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## Auto-converted by kwiki2moinmoin v2005-10-07 ## page was renamed from DebianInstallerPreseed
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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. The installation manual explains how to set up preseeding: http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch04s07.html#automatic-install
and includes a complete example. Feel free to add any information that is not
covered in the manual to the notes below.
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There are currently two main mechanisms to preseed debconf values.
Values can be set on the installer's boot line, for example:
{{{
  linux debconf/priority=critical
}}}
= 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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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  * 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
 * Holger Levsen's d-i examples showing a way to preserve partitions and ssh-host-keys: http://layer-acht.org/d-i/
 * Using network-console and preseeding is described on two pages, DebianInstallerNetworkConsole and DebianInstallerRemote
 * Phil Hands' d-i setup, that allows minimal (i.e. no exim) installs, works from CD, PXE & USB (read the HOWTO's), and allows custom configs to be specified at the boot: prompt http://hands.com/d-i/
 * DebianInstallerAsSshClient for using d-i as a ssh terminal
 * Instalinux lets you answer a few questions on the web and generate an ISO image that can be used to install Debian noninteractively, or a preseed file that you can use with other install methods. http://www.instalinux.com/
 * Christian Perrier documented a D-I demo setup in DebianInstaller/BabelBox
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Note that most preseeding support has been added after rc1 of the installer.

= 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
}}}

Apparently two values in countrychooser must be seeded (why?).

= 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/
}}}

= 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
}}}
= Notes =
 * Do not work off a debconf-get-selections (--installer) generated preseed.cfg but get the values from it and modify the exmple preseed file with them.
 * Be aware there is only one space in preseed files between subkey and value on "owner key/subkey value" lines.
 * Do not reboot in the base-config/late_command command, the installation process will start again at the start of the 2nd stage.

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. The installation manual explains how to set up preseeding: http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch04s07.html#automatic-install and includes a complete example. Feel free to add any information that is not covered in the manual to the notes below.

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.

  • 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

  • Holger Levsen's d-i examples showing a way to preserve partitions and ssh-host-keys: http://layer-acht.org/d-i/

  • Using network-console and preseeding is described on two pages, ?DebianInstallerNetworkConsole and ?DebianInstallerRemote

  • Phil Hands' d-i setup, that allows minimal (i.e. no exim) installs, works from CD, PXE & USB (read the HOWTO's), and allows custom configs to be specified at the boot: prompt http://hands.com/d-i/

  • DebianInstallerAsSshClient for using d-i as a ssh terminal

  • Instalinux lets you answer a few questions on the web and generate an ISO image that can be used to install Debian noninteractively, or a preseed file that you can use with other install methods. http://www.instalinux.com/

  • Christian Perrier documented a D-I demo setup in DebianInstaller/BabelBox

Notes

  • Do not work off a debconf-get-selections (--installer) generated preseed.cfg but get the values from it and modify the exmple preseed file with them.
  • Be aware there is only one space in preseed files between subkey and value on "owner key/subkey value" lines.
  • Do not reboot in the base-config/late_command command, the installation process will start again at the start of the 2nd stage.