In the dialog that appears, enter the hostname of the server and the directory on the server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

24. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration
Figure 15-4 Use the installation server
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

25. Exercise 15-2: Set Up an Installation Server
In this exercise, you copy the files of the installation DVD to a directory and make this directory accessible over the network using NFS
Create the /export/sled10 directory
Copy all files from the DVD to this directory
Edit /etc/exports and start the NFS server to make these files accessible over the network
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

26. Objective 5—Automated Installation
To start the automated installation, make the AutoYaST control file available on the machine to be installed
Can be combined with any installation method
To perform automated installations, you need to:
Provide the control file
Boot and install the system
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

27. Provide the Control File
Various ways exist to make the control file available
One way is to copy the file to a floppy disk containing a FAT file system format
If you name the file on the floppy disk autoinst.xml and insert the floppy, it will be automatically used
Another way to make the control file available is via the network
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

28. Boot and Install the System
Boot and install from DVD
For larger deployments, this is not really efficient
While it saves the typing of configuration information, you still have to walk from computer to computer, insert the media, and start the installation manually
Boot from DVD and install from an installation server
An installation server has the advantage that you can remove the boot media as soon as the actual installation has started
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

29. Boot and Install the System (continued)
Boot from DVD and install from an installation server (steps)
Insert the installation DVD into your machine and start the boot process
On the first boot screen, select Installation (be sure to do this within 10 seconds; otherwise, the system starts from hard disk)
Provide the information that you want used with AutoYaST
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

30. Boot and Install the System (continued)
Boot via PXE and install from an installation server
Advantage
Do not have to bring a separate boot medium to the computer
With a suitable configuration, you can offer a menu to select what to install
In fact, if the network card supports Wake on LAN, you do not have to walk to the machine at all
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

31. Exercise 15-3: Perform an Automated Installation of SLED 10
In this exercise, you perform an automated installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

32. Summary
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 can be installed locally using a DVD or from an installation server across a network
To start a SUSE Linux installation, you must boot from a DVD, floppy disk, or PXE-capable network card
Installation settings can be configured locally, remotely using VNC or SSH, as well as by using an AutoYaST configuration file
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

33. Summary (continued)
Network-based installations are well suited for situations where you need to install more than 10 SUSE Linux computers
To create an installation server on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, you can use the Installation Server module of YaST
You can specify the location of installation source files at the boot prompt during a SUSE Linux installation
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

34. Summary (continued)
You can create an AutoYaST configuration file at the end of a SUSE Linux installation, or by using the YaST Autoinstallation module
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration