[Tech] Partimus / PXE unattended install solution
jim
jim at well.com
Mon Mar 23 13:13:20 PDT 2015
jim is lurking and attentive.
On 03/23/2015 07:34 PM, Christian Einfeldt wrote:
> Hi Tai,
>
> thanks for your great work ! Also, I am cc'ing everyone, because I am
> not sure who is on the tech list, and Lyz has sent in a trouble ticket
> to Dream Host, because it has not been archiving the tech list. I
> will send an email to the tech list asking everyone to put up their
> hands if they can see the emails coming through to that list. Thanks!
>
> My comments are in line below.
>
> On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 10:38 AM, Tai Kedzierski <dch.tai at gmail.com
> <mailto:dch.tai at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Some notes of what I've done, and a request for advice, as well as
> suggestions for Abigail. Please feel free to disagree and improve!
>
>
>
> === ISO Customization
>
> I had a go at the ISO customization task over the week-end.
> Unfortunately the instructions are old, and oscillate between
> helpful and omissive... My resulting ISO caused kernal panic
> before even loading boot, but I think I know where to look to
> troubleshoot that...
>
>
> I've started constructing a bash script to automate as much of it
> as I can (it's also a good way to re-verify knowledge ;-) )
>
> For the technically inclined, you can find that script here
> https://github.com/taikedz/handy-scripts/blob/master/in-progress/customiso/autobuild.sh
>
> Sporadic notes start at line 111 , actual steps start at line 167.
> It is incomplete.
>
>
> May I share that link with Charlie Reisinger? He said that he would
> try to reach one of his tech gurus to see if they might be willing to
> help us out, and maybe that guru would be able to offer you some
> additional insight as you have requested below.
>
>
>
>
> === PXE Server / machine boot (help needed?)
>
> I also tried setting up a server to centrally serve ISO images
> over PXE with a tftp server. Again, shaky tutorials abound, no
> end-to-end solution. I had troubles with (I think) setting up an
> internal DNS and having my VMs start there (VirtualBox does not
> have any "BIOS" settings as far as I've so far seen)
>
> If I can get this much fixed, I can put together a comprehensive
> guide on setting up the PXE component with better documentation
> and caveat highlighting.
>
> A lot of it requires manual work so cannot be so easily automated
> unless I prepare a template, and even then may depend on the
> target network infrastructure.
>
> **Is there anyone who could offer guidance on setting up BIOS /
> etc so that a machine can be specifically pointed in BIOS to the
> PXE server?
>
>
> I am continuing to do outreach to try to build up a community of
> people who might be able to help you out, including Charlie Reisinger
> and others.
>
> I am testing on VirtualBox, but I suspect many real machines also
> just look for the network's default DNS server... over which I
> have little control in fact, and the teachers may hit a similar
> problem...
>
> Alternatively, I might need to put together a PXE booting CD which
> has the presets loaded into it (similar to what I saw at the Uni
> but not sure...) which would be able to allow us to do away with
> having to even set up a local DNS server
>
>
>
> === Software requirements
>
> Pulling from Abigail's list, these divide fairly nicely into two
> categories:
>
> /==
> *I am currently running:* (productivity)
> Google docs
> GIMP *
> Blue Fish editor (html)
> Firefox
> Chrome (which crashes a lot and needs to get removed)
>
> *It would be great to have:* (media production)
> 3d modeling software
> video editing software
> sound editing software
> drawing software
> ==/
>
> Productivity - these can be added as standard to the Lubuntu
> machine. GIMP may be a bit heavy for the older machines, and I
> might suggest moving it into the media category. If only light
> image editing needs doing, I can suggest gPaint which is more like
> MS Paint in terms of features and lightness.
>
> Can I suggest adding LibreOffice as well?
>
>
> These are elementary students that are using these machines, and so I
> am thinking that the lighter weight editing tools that come standard
> with Lubuntu might be adequate for that. I use Libre Office myself
> personally, but I find it to be very heavy weight. I think that
> Lubuntu comes with AbiWord preinstalled, doesn't it? I think AbiWord
> is also much lighter weight than Libre Office
>
> It follows the goal of FOSS and works fine offline too. Also uses
> open document standards. A good habit to instill in students once
> they move on to using their own computers.
>
>
> I think that AbiWord uses open document standards and is completely
> free as in freedom.
>
>
>
> Media Production - Machines { 8, 19, 12 } from your spreadsheet
> could house and handle media production suites, I'd be wary of
> putting it on the standard install. Once I get the customization
> procedure down, it should be easy enough to produce a second,
> media-oriented ISO.
>
>
> We are going to be delivering 15 additional machines to Abigail on
> Wednesday, March 25. That will be the first step in replacing some of
> the older, slower machines. Slow machines are the bane of my
> existence, because we are essentially establishing negative branding
> with old machines ("FOSS doesn't work"), when actually FOSS works much
> better on those older, slower machines; however, students and teachers
> just conclude if it is free as in free beer, then it must be junk. So
> I am going to emphasize a search for better machines.
>
>
> As my mantra goes, it depends on the workflow and activity goals
> what we'll be choosing in terms of specific software. I can
> suggest Abigail have a look at the below list and see what meets
> her or he r tutors' needs.
>
>
> _3d modelling_ - *Blender* seems to be the preferred software for
> 3d animation. The Free video "Big Buck Bunny" was created using
> Blender as a demo of what it can achieve - plays with the quality
> of a Pixar short!
>
>
> I agree, let's add Blender.
>
>
> For modelling-only, here's some other ones
> http://www.techdrivein.com/2011/08/5-open-source-3d-modelling-rendering.html
>
> _Video editing_ - funnily enough, *Blender* has also been
> recommended for this task on numerous reviews. Otherwise
> *OpenShot* and *pitivi* suites are good alternatives, though this
> is not my area of expertise.
>
>
> I think that OpenShot is becoming a standard for FOSS video editing,
> so let's go with that, IMHO.
>
>
> _Sound editing_ - for sound /editing/ *Audacity* is a good choice.
> For /music production/ a heftier suite is called for. Perhaps *LMMS*?
>
>
> Audacity is adequate, and has a simpler GUI, which will be better for
> the elementary school kids she is teaching
>
>
> _"Drawing" software_ - What's the use case? There are many
> categories of "drawing" software - vector drawing (more suited to
> graphical design and logo creation) can be done with *InkScape*
> (proprietary equivalent is Adobe Illustrator); digital painting is
> well served by *Krita* (proprietary equivalent... none really.
> Manga Studio perhaps). *GIMP* also can serve this purpose but is
> more geared towards photo-manipulation.
>
>
> Yea, Krita is very good. Let's give them both GIMP and Krita. Krita
> is easier to use, but GIMP is more powerful.
>
>
> My own photographic workflow makes use of digiKam and GIMP (I used
> to use Adobe Lightroom and PhotoShop; I'm finding I don't need
> them anymore and am now free of Apple!)
>
>
> For a full creativity set, I could aslo suggest adding *Scribus*
> to the standard set for desktop publishing & professional layout
> preparation (equivalent proprietary is Adobe InDesign)
>
>
> Okay, let's try Scribus.
>
>
> /
> /
> /--- A note on creativity/media production distros:/
>
> Whilst Lubuntu will be perfectly fine for most productivity and
> study tasks, you may want to consider a different distro for media.
>
> I could suggest Abigail have a look at "*Ubuntu Studio*", a full
> media production suite distro. Only customization that would be
> needed would be to make it Unattended Install.
> http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ubuntustudio
>
> ArtistX is another distro worth a look. This too is based on
> Ubuntu, and again, the same Unattended customization should need
> doing. http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=artistx
>
>
> My concern with these other two distros is that they will come with a
> heavy desktop, such as Unity. Until we get her better hardware, it
> seems to me that staying with Lubuntu is a good idea.
>
>
>
> That's me until next week-end :-)
>
>
> Thank you so much for your work, Tai !!! Please let me know if I can
> tweet your github code, as I am going to try to find other people who
> might be able to help you out! Thanks!
>
>
> Tai
>
>
>
>
> ===
> Tai Kedzierski
>
> IT Services Specialist
> http://helpuse.com
> +44 (0) 7526 963 612 <tel:%2B44%20%280%29%207526%20963%20612>
> (portable GB)
>
> I use www.libreoffice.org <http://www.libreoffice.org>
>
> /"Open Source Free Software is a matter of liberty, not price."/
> https://bitly.com/1gXkUcc
>
>
> On 20 March 2015 at 22:01, Christian Einfeldt <einfeldt at gmail.com
> <mailto:einfeldt at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Bottom posting...
>
> On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 2:40 PM, Tai Kedzierski
> <dch.tai at gmail.com <mailto:dch.tai at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> I'll certainly have a look at Chrome problems once we have
> the basics in place. If I can replicate the issue I /may/
> be able to solve it, otherwise we need to look at what the
> problems w other browsers are and if the trade off is
> worth it.
>
>
> Thx!
>
> I should mention privately that I am totally willing to
> set up this system for them and Partimus, as it is
> learning exp for me too, and I commit to provide the best
> result to my abilities;
>
> However for anything that relates to troubleshooting and
> tech support outwith the direct project, I am happy to
> muck in initially, but may have to meet a professional
> upsell point, or pass the flame... of course, I'll /never/
> seek to charge anything without prior agreement - keep
> this paragraph as testament!
>
> Thanks, we understand that you need to make a living, and we
> will never expect you to commit to doing volunteer work. We
> all are volunteers with jobs, which is why we appreciate your
> help!
>
> I'm signing off now as I have started the Friday evening
> at a party and want to not send inebriated emails...! So
> please pardon radio silence ...
>
> heh, enjoy!
>
> I would be interested in having a quick talk with you over
> skype or similar, and also with volunteer team on this
> project - I can set up a Mumble VoIP server if preferable.
> Twould be evening UTC , morning PST
>
>
> I can do skype on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 am PST time, which
> is 5:00 pm Edinburgh time. Does that work for you? Thanks!
>
> --Tai
>
> // Sent from a mobile device; rogue typos may be lurking
>
> On 20 Mar 2015 20:50, "Christian Einfeldt"
> <einfeldt at gmail.com <mailto:einfeldt at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have gotten some feedback from the teacher, Abigail
> Rudner. She says that she has been having trouble
> with the Chrome browser crashing. I don't know what
> that is all about. Maybe the conflicts that James
> Howard experienced between Firefox and iTalc have been
> resolved, and maybe we can remove Chrome as she requests:
>
> *
> **I am currently running:*
> Google docs
> GIMP
> Blue Fish editor (html)
> Firefox
> Chrome (which crashes a lot and needs to get removed)
> *
> **It would be great to have:*
> 3d modeling software
> video editing software
> sound editing softwaredrawing software
>
> Thanks!
>
> On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 11:34 AM, Tai Kedzierski
> <dch.tai at gmail.com <mailto:dch.tai at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Dear Christian, All,
>
> Hello :-)
>
>
> I'd like to get the ball rolling first by
> outlining what we're actually trying to do. I've
> added my notes to the shared document, and below.
>
> *@Christian,* please let me know if I've gotten
> carried away. As you haven't yet given a wishlist,
> I have dreamt one up....!
>
>
> At this point in time, the outline points are
> educated guesses on my part - I've looked into PXE
> and unattended installs in the past, and worked
> with some pre-setup ones in past positions, but
> not yet had a project goal to work to myself -
> hence I am taking this opportunity :-).
>
> It may be full of holes.
>
> Please do poke those holes and suggest/add any
> improvements/changes!
>
>
> If anybody has a burning desire to look into any
> one Task in particular, maybe let the group
> know/put your name next to it so we're not
> doubling effort - and of course, add sub/tasks as
> you see necessary :-)
>
>
>
> I look forward to working on this with you all!
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Tai
>
>
> /============
>
> Following from my earlier notes, I would like to
> suggest attaining the goals outlined below, to wit:
>
> ## Goal workflow for workstation install:
>
> * teacher inserts CD into machine and
> reboots it from said CD
> * teacher needs to only click a couple of
> times to launch the install process
> ---- this may also involve choosing a
> network name for the PC
> * teacher can remove the CD and walk away,
> whilst the PC does its thing on the network
>
>
> ## Server install/maintenance
>
> Installation of the server may need sending
> someone onsite, or we can prepare an image that
> the teacher can install, with a post-install
> script to finish the job.
>
> The server should be able to just run headless and
> will probably be in command line mode unless
> specified otherwise (who normally performs
> maintenance?)
>
> System updates may or may not be installed by a
> remote technician, or automatically. From a
> break-prevention point of view I prefer the former
> (or a technician at the school can be trained);
> for the school's independence, the latter may be
> more relevant.
>
> At any rate, since the server is to host a master
> image, I'd like to insist that the machine /needs/
> keeping up to date and secure from any
> non-authorized users in the school, or
> super-savvy/curious students :-)
>
>
> ###
>
> I propose the following deliverables:
>
> * An install image with the required
> software and very-few-questions-asked
> * PXE server serving the image
> * Pre-seed file served from PXE server
> * PXE server install image itself (in case
> the server needs resetting) and/or install procedure
> * Delivery on DVDs for archival and
> off-Internet purposes
> * Hopefully, a full build manual for
> future maintainers
>
> ###
>
> Tasks to attain this, as far as I can see, are:
>
> * Create custom "ISO" of target desktop setup
> (rather, dir structure for serving over the web)
> from Ubuntu server
> * Prepare the pre-seed file (which needs to
> include installation of Lubuntu desktop) (this is
> the workaround I can imagine to get around
> Lubuntu's lack of netboot)
> * Prepare a PXE server setup
> * Prepare an image of the PXE setup (which will
> include the contents of the target ISO)
>
> ===
>
> Resources I've found most relevant so far:
>
> * UnattendedInstall CD :
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/UnattendedCD
> * Custom CD incl pre-seed :
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallCDCustomization
> * PXE setup :
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PXEInstallServer
>
>
> For Lubuntu, this may require using tasksel to
> install Lubuntu on top of a server base, as the
> std Lubuntu CD does not have the requisite config
> files ( /netboot )
>
> =============/
>
>
>
>
> ===
> Tai Kedzierski
>
> IT Services Specialist
> http://helpuse.com
> +44 (0) 7526 963 612
> <tel:%2B44%20%280%29%207526%20963%20612> (portable GB)
>
> I use www.libreoffice.org
> <http://www.libreoffice.org>
>
> /"Open Source Free Software is a matter of
> liberty, not price."/
> https://bitly.com/1gXkUcc
>
>
> On 18 March 2015 at 23:01, Christian Einfeldt
> <einfeldt at gmail.com <mailto:einfeldt at gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Thanks to everyone for your replies over the
> past couple of days about moving forward with
> the Ascend Linux lab, and thanks to each of
> you for your interest in the project. I have
> gotten some good feedback from you all about
> this project, and I greatly appreciate what I
> have heard from each of you. I have introduced
> each of you in an invitation to the google
> docs document, so that you hopefully might
> have an idea as to who everyone is. To that
> list I will add Jim Stockford, who runs a tech
> company called Systemateka.com that provides a
> wide array of open source computer solutions.
> Jim is one of our leading volunteers in our
> lab projects, and has been a major backbone of
> our work on our Linux labs in schools.
>
> Partimus has always moved forward by relying
> on preserving the goodwill of the members of
> the projects we work on and as a board all of
> our decisions thus far have been unanimous
> decisions, as far as I can see. I think the
> fact that our formal votes are unanimous
> reflects the fact that we value the input of
> each of our participants, and we want to build
> consensus and goodwill, rather than focus on
> short term outcomes.
>
> Partimus also tends to be a do-ocracy, meaning
> that people who have the greatest passion and
> time for a given project tend to take the
> reigns of a project, and the others tend to
> support them. So if you see something that
> interests you, please feel free to take the
> ball and run with it.
>
> And so at this time, it appears that Tai
> Kedzierski, Mike Rojas, and Jim Stockford have
> the kind of time and expertise needed to bring
> completion to the PXE bootable .iso project.
> It seems that Elizabeth and Grant have the
> expertise, but are slammed with projects at
> this time and so might not be among the first
> responders on this project; Jim Stockford
> describes himself as interested in the PXE
> boot project but says that he has not done
> such an .iso yet, but thinks he can help out;
> and Eric Burke has said that coding is not his
> forte but is interested in following the
> project and is writing a doctoral thesis on
> open source projects; and I absolutely suck at
> coding. Please correct me if I have not
> correctly stated anyone's interest or
> availability correctly, and my apologies in
> advance if I have made a mistake.
>
> If anyone would like to have an IRC chat about
> this project, I am up for that. Please just
> remember that Tai is in Scotland. The rest of
> us are in the San Francisco Bay Area, at least
> right now.
>
> Eric has found a documentation page that might
> be helpful for us in starting out the PXE boot
> project:
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PXEInstallMultiDistro
>
> Tai has sent me an email about the Google doc
> that I circulated. Elizabeth tells me that doc
> is actually for a specialized manual install
> .iso, not a PXE-boot .iso, so again my
> apologies if I have started us down the wrong
> road, and thanks for that correction,
> Elizabeth. Here is a link to that Google doc:
>
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UEgt_fkGUVdANcnZ1W2S5Rv15Hx3S92Ynn9Mui3xB_E/edit?usp=sharing
>
> Eric Burke's link above might be a better
> starting point, I'm not sure
>
> More comments below in response to a recent
> email from Tai:
>
> On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 4:21 AM, Tai
> Kedzierski <dch.tai at gmail.com
> <mailto:dch.tai at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi Christian
>
> Thanks - I wasn't expecting the "League of
> Extraordinary Sysadmins" gathering!
>
> Good to know there are others who will be
> able to provide insight!
>
> Rather than muck around in the document
> you provided (which has the initial vital
> info!) would it be possible you share a
> separate empty Google doc to serve as a
> collaboration/communication area? I'll
> dump the following in it afterwards
>
>
> Thanks, Tai. As I said above, I think I might
> have started us off on the wrong document, and
> maybe Eric Burke's link would be better? I
> don't know.
>
> At any rate, the document that I circulated is
> a copy, it is not the original, so if you
> would like to add the text below to that
> document, it doesn't bother me. If you would
> like to start another google document, that
> would be fine as well.
>
> More from Tai below:
>
>
> ===
>
>
>
> I had a quick look at PXE setup yesterday
> [2015/03/17] and it seems the
> straightforward setup simply serves the
> installation media over the network
> instead of reducing steps to install -
> James's notes seem to align with this, as
> in there is customization done but the
> teacher still has to manually sit through
> the initial install screens (select
> languages, accept partitions, choose
> various options etc)?
>
>
> Probably what we are looking for then is
> an "Unattended install"?
>
> To that end I wanted to ask what the
> intended/acceptable workflow was - when I
> was at the University of Edinburgh IT
> desk, our workflow for installing was:
>
> * Go to physical machine
> * Reboot to special CD
> * hit enter
> * walk away with CD whilst the PC
> automatically downloaded from the network
> and installed everything
>
>
>
> ##
> Another issue I encountered was a lack of
> netboot/pxeboot.cfg files on the Lubuntu
> ISO which might need working around
> (though have not yet had time to check if
> there are alternative methods).
>
> I'm sure there's a straighforward solution
> however.
>
> ##
> I think Machine #3 (P4 @ 1.8 GHz + 500MB
> RAM) will be the target candidate for
> becoming the server.
>
>
>
>
> ===
> Tai Kedzierski
>
> IT Services Specialist
> http://helpuse.com
> +44 (0) 7526 963 612
> <tel:%2B44%20%280%29%207526%20963%20612>
> (portable GB)
>
> I use www.libreoffice.org
> <http://www.libreoffice.org>
>
> /"Open Source Free Software is a matter of
> liberty, not price."/
> https://bitly.com/1gXkUcc
>
>
> On 17 March 2015 at 21:12, Christian
> Einfeldt <einfeldt at gmail.com
> <mailto:einfeldt at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> thanks for your reply, Tai. Comments
> in line below....
>
> On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 12:33 PM, Tai
> Kedzierski <dch.tai at gmail.com
> <mailto:dch.tai at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi Christian
>
> I'll see what I can do as fastest
> for this.
>
>
> Thanks so much!
>
> For proper PXE + Customized ISO it
> would require work to integrate it
> all;
>
> However we can break it into PXE
> as first goal; and until ISO
> customization os done, I can
> certainly envisage a fully
> automating script for the rest of
> the installation of custom s.w and
> settings.
>
> Hi, thanks for that info. I have
> found some of the notes from one of
> our Linux gurus about what he did with
> regard to making a Lubuntu PXE boot
> disc for another teacher. I have
> invited you to the google doc so that
> you can see it and possibly get a
> little bit of a jump on the project.
> In the meantime, I am going to try to
> assemble our gurus for a chat about
> the document, either in IRC or
> elsewhere, perhaps even in a chat in
> the document itself. I have invited
> you to the document, but here is a
> link to it:
>
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UEgt_fkGUVdANcnZ1W2S5Rv15Hx3S92Ynn9Mui3xB_E/edit?usp=sharing
>
> Here is a link to the summary of the
> Ascend school's Linux lab:
>
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_s0E7w40zs80yZNrVRqupml6jqADKjD9XoJ3uFkhQMw/edit?usp=sharing
>
> Can you provide them a server to
> serve as core PXE master, or will
> we repurpose a desktop PC to this end?
>
>
> We will be looking for a server, but
> for now, we will probably repurpose a
> desktop machine.
>
> How frequently do they need to do
> installs?
>
> Initially, they will want to flash all
> 25 machines. Then it will be a couple
> times a month as the older machines fail.
>
> Are you mostly installing Ubuntu
> derivatives?
>
>
> Yes, that is all that we are doing.
> We try to use as few distros as
> possible, and one of our board
> members, Elizabeth Krumbach Joseph, is
> a Ubuntu Community Council member.
> Plus Ubuntu has good documentation,
> which is good for a simple end user
> like me.
> Thanks for your interest!
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Christian Einfeldt
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Christian Einfeldt
>
>
>
>
> --
> Christian Einfeldt
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Christian Einfeldt
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