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/!\ Under Construction! Wheezy has not been released yet!

This page describes how to get started and install the faiserver. All other machines are deployed from the faiserver. Please report failures to the mailing list.

Installing the faiserver

The installation of the very first machine, the faiserver, is the most involved step when deploying a Debian-LAN. As soon as the faiserver has been set up, the installation of all other machines is only a matter of booting over the network.

We prepare a CD image which is in turn used to install the mainserver of Setup_A from CD or USB stick.

It is also possible to install the mainserver via network (PXE). The approach is also described below. However, preparing the CD image is the simpler approach, well tested and recommended.

CD approach: Creating an iso image for installation

We assume you have an installation of Debian squeeze available. For example, install a minimal Debian system (no graphical desktop environment required) on a machine you plan to use later in the Debian-LAN or use a virtual machine (a 3GB disk image is sufficient). On that system install fai-quickstart and git:

aptitude install fai-quickstart git

Replace the configuration space by the Debian-LAN configuration space:

rm -r /srv/fai/config
cd /tmp/
git clone git://git.debian.org/git/collab-maint/debian-lan
cp -r /tmp/debian-lan/fai/config /srv/fai/
cd -

Modify ROOTPW and (depending on your setup) other variables in /srv/fai/config/class/SERVER_A.var. Replace /etc/fai/grub.cfg by the Debian-LAN version:

cp /srv/fai/config/files/etc/fai/grub.cfg/SERVER_A /etc/fai/grub.cfg

Modify /etc/fai/NFSROOT to make the CD work. Disable dracut and enable live-boot:

...
# dracut can replace live-boot
## disabled:
#dracut-network live-boot- live-boot-initramfs-tools-

# squeeze also needs initramfs-tools, even with dracut
#initramfs-tools

# choose if you like live-boot or dracut inside the nfsroot
## enabled:
live-boot
...

If you want to use diskless clients, take a look at Setup_A on how to add an extra partition for the chroot. Then run as root:

fai-make-nfsroot -l

Now create a partial Debian mirror with all packages needed for the mainserver (replace AMD64 by I386 if you use i386):

fai-mirror -v -c AMD64,GRUB_PC,DEFAULT,FAIBASE,FAISERVER,LOG_SERVER,PROXY,NTP_SERVER,DNS_SERVER,NFS_SERVER,LDAP_CLIENT,LDAP_SERVER,KERBEROS_CLIENT,KERBEROS_KDC,KDC_LDAP,DISKLESS_SERVER,SERVER_A /srv/debmirror/ | tee /var/log/fai/fai-mirror.log

Open /usr/sbin/fai-cd in an editor and comment the lines 231 and 232 (Bug: 678309). The CD image is created by fai-cd:

fai-cd -m /srv/debmirror/ fai-cd.iso

Burn the CD image (~500M) or prepare an USB stick and install the mainserver.

(Bug: 676882)

After boot you create the mainserver's FAI-nfs-root by enabling and running /etc/rc.local.

You are now ready to install the other machines in the Debian-LAN from the mainserver. Take a look at the desktop package selection in /srv/fai/config/package_config/DESKTOP. Choose the prefered environment and add all packages you need. Boot the clients over network and PXE-install. If your machines cannot boot via PXE, take a look at gPXE and burn a CD.

For instructions on how to add users and machines to the Debian-LAN, see the corresponding setup page, for example Setup_A.