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Most of the questions asked by d-i can be preseeded by setting the answers in the debconf database. This can be used to do automatic installs. This page gathers our collective knowledge on the topic, so please add any tips you have. Most of the questions asked by DebianInstaller can be preseeded by setting the answers in the debconf database. This can be used to do automatic installs. This page gathers our collective knowledge on the topic, so please add any tips you have.
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Values can be set on the installer's boot line, for example: Values can be set on the installer's boot line, for example this is useful for testing the unstable version of the installer in a netboot install:
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  linux debconf/priority=critical   linux mirror/suite=unstable
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The preseed udebs can be used to load a file containing values to preseed, either from the network or local media. The installation manual explains how to set this up: http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch04s07.html#id2511063 The preseed udebs can be used to load a file containing values to preseed, either from the network or local media. The installation manual explains how to set this up: http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch04s07.html#automatic-install
and includes a complete example. Note that you can check preseed-files for errors with "debconf-set-selections -c $file".
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Note that most preseeding support has been added after rc1 of the installer. Also note that most preseeding support has been added after rc1 of the installer.
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= Preseeding language and country =
Since these questions come before the preseed udebs do their work, language and country can only be preseeded when the installer is booted, perhaps via a modified syslinux.cfg file.
Here's an example:
{{{
  languagechooser/language-name=French
  countrychooser/country-name-shortlist=France
  countrychooser/country-name=France
}}}
= Examples =
Post here any links you have to example preseed files. Note that using any of these files directly is not wise, as a malicious person could probably come up with values for a preseed file that makes d-i misbehave. Also, the files are downloaded over http, so are vulnerable to man in the middle spoof attacks. The best way to use any preseed file is to copy it to your own local web server or media, and look it over before using it.
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Apparently two values in countrychooser must be seeded (why?).  * Joey Hess's modular/hierarchical preseed configuration, supporting installs via usb keychain or netboot with varying configurations for different machine types. http://kitenet.net/~joey/d-i/preseed
 * Christian Perrier's page documenting automated d-i installs in vmware, using netboot. http://people.debian.org/~bubulle/d-i/vmware-fai.html
 * Simon Kirkby's fully automatic basic install. !Warning! will format machine without asking. http://interthingy.com/digby
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= Preseeding mirror =
If you're doing a netboot install or the like, it's nice to be able to preseed a mirror to use. Here's an example in preseed file format, that makes it use a manually entered mirror:
{{{
  d-i mirror/country string enter information manually
  d-i mirror/http/hostname string your-mirror-name-here
  d-i mirror/http/directory string /debian
  d-i mirror/suite string unstable
  #d-i mirror/http/proxy string http://10.11.12.1:3128/
}}}
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= Preseeding partman =
Realistically, only the automatic partitioning choices of partman can be preseeded. To get any more control, you really want to provide a partman-auto recipe (how?). Here's one value that should work as of a few days ago:
{{{
  d-i partman/confirm boolean true
}}}
----

Preseeding d-i

Most of the questions asked by DebianInstaller can be preseeded by setting the answers in the debconf database. This can be used to do automatic installs. This page gathers our collective knowledge on the topic, so please add any tips you have.

There are currently two main mechanisms to preseed debconf values. Values can be set on the installer's boot line, for example this is useful for testing the unstable version of the installer in a netboot install:

  linux mirror/suite=unstable

The preseed udebs can be used to load a file containing values to preseed, either from the network or local media. The installation manual explains how to set this up: http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch04s07.html#automatic-install and includes a complete example. Note that you can check preseed-files for errors with "debconf-set-selections -c $file".

Also note that most preseeding support has been added after rc1 of the installer.

Examples

Post here any links you have to example preseed files. Note that using any of these files directly is not wise, as a malicious person could probably come up with values for a preseed file that makes d-i misbehave. Also, the files are downloaded over http, so are vulnerable to man in the middle spoof attacks. The best way to use any preseed file is to copy it to your own local web server or media, and look it over before using it.