1. CERN 19/06/2002 Kickstart file generator Andrea Chierici (INFN-CNAF) Enrico Ferro (INFN-LNL) Marco Serra (INFN-Roma)

2. CERN 20 June 2002 2 Why do we need KickStart files?  The basic installation of the node will be managed with existing tool (RedHat Anaconda), so we can concentrate our efforts on farm management  When a new RedHat version will be supported, we will recycle its installation tool: we will have only to review the KickStart generator, not the whole installation process  Investigate if this could help with brand new hardware?

3. CERN 20 June 2002 3 Requirements (1)  Use libraries already available for LCFG  Perl  Get as input –XML profile –a kickstart template  To be clarified: RedHat 7.x support only?

4. CERN 20 June 2002 4 Requirements (2)  The informations to be put in the kickstart file from the LCFG-XML profile should be reduced to the minimum: –Keep the KS files as simple/standard as possible –When the base OS is installed LCFG will take control and do the rest of the job”  Preparing LCFG environment: –Install only a basic Linux set + LCFG client RPMs  During the post-install script (or when?) the XML profile is installed (rdxprof)  At the next boot: –Start monitoring system (to be investigated…) –LCFG starts all its components, it will complete the installation of all missing RPMs (e.g. specific of Middleware) and the configuration of other components

5. CERN 20 June 2002 5 In the KS file there will be…  Minimal Configuration data: –Keyboard –Language (?) –Timezone –Additional kernel parameters (bootloader) –Network configuration –Partitioning –root pwd (security issue?)  RPMs to create the minimal LCFG environment –Some Perl libraries –Packages for LCFGng  Post installation script –Mainly, installation of XML profile (URL of LCFG server)

6. CERN 20 June 2002 6 ? Suggestions?