====== Kickstart ======


===== Overview =====


Kickstart provides a means of rapid, unattended deployment of the OS. The process briefly consists of:

  * Server is booted using PXE (network boot) to syslinux provided by tftp.\\ 
  * Desired image is selected from the menu screen presented to the user.\\ 
  * OS is deployed to server.\\
  * Post-installation script makes appropriate changes to configurations and installs any additional packages requried.\\ 
  * Build is complete.\\ 


===== Server Details =====

Kickstart is currently running on [[ops01|ops01]].

Files can be browsed at http://192.168.123.45/ks


===== Directory Structure =====


^ Directory ^ Description ^
| /kickstart | Base directory for all Kickstart related files |
| | |
| /kickstart/**backup** | Contains backups and scripts |
| /kickstart/**http** | All files published by http used by Kickstart clients |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot** | PXE boot configs and files |
| | |
| /kickstart/**http**/cfg | Kickstart Configuration Files |
| /kickstart/**http**/extra | Additional scripts and packages |
| /kickstart/**http**/extra/scripts/ks_post_install | Post-install scripts |
| /kickstart/**http**/os | Repo/OS/Packages used for deployment |
| | |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot**/isolinux| Kernel and initrd files |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot**/msgs| Menus displayed once PXE is booted |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot**/isolinux| Kernel and initrd files |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot**/pxelinux.0| File used to boot syslinux PXE |
| /kickstart/**tftpboot**/pxelinux.cfg| Names boot labels used for booting after syslinux phase |

The following files are worthy of note:
^ File ^ Description ^
| /kickstart/http/extra/scripts/ks_post_install/config_server.sh | The main post-install script. Everything happens from here once the initial Kickstart build has completed and the OS is installed. |
| /kickstart/http/extra/scripts/ks_post_install/mac.db | Used during post-build to match the MAC address of the server to apply the appropriate network settings. |
| /kickstart/http/extra/scripts/ks_post_install/update_tar.sh | **IMPORTANT!!** If you make any changes to any files you MUST run this file to update the tar file the server retrieves to run all the post install scripts. |

===== Post Install Scripts =====

After using the *.ks kickstart file to configure the server, at the bottom of the ks file is a command to wget and extract http://KS_SERVER/ks/ks_post_install.tar to /root/ks_post_install.
**config_server.sh** is run. This is the main file containing all directives which makes the following changes:
\\**Note the variables at the top of the script.**\\
  - Sets timezone to UTC
  - Syncs clock to internal NTP servers
  - Set modprobe aliases for bnx2 and be2net NICs
  - Set networking:
   - Hostname
   - IP Address, Netmask, Gateway
   - Disable IPv6
   - Hosts file (and additional entries only for DB servers)
   - /etc/resolve.conf
   - Create NIC bonding for eth0/1 (bond0) (mode=1)
   - DB Only: create bond1 for eth2/3 (mode=0)
  - Disable uncessary services (chkconfig off)
  - Set permissions on some system dirs to tighten security
  - RGS servers only: set some RGS specific OS parameters
  - Create users and groups where applicable: wworks, nagios, gi-hpsim with consistent GIDs and UIDs
  - Set .ssh dir such as SSH keys for wworks, nagios
  - Configure server for LDAP authentication
  - Set sudoers file
  - Set PS1 prompt, using RED colour for root, green for non-root. (export PS1="\u@\h \$ ")
  - Tighten sshd security and disable remote root login.
  - Set login prompt (issue/banner)
  - Set boot resolution to 1024x768
  - Configure exim
  - Set NTP sources
  - Configure local yum repo
  - Configure Spacewalk and register server
  - Configure Syslog to gi-log01
  - For servers with HBA, add recommended QLogic/HP modprobe.conf kernel options
  - Configure multipath.conf with recommended HP parameters for EVA8400 or MSA P2000 G3
  - DB Only: Retrieve and configure Oracle binaries, set some system parameters
  - DB Only: Setup keyless SSH for Oracle between DB servers
  - Install HP Support Pack RPMs
  - Set VCA config and passwords (HP Version Control Agent) to gi-sma01
  - Configure SNMP and set traps to gi-sma01 (HP SIM)
  - Configure iLO:
    - Set/update iLO Name (also appears as Blade name in Onboard Administrator GUI)
    - Set/update iLO Hostname (gi-<server>**__i__**)
    - Create/set usernames/passwords: gibtechops, uktechops, lvtechops
    - Set SNMP traps to point to gi-sma01 (HP SIM)
    - * Note: These run at first boot and you may lose access to iLO while it resets.
  - Write all logs and output to /root/kickstart_logs
  - Send email notification of server build