ESXi : install CentOS automatically with kickstart

[ prepare kickstart file ]

I made a kickstart file using system-config-kickstart.

install system-config-kickstart via yum.

# yum install –y system-config-kickstart.noarch

make a kickstart file with system-config-kickstart

# system-config-kickstart

GUI will appear like this:

configure installation settings step by step with system-config-kickstart.

Here’s an example ks file of CentOS5.6 which I created with system-config-kickstart.

# cat centos5-6.ks.cfg #platform=x86, AMD64, or Intel EM64T # System authorization information auth  --useshadow  --enablemd5 # System bootloader configuration bootloader --append="console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty0" --location=mbr # Clear the Master Boot Record zerombr # Partition clearing information clearpart --all --initlabel # Use text mode install text # Firewall configuration firewall --disabled # Run the Setup Agent on first boot firstboot --disable # System keyboard keyboard jp106 # System language lang ja_JP # Installation logging level logging --level=info # Use CDROM installation media cdrom # Network information network --bootproto=static --device=eth0 --gateway=192.168.11.254 --ip=192.168.11.160 --nameserver=192.168.11.15 --netmask=255.255.255.0 --onboot=on # Reboot after installation reboot #Root password rootpw --iscrypted $1$3QEuw1wV$VUKWhr1WZ1SAUXNVFv7Jk. # SELinux configuration selinux --disabled # System timezone timezone --isUtc Asia/Tokyo # Install OS instead of upgrade install # X Window System configuration information xconfig  --defaultdesktop=GNOME --depth=8 --resolution=640x480 # Disk partitioning information part / --bytes-per-inode=4096 --fstype="ext3" --size=5000 part swap --bytes-per-inode=4096 --fstype="swap" --size=512 %packages @development-libs @development-tools @editors

[ make an ISO image including a ks file ]

mount original CentOS ISO.

# mount -t iso9660 -o loop CentOS-5.6-x86_64-bin-DVD-1of2.iso /media/cdrom/

copy ISO files to an another directory.( /root/CentOS.5.6_Custom )

# cd /media/cdrom/ # mkdir /root/CentOS5.6_Custom # pwd /media/cdrom # tar cf - . | (cd /root/CentOS5.6_Custom; tar xfp -)

copy ks file ( name a ks file you made “ks.cfg” )

# cp /root/centos5-6.ks.cfg /root/CentOS5.6_Custom/ks.cfg

build a customized ISO.

# pwd /root/CentOS5.6_Custom # mkisofs -o /root/CentOS5.6_x86_64_custom.iso -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -c isolinux/boot.cat -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -J -R -V "CetnOS 5.6 Custom ISO" # file /root/CentOS5.6_x86_64_custom.iso /root/CentOS5.6_x86_64_custom.iso: # ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data 'CDROM                          ' (bootable)

confirm you can mount customized ISO and confirm there’s ks.cfg into that ISO.

# mount -t iso9660 -o loop CentOS5.6_x86_64_custom.iso /root/aaa

# head -5 /root/aaa/ks.cfg #platform=x86, AMD64, or Intel EM64T # System authorization information auth  --useshadow  --enablemd5 # System bootloader configuration bootloader --append="console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty0" --location=mbr

[ install CentOS as a VM using customized ISO on ESXi ]

start a VM from CentOS5.6_x86_64_custom.iso and then specify “linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg” as below.

installation has been processed automatically.

With this ks file , after finishing the installation , rebooting system automatically.

I could install CentOS automatically :)