"Kickstart" like install?

Forum: HD Install
Topic: "Kickstart" like install?
started by: sbergman27

Posted by sbergman27 on Mar. 31 2006,21:03

Hi,

I'm potentially a new user of DSL. I have clients who run CentOS servers and and odd lot collection of X servers as terminals. Some might be old proliants that used to run Windows. Some might be new Dell's that came with Windows. Currently, I am running a customized CentOS kickstart installation. This basically let's me set the partitioning, package selection, screen resolution, etc. in a kickstart file that gets specified in the isolinux config at the start of the install. It also allows me to run a script at the end of the install to do things like add a line to /etc/inittab to start the X server, telling it where it's font server lives, and what XDMCP server to query, etc.

Problem is, using CentOS on the terminals is really overkill. It takes 2 CD's and installs way too much stuff for my aesthetic tastes, even though I start from the minimal install.

DSL looks appealing, but I do need to be able to easily create a CD that I can hand over to nontechnical users that they can just pop in an old (or new) pc and go, without having to know anything.

The terminal server project is another option that I have considered, but I don't like the complexity.

Posted by mikshaw on April 01 2006,02:52

To be honest, i don't think it's likely that any distro will be able to work on just any random machine without the possibility that someone with knowledge will need to do some tweaking. However, DSL is made particularly for older hardware, so it's a good option as far as i can see.

The post-install actions are not available, though. It sounds like a useful thing, but as far as i know, it would need to be something you do yourself...or have someone do for you.

Posted by 300c_pilot on April 02 2006,05:35

I have used ghost to mass produce(8) some hard drives. These were full HD installs. DSL so far has had the least headaches, as long as the video card has more then 4 megs. DSL seams to just turn on.

Smooth flights...