Linux RDP 1.2 with Redhat AS 3 update 3

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi All,

I setup Linux RDP 1.2 and I am trying to deploy RedHat AS 3 with update 3. I see that there is no job for this version only for update 4. I did try to copy the update 3 cds to the NFS server. When I try to run the update 4 job the target server gets to where it will copy the files but it errors telling me that the files are different that the boot files.

Does anyone know how to deploy RedHat AS 3 with update 3? If so that would be great.

Thanks

[Gopi Sekar · Accepted solution]

In RDP, it is not just about copying files to NFS share when you want to add support for an operating system. It involves creating jobs and copying installation boot files to Deployment server too.

Check the KB article no 98, How To Add A Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Scripted Install Job

Follow the same steps to add support for RHEL 3 Update 3

Gopi

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi there,

Thanks for the info. What do I do when I need to deploy this image? and when I need to capture this image? I cant remember if the versions of Redhat come into play during these jobs. I am not in front of the server so I can check now.

Thanks

[Gopi Sekar]

I believe you are asking about imaging support for RHEL 3 Update 3. Imaging is not dependent on the update number, so you can image RHEL 3 Update 3 without any problem and you can deploy to targets.

For scripted installation deployment, you are almost near to success. only pending task is this:

in RDP 1.20 there is /opt/altiris/deployment/adlserver/lib/osdist directory which contains various sub-directories for each of the supported operating systems. eg: for RHEL 3 Update 4, the directories are rhas3u4, rhes3u4, rhas3u4.64, rhes3u4.64 these are for both AS/ES version of RHEL 3 update 4 for x86 and x86_64.

These directories contain anaconda installation boot files, these are transferred to target server and rebooted to boot from this to start the installation. RH boot images are so strict that the boot image s for RHEL3 Update 4 will not work for RHEL 3 Update 3.

So what you have to do is:
* create a directory /opt/altiris/deployment/adlserver/lib/osdist/rhas3u3
* mount RHEL 3 AS Update 3 CD 1 in your deployment server
* copy following files from CD to the above created directory
cdrom:/dosutils/loadlin.exe
cdrom:/images/pxeboot/vmlinuz
cdrom:/images/pxeboot/initrd.img
* go to webconsole edit the job and go to 'Copy Distribution Files' task. locate the 'set dist=' line and change it to reflect the directory name created in step 1. eg: set dist=rhas3u3

Thats it, reschedule this new job to the target machine and your installation should go through fine. let me know if you need more information.

Regards,
Gopi

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi there,

This is what I have done so far starting with the beginning.

I had copied the RedHat CDs to the NFS server using the directory rhas3u4.



After reading your post, I created a rhas3u3 directory under the /opt/altris/deployment/adlserver/lib/osdit

I then mounted CD1 and copied the three files to this directory.

I then edited the Copy Distribution Files task to point to the correct directory.

I went to run the job and the error I get is

That Directory does not seem to contain a RedHat Enterprise Linux installation tree

So I click ok then I see that it is pointing to the wrong directory so I tell it the correct one then it tells me that directory could not be mounted from the server.

I am using the boot floppy instead of PXE so I am not sure if that is the issue.

Thanks

[Raymond McDonald]

I also read that KB article and it looks like it is for an older version of Linux RDP.Since I did not see those dirs on my system.

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi there,

Ok this is what I did,

I had to edit /etc/exports and point them to the correct directory and the ran exportfs -r and then showmount -e and I see it is using the correct directory.

What I want to know is when I go to do this on another system(fresh install of RDP) how can I have it pick the correct directory the first time, or will I have to always edit the /etc/exports file.

Thanks

[Gopi Sekar]

* where did you create rhas3u3 directory, it should be in deployment server and not on NFS server.

* what is the directory it is pointing to, when it gave the error 'directory does not seem to contain the required files'?

Whatever I had told you earlier is what needs to be done on DS, there are few things that needs to be on NFS also. Now your environment is a mixed up of both, so let us make it straight and do things for NFS also.

* create a directory /usr/rdp/osdist/rhas3u3
* copy RH CD files in to the above directory
* create directory /usr/rdp/osconfig/rhas3u3
* copy default.cfg and bl10e.cfg files from /usr/rdp/osconfig/rhas3u4 to /usr/rdp/osconfig/rhas3u3
* edit default.cfg and bl10e.cfg files in osconfig/rhas3u3, modify all referrences of rhas3u4 to rhas3u3
* add following entries in to /etc/exports file
/usr/rdp/osdist/rhas3u3 *(ro,async)
/usr/rdp/osconfig/rhas3u3 *(ro,async)
* run exportfs -r from command prompt

on the webconsole,
* Edit the job and click on 'Create Boot Environment Task'
modify all referrences of rhas3u4 to rhas3u3
* apply and save the job. re-run this job on the target and you should go through without any errors.

Hope this helps,
Gopi

[Gopi Sekar]

The KB article is old and we are in the process of updating it, you should be able to see it in a week's time. sorry i gave you wrong information on that.

yes, you have to manually edit /etc/exports file and re-run exportfs -r to get the changes done. This is one of the thing among many which RDP does for you and making life easier for you and you are paying for it :)

Regards,
Gopi

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi there,

Right now my DS and NFS server is on the same server. Once I did the correct mount points under /exports the install is going fine.

I will do what you said just to have it install nice and clean, since this is a test server I will deleted it and then do the job over again. Pretty much I want to know this hands down when I go to a customer site.

[Raymond McDonald]

I did have one question. I was able to install Redhat AS 3 update 3 with the info you gave me.

When the script job goes to install PSP do I have to log on to the server for the PSP install to work.

Right now the only issue I am having is getting the graphical desktop to start.

Thanks

[Raymond McDonald]

Hi there,

I found out about the PSP install and I am all set for the graphical desktop issue.

Thanks for all your help.
Ray

[Raymond McDonald]

Gopi was able to help me out. Great for HP to have such a person working for them.