Kickstart File + ESX 3.5

[rundll32]

Hello @ll,

I have 2 problems when I deploy an ESX with a kickstart file who´s stay on a NFS server.

1. Installation Method

cdrom

1. root Password

rootpw --iscrypted xxx

1. Authconfig

auth --enableshadow --enablemd5

1. BootLoader ( The user has to use grub by default )

bootloader --driveorder=cciss/c0d0 --location=mbr

1. Ignore these SAN LUNs

ignoredisk --drives=sda,sdb,sdc,sdd,sde,sdf,sdg,sdh,sdi,sdj,sdk,sdl,sdm,sdn,sdo,sdp,sdq,sdr,sds,sdt,sdu,sdv,sdw,sdx,sdy,sdz

1. Timezone

timezone Europe/Paris

1. X windowing System

skipx

1. Install or Upgrade

install

1. Text Mode

text

1. Network install type

network --bootproto static --ip 192.168.0.1 --netmask 255.255.255.0 --gateway 192.168.0.254 --nameserver 192.168.0.10 --hostname esx1-vi3.xxx.com --addvmportgroup=0 --vlanid=0

1. Language

lang en_US

1. Langauge Support

langsupport --default en_US

1. Keyboard

keyboard fr

1. Mouse

mouse none

1. Reboot after install ?

reboot

1. Firewall settings

firewall --disabled

1. Clear Partitions

clearpart --all --initlabel --drives=cciss/c0d0

1. Partitioning

part /boot --fstype ext3 --size 102 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

part / --fstype ext3 --size 4997 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

part swap --size 544 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

part None --fstype vmfs3 --size 10000 --grow --ondisk cciss/c0d0

part None --fstype vmkcore --size 102 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

part /var/log --fstype ext3 --size 1992 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

1. VMware Specific Commands

vmaccepteula

vmlicense --mode=server --server=27000@192.168.0.33 --edition=esxFull

%packages

@base

%post

cp /etc/rc.d/rc.local /etc/rc.d/rc.local.orig

mv /etc/ntp.conf /etc/ntp.conf.orig

mv /etc/ntp/step-tickers /etc/ntp/step-tickers.orig

cat > /etc/ntp.conf << EOF

restrict 127.0.0.1

server 0.de.pool.ntp.org

server 1.de.pool.ntp.org

server 2.de.pool.ntp.org

fudge 127.127.1.0 stratum 10

driftfile /etc/ntp/drift

broadcastdelay 0.008

authenticate yes

keys /etc/ntp/keys

EOF

cat > /etc/ntp/step-tickers << EOF

0.de.pool.ntp.org

1.de.pool.ntp.org

2.de.pool.ntp.org

de.pool.ntp.org

EOF

cat > /etc/rc.d/rc.local << EOF

sed -e 's/PermitRootLogin no/PermitRootLogin yes/' /etc/ssh/sshdconfig > /etc/ssh/sshd_config.new_

mv -f /etc/ssh/sshdconfig.new /etc/ssh/sshd_config_

service sshd restart

esxcfg-firewall -e nfsClient

esxcfg-firewall -e ntpClient

esxcfg-vswitch -U vmnic0 vSwitch0

esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic1 vSwitch0

esxcfg-vswitch -a vSwitch1

esxcfg-vswitch -A Production vSwitch1

esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic1 vSwitch1

esxcfg-vswitch -a vSwitch2

esxcfg-vswitch -A VMotion vSwitch2

esxcfg-vmknic -a VMotion -i 192.168.0.100 -n 255.255.255.0

esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic2 vSwitch2

esxcfg-route 192.168.0.254

sleep 5

cp /etc/rc.d/rc.local.orig /etc/rc.d/rc.local

EOF

#%vmlicense_text

1) When I use this file from a NFS server with the command: esx ks=nfs:192.168.x.x:/nfs/esx1.cfg ksdevice=eth1, it´s working fine. If I put this kickstart file on a CD, the server will be installed but "the SSH enabling" and "NFS/NTP client" are not working.

2) If a boot on an ISO (kickstart on the ISO too) trough a RSA from an IBM server, I receive a popup at the beginning of the installation (Media Check).

Thanks for your great help.

Stéphane.

[Yattong]

Are you using eth0 or eth1 for your service console?

If so, have you noticed that, in the network install line you have not specified eth1 as the nic to use. By default, it will use eth0.

Once you use anything other than eth0, vSwif0 is disabled.

You will need to script to enable this, v. easy. Just 2 lines.

esxcfg-vswif -i ipaddress -n subnetmask -b broadcast vswif0

esxcfg-vswif -E vswif0

hmm with the RSA, you will find that in the ESX installation guide, it states that using DRAC (Dell) and RSA are flakey. So not too sure what the problem with that one is.

[rpartmann]

Hi,

can´t verify right now but i think/remember the mount points are different when installing over CD vs. PXE boot (probably also NFS).

when booting from cd (when remembering correctly)

final ESX............................ during install

/.........................................../mnt/sysimage

/boot...................................../mnt/sysimage/boot

and probably you have to change the path when accesing the files

hth,

Reinhard.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.

[rundll32]

I´m using eth0 for the service console - the scripted install doesn´t work if I take the same - per default, eth0 is taken so I needn´t --device eth0 in my kickstart.

I will try your 2 solutions this week and I give you a feedback - Thanks for the fast answer!