SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Administration

• Chapter 15
• Deploy SUSE Linux
  Enterprise Desktop 10

2
Objectives

• Objective 1Installation Options and Deployment
  Strategies
• Objective 2Autoinstallation Basics
• Objective 3The Configuration File for AutoYaST
• Objective 4Installation Server Setup and Use
• Objective 5Automated Installation

3
Objective 1Installation 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

4
Installation Options

• Boot Media
• Installation DVD
• Floppy disk
• PXE-capable network card
• Installation Source
• Installation DVD
• Installation Server

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

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

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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

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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

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Objective 2Autoinstallation 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

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Objective 2Autoinstallation 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

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Objective 2Autoinstallation 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

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Objective 3The Configuration File for AutoYaST

• The easiest way to create a configuration file
  for AutoYaST is to use the YaST Autoinstallation
  module
• Select Computer gt More Applications gt yast2 gt
  Miscellaneous gt 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

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Figure 15-1 The YaST Autoinstallation module
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Objective 3The Configuration File for AutoYaST
(continued)

• If you want to perform completely unattended
  installations
• Uncheck Confirm Installation in System gt General
  Options
• After you have completed the configuration,
  select File gt 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 gt Create Reference Profile

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Figure 15-2 Create a reference control file using
the current machine as template
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Objective 3The 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 gt
  Source

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Figure 15-3 Add additional information
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Exercise 15-1 Create an AutoYaST Control File

• In this exercise, you create an AutoYaST control
  file

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Objective 4Installation 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

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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

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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

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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 gt Firewall, and
  add NFS Server within the Allowed Services dialog

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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

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Figure 15-4 Use the installation server
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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

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Objective 5Automated 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Exercise 15-3 Perform an Automated Installation
of SLED 10

• In this exercise, you perform an automated
  installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

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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

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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

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Summary (continued)

• You can create an AutoYaST configuration file at
  the end of a SUSE Linux installation, or by using
  the YaST Autoinstallation module