Re: Kickstart file for RH-6.0

["L. C. Robinson" <lcr cyberhighway net>]

On Wed, 22 Dec 1999, Pawel Loba wrote:

> I'm trying to prepare the kickstart file
> for my Rh-6.0 but am not sure about three syntaxes here:

> 1. How to tell my installation process that one of the partitions
> should be extended one?

You have no control of that.  You just provide free, unpartitioned
space, and tell kickstart how big to make which partitions.  See
the references mentioned below for details.  An expert might be
able to pre-partition the disk, and get control of the situation
manually, but that goes beyond the kickstart scheme.

> 2. How to tell it to insert automatically domainname, hostname
> and secondary name server?

Example from the KickStart-HOWTO:

network --static --ip 198.168.254.253 --netmask 255.255.255.0 --gateway 198.168.254.1 --nameserver 198.168.254.2

The rest must be done either after the machine is up, or through the
the %post shell script directive.

> 3. Can I modify the /etc/securetty and /etc/inittab file using
> 'post installation configuration' to make my DOS-terminal to talk
> to me after rebooting my system when installation process is
> finished, if yes, any info how to do it or where to find
> appropriate instructions would be truly appreciated.

Yes.  This is just a matter of shell scripting.  If you don't know
what that is, and still want to learn, email me, and I can point
you to some tutorial stuff, and will even write the necessary lines
for you, given the necessary specifics, concerning what you want
(no guarantees, of course).  As in, write psuedo code in a copy of
your proposed kickstart file, and send it.  Or imitate the examples
in the documents referenced below, and I'll try proofing them for
you.

Example:
%post
echo "ttyS0" >> /etc/securetty  # for com 1
echo "t2:345:respawn:/sbin/getty -r1 ttyS0 DT9600" >> /etc/inittab
# for com1 (must hit <return> to get a login prompt)

# Other lines from inittab I have actually used for my machine:
# t2:345:respawn:/sbin/getty -r1 ttyS1 DT19200 vt100
# t2:345:respawn:/sbin/getty -r1 ttyS1 ttyS_38400 wyse50
# S1:2345:respawn:/usr/sbin/mgetty ttyS1

# You can even install speech rpm packages you have downloaded:
rpm -ihv /path/to/emacspeak-or-other-package.rpm   other-package.rpm

# and so on...

--- end %post example ---

> I already read a readme.ks file on my installation cd but am not
> clear about those issues I mentioned above.

Did you find the other references on kickstart files?  Namely, the
kickstart HOWTO, and the section of the _Redhat_Linux_Reference_
Guide_, on kickstart.  Both are available online, including on the
web.  You can find them under your "doc" directory on your RedHat 
CD, in the HOWTO and rhref directories, respectively.

Oh, and you would be wise to read the advice in the blinux FAQ
about using out of date Linux versions like the one you mentioned
above, and where to get updates dirt cheap (RH6.1 is current for
now).

LCR

-- 
L. C. Robinson
reply to lcr cyberhighway net

People buy MicroShaft for compatibility, but get incompatibility and
instability instead.  This is award winning "innovation".  Find
out how MS holds your data hostage with "The *Lens*"; see
"CyberSnare" at http://www.netaction.org/msoft/cybersnare.html