Chapter 14. Starting Kickstart installations
Chapter 14. Starting Kickstart installations You can start Kickstart installations in multiple ways: Automatically by editing the boot options in PXE boot. Automatically by providing the file on a volume with specific name. You can register RHEL using the Red Hat Content Delivery Network (CDN). CDN is a geographically distributed series of web servers. These servers provide, for example, packages and updates to RHEL hosts with a valid subscription. During the installation, registering and installing RHEL from the CDN offers following benefits: Utilizing the latest packages for an up-to-date system immediately after installation and Integrated support for connecting to Red Hat Insights and enabling System Purpose. 14.1. Starting a Kickstart installation automatically using PXE AMD64, Intel 64, and 64-bit ARM systems and IBM Power Systems servers have the ability to boot using a PXE server. When you configure the PXE server, you can add the boot option into the boot loader configuration file, which in turn lets you start the installation automatically. Using this approach, it is possible to automate the installation completely, including the boot process. This procedure is intended as a general reference; detailed steps differ based on your system's architecture, and not all options are available on all architectures (for example, you cannot use PXE boot on 64-bit IBM Z). Prerequisites You have a Kickstart file ready in a location accessible from the system to be installed. You have a PXE server that can be used to boot the system and begin the installation. Procedure Open the boot loader configuration file on your PXE server, and add the inst.ks= boot option to the appropriate line. The name of the file and its syntax depends on your system's architecture and hardware: On AMD64 and Intel 64 systems with BIOS, the file name can be either default or based on your system's IP address. In this case, add the inst.ks= option to the append line in the installation entry. A sample append line in the configuration file looks similar to the following: On systems using the GRUB boot loader (AMD64, Intel 64, and 64-bit ARM systems with UEFI firmware and IBM Power Systems servers), the file name is grub.cfg . In this file, append the inst.ks= option to the kernel line in the installation entry. A sample kernel line in the configuration file will look similar to the following: Boot the installation from the network server. The installation begins now, using the installation options specified in the Kickstart file. If the Kickstart file is valid and contains all required commands, the installation is completely automated. Note If you have installed a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Beta release, on systems having UEFI Secure Boot enabled, then add the Beta public key to the system's Machine Owner Key (MOK) list. Additional resources For information about setting up a PXE server, see Preparing a PXE installation source 14.2. Starting a Kickstart installation automatically using a local volume You can start a Kickstart installation by putting a Kickstart file with a specific name on a specifically labelled storage volume. Prerequisites You have a volume prepared with label OEMDRV and the Kickstart file present in its root as ks.cfg . A drive containing this volume is available on the system as the installation program boots. Procedure Boot the system using a local media (a CD, DVD, or a USB flash drive). At the boot prompt, specify the required boot options. If a required repository is in a network location, you may need to configure the network using the ip= option. The installer tries to configure all network devices using the DHCP protocol by default without this option. In order to access a software source from which necessary packages will be installed, you may need to add the inst.repo= option. If you do not specify this option, you must specify the installation source in the Kickstart file. For more information about installation sources, see Kickstart commands for installation program configuration and flow control . Start the installation by confirming your added boot options. The installation begins now, and the Kickstart file is automatically detected and used to start an automated Kickstart installation. Note If you have installed a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Beta release, on systems having UEFI Secure Boot enabled, then add the Beta public key to the system's Machine Owner Key (MOK) list. For more information about UEFI Secure Boot and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Beta releases, see the UEFI Secure Boot and Beta release requirements . 14.3. Booting the installation on IBM Z to install RHEL in an LPAR 14.3.1. Booting the RHEL installation from an SFTP, FTPS, or FTP server to install in an IBM Z LPAR You can install RHEL into an LPAR by using an SFTP, FTPS, or FTP server. Procedure Log in on the IBM Z Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Support Element (SE) as a user with sufficient privileges to install a new operating system to an LPAR. On the Systems tab, select the mainframe you want to work with, then on the Partitions tab select the LPAR to which you wish to install. At the bottom of the screen, under Daily , find Operating System Messages . Double-click Operating System Messages to show the text console on which Linux boot messages will appear. Double-click Load from Removable Media or Server . In the dialog box that follows, select SFTP/FTPS/FTP Server , and enter the following information: Host Computer - Host name or IP address of the FTP server you want to install from, for example ftp.redhat.com User ID - Your user name on the FTP server. Or, specify anonymous. Password - Your password. Use your email address if you are logging in as anonymous. File location (optional) - Directory on the FTP server holding the Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM Z, for example /rhel/s390x/ . Click Continue . In the dialog that follows, keep the default selection of generic.ins and click Continue . 14.3.2. Booting the RHEL installation from a prepared DASD to install in an IBM Z LPAR Use this procedure when installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux into an LPAR using an already prepared DASD. Procedure Log in on the IBM Z Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Support Element (SE) as a user with sufficient privileges to install a new operating system to an LPAR. On the Systems tab, select the mainframe you want to work with, then on the Partitions tab select the LPAR to which you wish to install. At the bottom of the screen, under Daily , find Operating System Messages . Double-click Operating System Messages to show the text console on which Linux boot messages will appear. Double-click Load . In the dialog box that follows, select Normal as the Load type . As Load address , fill in the device number of the DASD. Click the OK button. 14.3.3. Booting the RHEL installation from an FCP-attached SCSI disk to install in an IBM Z LPAR Use this procedure when installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux into an LPAR using an already prepared FCP attached SCSI disk. Procedure Log in on the IBM Z Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Support Element (SE) as a user with sufficient privileges to install a new operating system to an LPAR. On the Systems tab, select the mainframe you want to work with, then on the Partitions tab select the LPAR to which you wish to install. At the bottom of the screen, under Daily , find Operating System Messages . Double-click Operating System Messages to show the text console on which Linux boot messages will appear. Double-click Load . In the dialog box that follows, select SCSI as the Load type . As Load address , fill in the device number of the FCP channel connected with the SCSI disk. As World wide port name , fill in the WWPN of the storage system containing the disk as a 16-digit hexadecimal number. As Logical unit number , fill in the LUN of the disk as a 16-digit hexadecimal number. Leave the Boot record logical block address as 0 and the Operating system specific load parameters empty. Click the OK button. 14.3.4. Booting the RHEL installation from an FCP-attached SCSI DVD drive to install in an IBM Z LPAR This requires a SCSI DVD drive attached to an FCP-to-SCSI bridge which is in turn connected to an FCP adapter in your IBM Z machine. The FCP adapter must be configured and available in your LPAR. Procedure Log in on the IBM Z Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Support Element (SE) as a user with sufficient privileges to install a new operating system to an LPAR. On the Systems tab, select the mainframe you want to work with, then on the Partitions tab select the LPAR to which you wish to install. At the bottom of the screen, under Daily, find the Operating System Messages. Double-click Operating System Messages to show the text console on which Linux boot messages will appear. Insert your Red Hat Enterprise Linux for 64-bit IBM Z DVD into the DVD drive. Double-click Load . In the dialog box that follows, select SCSI as the Load type . As Load address , fill in the device number of the FCP channel connected with the FCP-to-SCSI bridge. As World wide port name , fill in the WWPN of the FCP-to-SCSI bridge as a 16-digit hexadecimal number. As Logical unit number , fill in the LUN of the DVD drive as a 16-digit hexadecimal number. As Boot program selector , fill in the number 1 to select the boot entry on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux for 64-bit IBM Z DVD. Leave the Boot record logical block address as 0 and the Operating system specific load parameters empty. Click the OK button. 14.4. Booting the installation on IBM Z to install RHEL in z/VM When installing under z/VM, you can boot from: The z/VM virtual reader A DASD or an FCP-attached SCSI disk prepared with the zipl boot loader An FCP-attached SCSI DVD drive 14.4.1. Booting the RHEL installation by using the z/VM Reader You can boot from the z/VM reader. Procedure If necessary, add the device containing the z/VM TCP/IP tools to your CMS disk list. For example: Replace fm with any FILEMODE letter. For a connection to an FTPS server, enter: Where host is the host name or IP address of the FTP server that hosts the boot images ( kernel.img and initrd.img ). Log in and execute the following commands. Use the (repl option if you are overwriting existing kernel.img , initrd.img , generic.prm , or redhat.exec files: Optional: Check whether the files were transferred correctly by using the CMS command filelist to show the received files and their format. It is important that kernel.img and initrd.img have a fixed record length format denoted by F in the Format column and a record length of 80 in the Lrecl column. For example: Press PF3 to quit filelist and return to the CMS prompt. Customize boot parameters in generic.prm as necessary. For details, see Customizing boot parameters . Another way to configure storage and network devices is by using a CMS configuration file. In such a case, add the CMSDASD= and CMSCONFFILE= parameters to generic.prm . Finally, execute the REXX script redhat.exec to boot the installation program: 14.4.2. Booting the RHEL installation by using a prepared DASD Perform the following steps to use a Prepared DASD: Procedure Boot from the prepared DASD and select the zipl boot menu entry referring to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation program. Use a command of the following form: Replace DASD_device_number with the device number of the boot device, and boot_entry_number with the zipl configuration menu for this device. For example: 14.4.3. Booting the RHEL installation by using a prepared FCP attached SCSI Disk Perform the following steps to boot from a prepared FCP-attached SCSI disk: Procedure Configure the SCSI boot loader of z/VM to access the prepared SCSI disk in the FCP Storage Area Network. Select the prepared zipl boot menu entry referring to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation program. Use a command of the following form: Replace WWPN with the World Wide Port Name of the storage system and LUN with the Logical Unit Number of the disk. The 16-digit hexadecimal numbers must be split into two pairs of eight digits each. For example: Optional: Confirm your settings with the command: Boot the FCP device connected with the storage system containing the disk with the following command: For example: 14.4.4. Booting the RHEL installation by using an FCP-attached SCSI DVD Drive Perform the following steps to use a Prepared FCP attached SCSI DVD Drive: Prerequistes This requires a SCSI DVD drive attached to an FCP-to-SCSI bridge which is in turn connected to an FCP adapter in your 64-bit IBM Z. The FCP adapter must be configured and available under z/VM. Procedure Insert your Red Hat Enterprise Linux for 64-bit IBM Z DVD into the DVD drive. Configure the SCSI boot loader of z/VM to access the DVD drive in the FCP Storage Area Network and specify 1 for the boot entry on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux for 64-bit IBM Z DVD. Use a command of the following form: Replace WWPN with the WWPN of the FCP-to-SCSI bridge and FCP_LUN with the LUN of the DVD drive. The 16-digit hexadecimal numbers must be split into two pairs of eight characters each. For example: Optional: Confirm your settings with the command: IPL on the FCP device connected with the FCP-to-SCSI bridge. For example: 14.5. Consoles and logging during installation The Red Hat Enterprise Linux installer uses the tmux terminal multiplexer to display and control several windows in addition to the main interface. Each of these windows serve a different purpose; they display several different logs, which can be used to troubleshoot issues during the installation process. One of the windows provides an interactive shell prompt with root privileges, unless this prompt was specifically disabled using a boot option or a Kickstart command. The terminal multiplexer is running in virtual console 1. To switch from the actual installation environment to tmux , press Ctrl + Alt + F1 . To go back to the main installation interface which runs in virtual console 6, press Ctrl + Alt + F6 . During the text mode installation, start in virtual console 1 ( tmux ), and switching to console 6 will open a shell prompt instead of a graphical interface. The console running tmux has five available windows; their contents are described in the following table, along with keyboard shortcuts. Note that the keyboard shortcuts are two-part: first press Ctrl + b , then release both keys, and press the number key for the window you want to use. You can also use Ctrl + b n , Alt+ Tab , and Ctrl + b p to switch to the or tmux window, respectively. Table 14.1. Available tmux windows Shortcut Contents Ctrl + b 1 Main installation program window. Contains text-based prompts (during text mode installation or if you use VNC direct mode), and also some debugging information. Ctrl + b 2 Interactive shell prompt with root privileges. Ctrl + b 3 Installation log; displays messages stored in /tmp/anaconda.log . Ctrl + b 4 Storage log; displays messages related to storage devices and configuration, stored in /tmp/storage.log . Ctrl + b 5 Program log; displays messages from utilities executed during the installation process, stored in /tmp/program.log .
append initrd=initrd.img inst.ks=http://10.32.5.1/mnt/archive/RHEL-8/8.x/x86_64/kickstarts/ks.cfg kernel vmlinuz inst.ks=http://10.32.5.1/mnt/archive/RHEL-8/8.x/x86_64/kickstarts/ks.cfg cp link tcpmaint 592 592 acc 592 fm ftp <host> (secure cd / location/of/install-tree /images/ ascii get generic.prm (repl get redhat.exec (repl locsite fix 80 binary get kernel.img (repl get initrd.img (repl quit VMUSER FILELIST A0 V 169 Trunc=169 Size=6 Line=1 Col=1 Alt=0 Cmd Filename Filetype Fm Format Lrecl Records Blocks Date Time REDHAT EXEC B1 V 22 1 1 4/15/10 9:30:40 GENERIC PRM B1 V 44 1 1 4/15/10 9:30:32 INITRD IMG B1 F 80 118545 2316 4/15/10 9:30:25 KERNEL IMG B1 F 80 74541 912 4/15/10 9:30:17 redhat cp ipl DASD_device_number loadparm boot_entry_number cp ipl eb1c loadparm 0 cp set loaddev portname WWPN lun LUN bootprog boot_entry_number cp set loaddev portname 50050763 050b073d lun 40204011 00000000 bootprog 0 query loaddev cp ipl FCP_device cp ipl fc00 cp set loaddev portname WWPN lun FCP_LUN bootprog 1 cp set loaddev portname 20010060 eb1c0103 lun 00010000 00000000 bootprog 1 cp query loaddev cp ipl FCP_device cp ipl fc00