topic Re: Kick start server in Operating System - Linux

Kick start server

Habib_4 — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:53:30 GMT

Hi Guys!,

Just wondered, what is a kick start server and how does it work?

Re: Kick start server

Paul Cross_1 — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:28:14 GMT

A kickstart server is a redhat linux install server like jumpstart (solaris) or ignite (hpux).
kickstart can be started from a boot cd or floppy with a ks.cfg file referencing custom aspects of installation such as partition info, NIS domain, install source (NFS, ftp, http) etc. etc.

-p

Re: Kick start server

Paul Cross_1 — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:06:53 GMT

No HERE's a link... d'oh.

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/custom-guide/part-install-info.html

Re: Kick start server

Ivan Ferreira — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 15:31:25 GMT

The "kick start server" is just a NFS server that holds the installation images for the Red Hat/Fedora Operating system. It may also be the DHCP server that indicates to the clients what kickstart file to use.

A kickstart file can be created with system config kickstart. You start the installation using:

linux ks (network kickstart file)
linux ks=floppy (floppy kickstart file)

The file normally is called ks.cfg. It's an answer file that automates the installation program. You always have a kickstart file in /root called anaconda-ks.cfg, that is the configuration used to install that system.

Re: Kick start server

Sung Oh — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:54:10 GMT

Hi Habib,

It can be used as network installation server for REDHAT images on the network. You can install many systems VIA network at once if you have Kick start server setup on the network.

It uses DHCP to control the client systems to be loaded such redhat images. you can PXE boot the client systems from Kick start server and kickstart configuration file can be used to load images after PXE boot.

I hope this helps,

Sung

Re: Kick start server

Guru Dutta — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 01:38:04 GMT

Hey,

I guess this link will be useful:-

http://wwwcache.ja.net/dev/kickstart/KickStart-HOWTO.html

Thanks,

~Guru Dutta

Re: Kick start server

Asif Sharif — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 01:57:21 GMT

Hi Habib,

Due to the need for automated installation, Red Hat has created the kickstart installation method. With this method, a system administrator can create a single file containing the answers to all the questions that would normally be asked during a typical Red Hat interactive Linux installation.

Kickstart files can be kept on single server system, and read by individual computers during the installation. The kickstart installation method is powerful enough that often a single kickstart file can be used to install Red Hat Linux on multiple machines, making it ideal for network and system administrators.

Kickstart lets you automate most of a Red Hat Linux installation, including:

Language selection
Network configuration
Keyboard selection
Boot loader installation (LILO)
Disk partitioning
Mouse Selection
X Window System configuration
Kickstart installations can only be performed using a local CD-ROM, a local hard drive, or NFS installation methods. FTP and HTTP installations cannot be automated using kickstart mode.

For Redhat 9 see this link.

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/custom-guide/ch-kickstart2.html

For Redhat AS 4 see this link.

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-4-Manual/sysadmin-guide/s1-kickstart2-options.html

Regards,
Asif Sharif

Re: Kick start server

Vipulinux — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 08:16:13 GMT

Hi

Kickstart server is a central server thry which you can intsall linux client machines.

Kickstart Server can either be:
NFS based
FTP based
HTTP based.

It basically hold the entire Redhat packages at one location.

Once this server is ready you can boot the clinet machine using kickstart floppy and point it ot the Kickstart server and it will get installed. ( similar to RIS if you are familiar with Windows)

Cheers
Vipul