CentOS - Mar 2018 - Install CentOS 7 over serial port on router board ?

Hi,

I have to install CentOS 7 for a client, to act as cache & filtering
proxy using Squid.

I'd like to use this piece of specialized hardware :

http://store.calexium.com/fr/systeme-pre-assemble/869-systeme-pre-assemble-rackmatrix-apu-amd-gx-412tc-quatre-coeurs-1-ghz.html

There is no VGA or HDMI video output, just a serial port to connect to,
and then three NICs and two USB ports.

I've never installed CentOS over a serial console, so I don't even know
if it's possible in the first place. Has anyone ever done something like
that ?

Any suggestions ?

Niki
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On 16/03/18 12:57, Nicolas Kovacs wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have to install CentOS 7 for a client, to act as cache & filtering
> proxy using Squid.
>
> I'd like to use this piece of specialized hardware :
>
>
http://store.calexium.com/fr/systeme-pre-assemble/869-systeme-pre-assemble-rackmatrix-apu-amd-gx-412tc-quatre-coeurs-1-ghz.html
>
> There is no VGA or HDMI video output, just a serial port to connect to,
> and then three NICs and two USB ports.
>
> I've never installed CentOS over a serial console, so I don't even
know
> if it's possible in the first place. Has anyone ever done something
like
> that ?
>
> Any suggestions ?
You should look up installing Centos over a serial console, I believe 
you should be able to change the install parameters for netinstall to 
provide a console on the serial port.

Failing that have you considered installing Centos to the mSATA disk on 
a different system and then just transplanting the built system into 
this appliance?

> Niki

On Fri, 16 Mar 2018, Nicolas Kovacs wrote:
> I have to install CentOS 7 for a client, to act as cache & filtering
> proxy using Squid.
>
> I'd like to use this piece of specialized hardware :
>
>
http://store.calexium.com/fr/systeme-pre-assemble/869-systeme-pre-assemble-rackmatrix-apu-amd-gx-412tc-quatre-coeurs-1-ghz.html
>
> There is no VGA or HDMI video output, just a serial port to connect to,
> and then three NICs and two USB ports.
>
> I've never installed CentOS over a serial console, so I don't even
know
> if it's possible in the first place. Has anyone ever done something
like
> that ?
>
> Any suggestions ?
Kickstart, and do a non-interactive install.  That's always my preferred
route.

serial, as you've already had suggested.

Set anaconda to provide vnc, then connect to the vncserver
and install using the normal graphical installer just like you would on a
default install.

jh

Nicolas Kovacs writes:
> Hi,
> 
> I have to install CentOS 7 for a client, to act as cache & filtering
> proxy using Squid.
> 
> I'd like to use this piece of specialized hardware :
> 
>
http://store.calexium.com/fr/systeme-pre-assemble/869-systeme-pre-assemble-rackmatrix-apu-amd-gx-412tc-quatre-coeurs-1-ghz.html
> 
> There is no VGA or HDMI video output, just a serial port to connect to,
> and then three NICs and two USB ports.
> 
> I've never installed CentOS over a serial console, so I don't even
know
> if it's possible in the first place. Has anyone ever done something
like
> that ?
> 
> Any suggestions ?
I haven't done this with Linux, only Soekris+OpenBSD, but the principles are
the same. PXE, kickstart, monitoring via serial port. Change console settings to
point to the serial port as per Giles. Use a USB-to-serial converter to connect
to a laptop running a terminal program, or serial cable with a dekstop that
still has a serial port. May need a null-modem cable, I don't remember.

> Am 16.03.2018 um 14:21 schrieb isdtor <isdtor at gmail.com>:
> 
> Nicolas Kovacs writes:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I have to install CentOS 7 for a client, to act as cache &
filtering
>> proxy using Squid.
>> 
>> I'd like to use this piece of specialized hardware :
>> 
>>
http://store.calexium.com/fr/systeme-pre-assemble/869-systeme-pre-assemble-rackmatrix-apu-amd-gx-412tc-quatre-coeurs-1-ghz.html
>> 
>> There is no VGA or HDMI video output, just a serial port to connect to,
>> and then three NICs and two USB ports.
>> 
>> I've never installed CentOS over a serial console, so I don't
even know
>> if it's possible in the first place. Has anyone ever done something
like
>> that ?
>> 
>> Any suggestions ?
> 
> I haven't done this with Linux, only Soekris+OpenBSD, but the
principles are the same. PXE, kickstart, monitoring via serial port. Change
console settings to point to the serial port as per Giles. Use a USB-to-serial
converter to connect to a laptop running a terminal program, or serial cable
with a dekstop that still has a serial port. May need a null-modem cable, I
don't remember.

We use a DIGITUS USB2Serial Converter (Prolific based USBID: VID:067B PID:2303)
and then

screen /dev/DEVICE 115200

--
LF