CentOS - Jul 2006 - Kickstart from floppy falling into regular install

I took my anaconda-ks.cfg file, cp to ks.cfg and copied to a floppy

The isos have been copied to an ftp server.  So I had the following 
lines in my ks.cfg

intall
url ftp://10.1.1.1//    (yes the ftp server's directory is the Centos 
directory)

This is along with all the appropriate network command to get the 
ethernet setup.

I issue the linux ks=floppy (also tried linux ks=hd:fd0:/ks.cfg).

What happens is I see the diskette drive spin.  The FTP server shows 5 
connections pulling 0 bytes each then one of 4197 bytes (the size of the 
release-notes-EN.html file).  At this point I get a monitor and mouse 
probe then Anaconda starts up X and goes into the standard install 
choices, starting with how do you want to partition your drive.  
Obviously it is ignoring my partition instructions in the ks.cfg file.  
Also I HAVE monitor and keyboard info in my ks.cfg, it should have used 
that.

Appearantly, I need something added to the anaconda-ks.cfg file, but 
reviewing my notes from when I did thus successfully back in March, I 
can't remember it.  I also tried placing the ks.cfg on the ftp server.  
But that is 2k in size, so it was never ftped.

I see the reference to the text option for kickstart, but that does NOT 
seem to be what is needed here.

Also I seem to recall something about options for the install line in 
ks.cfg, but have not found anything on that.

I continue to research, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

On Jul 28, 2006, at 11:33, Robert Moskowitz wrote:
> I took my anaconda-ks.cfg file, cp to ks.cfg and copied to a floppy
>
> The isos have been copied to an ftp server.  So I had the following  
> lines in my ks.cfg
>
> intall
> url ftp://10.1.1.1//    (yes the ftp server's directory is the  
> Centos directory)
It might help if you posted your actual ks.cfg file (or at least the  
first 10 lines or so).  The two lines you posted both have typos in  
them.  They should look like this instead:

   install
   url --url ftp://10.1.1.1/

Actually, the ftp url should include the username and password  
according to the documentation, but since you mentioned that you can  
see some access in the ftp logs, this may not be required.

BTW, any reason you chose ftp over http or NFS?

Alfred

Alfred von Campe wrote:
> On Jul 28, 2006, at 11:33, Robert Moskowitz wrote:
>
>> I took my anaconda-ks.cfg file, cp to ks.cfg and copied to a floppy
>>
>> The isos have been copied to an ftp server. So I had the following 
>> lines in my ks.cfg
>>
>> intall
>> url ftp://10.1.1.1// (yes the ftp server's directory is the Centos 
>> directory)
>
> It might help if you posted your actual ks.cfg file (or at least the 
> first 10 lines or so). The two lines you posted both have typos in them.
Here you are. I had a little bit of fun actually getting the ks.cfg on 
this system to include it into this email....

# Kickstart file automatically generated by anaconda.

install
url --url ftp://192.168.128.4//.
lang en_US.UTF-8
langsupport --default=en_US.UTF-8 en_US.UTF-8
keyboard us
xconfig --card "ATI Mach64" --videoram 4096 --hsync 30-70 --vsync
50-120
--resolution 800x600 --depth 16 --startxonboot --defaultdesktop gnome
network --device eth0 --bootproto static --ip 192.168.128.5 --netmask 
255.255.255.248 --gateway 192.168.128.1 --nameserver 192.168.128.1 
--hostname homebase.htt-consult.com
rootpw --iscrypted <hash removed for obvious reasons>
firewall --disabled
selinux --disabled
authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5
timezone America/Detroit
bootloader --location=mbr --append="rhgb quiet"
# The following is the partition information you requested
# Note that any partitions you deleted are not expressed
# here so unless you clear all partitions first, this is
# not guaranteed to work
#clearpart --linux
#part /boot --fstype ext3 --size=100 --asprimary
#part pv.33 --size=38075
#part swap --size=1024
#volgroup VolGroup00 --pesize=32768 pv.33
#logvol /home --fstype ext3 --name=LogVol01 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=25728
#logvol / --fstype ext3 --name=LogVol00 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=12288

%packages
@ office
@ mysql
@ admin-tools
@ editors
@ system-tools
@ legacy-network-server
@ dns-server
@ gnome-desktop
@ dialup
@ ftp-server
@ network-server
@ smb-server
@ base-x
@ graphics
@ web-server
@ printing
@ mail-server
@ server-cfg
@ sound-and-video
system-config-samba
system-config-httpd
-vim-enhanced
mod_auth_mysql
-rwho
e2fsprogs
mailman
mysql-server
-HelixPlayer
grub
-rhythmbox
-openoffice.org-libs
system-config-printer
krb5-server
-dia
system-config-boot
tftp-server
-openoffice.org-i18n
-planner
openldap-servers
lvm2
-rusers
hpoj
-cdparanoia
amanda-server
freeradius
php-mysql
-openoffice.org
gnome-nettool
net-snmp-utils
nmap-frontend
nedit
amanda-client
tsclient
-dovecot
vnc-server
dhcp
-sound-juicer
kernel
ethereal-gnome
system-config-kickstart
system-config-printer-gui
mod_authz_ldap
-gnome-pilot

%post

> BTW, any reason you chose ftp over http or NFS? 
Well I am in a 'bootstrap' situation.

I have the isos on a Win2000 server that I have 3Com's little ftp/tftp 
app. I don't YET have an HTTP or NFS Linux system to use for running 
installs off from.

If I can get this new system set up, well it is scheduled to be my NT 
domain controller, NFS server, and internal HTTP server. But the yum 
update stalled and I gave up fighting deleting dups, but now I can't 
remember how to turn a anaconda-ks.cfg into a floppy ks.cfg. I did it 
back in March when I had 4 identical servers to set up.....

(and I never entered my steps into my freemind docs).

Alfred von Campe wrote:
> On Jul 28, 2006, at 12:25, Robert Moskowitz wrote:
>
>> Here you are. I had a little bit of fun actually getting the ks.cfg 
>> on this system to include it into this email....
>
> Yes, I know how that is sometimes.
>
> Anyway, the anaconda-ks.cfg file has all the partitioning information 
> removed by default. I *think* I had to un-comment it to get the 
> kickstart process to be completely automated. Try un-commenting 
> everything starting from the clearpart line to the last logvol line to 
> see if that helps.
ARGH!!!!!!!

And I looked and looked at that file. Of course I uncommented it the 
other time.....
>> Well I am in a 'bootstrap' situation.
>>
>> I have the isos on a Win2000 server that I have 3Com's little 
>> ftp/tftp app. I don't YET have an HTTP or NFS Linux system to use
for
>> running installs off from.
> BTW, any reason you chose ftp over http or NFS?
>
> Well, if you have the CDs, you can still use the ks.cfg file and just 
> swap the CDs when prompted. Or for that matter, answer all the prompts 
> manually if you are just boostrapping the first system. It's when you 
> have to set up multiple systems that kickstart comes in handy. 
FTP works. I normally do 'original' installs with: linux askmethod, then
select FTP, statically set up IP, and I am on my way.

I have had too many CD read failures when I was to the last few rpms and 
not able to recover.

Robert Moskowitz wrote:
> Alfred von Campe wrote:
>> On Jul 28, 2006, at 12:25, Robert Moskowitz wrote:
>>
>>> Here you are. I had a little bit of fun actually getting the ks.cfg
>>> on this system to include it into this email....
>>
>> Yes, I know how that is sometimes.
>>
>> Anyway, the anaconda-ks.cfg file has all the partitioning information 
>> removed by default. I *think* I had to un-comment it to get the 
>> kickstart process to be completely automated. Try un-commenting 
>> everything starting from the clearpart line to the last logvol line 
>> to see if that helps.
> ARGH!!!!!!!
>
> And I looked and looked at that file. Of course I uncommented it the 
> other time..... 
Removed comments and install is on its way!