harrystaley / automated-centos7-kickstart

DVD embedded Kickstart for CentOS 7

CentOS 7 Automated Install ISO Creator

[TOC]

About

Modifies a CentOS 7 (tested with CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-1810.iso) x86_64 iso with a kickstart that will automate Manpack Atom installations.

Prerequisites

Install:

• Virtualbox
• Vagrant

Download the CentOS 7 ISO to be customized:

• CentOS 7 x86_64

Project Structure

├── vagrantfile
├── create_custom_iso.sh
└── config/
    ├── EFI/
    │   └── BOOT/
    │       └── grub.cfg
    ├── isolinux/
    │   └── isolinux.cfg
    └── ks/
        └── ks.cfg

NOTE: The/config/ directory and contents are copied over to the newly created iso thus the directory structure needs to match that of your original ISO.

file	purpose
grub.cfg	Menu Configuration for UEFI boot
isolinux.cfg	Menu Configuration for BIOS boot
ks.cfg	Kickstart Configuration that provides the config to the installer
create_custom_iso.sh	Main shell script that creates the custom ISO
vagrantfile	contains parameters to automate the generation of a VM

Execution

# As root execute the below command replacing <CentOS 7 ISO> with the path to your CentOS 7 ISO file.
$ ./create_custom_iso.sh <CentOS 7 ISO> 

Example.

$ sudo su
# ./create_custom_iso.sh CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-1601-01.iso 

Sample Output

# ./create_custom_iso.sh CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-1601-01.iso 
Mounting CentOS DVD Image...
mount: /dev/loop1 is write-protected, mounting read-only
Done.
Copying CentOS DVD Image... Done.
Modifying CentOS DVD Image... Done.
Remastering CentOS DVD Image...
...
  0.23% done, estimate finish Wed Feb 10 07:34:24 2016
  0.46% done, estimate finish Wed Feb 10 07:37:59 2016
  0.70% done, estimate finish Wed Feb 10 07:36:47 2016
  0.93% done, estimate finish Wed Feb 10 07:36:11 2016

...

 99.87% done, estimate finish Wed Feb 10 07:34:35 2016
Total translation table size: 2048
Total rockridge attributes bytes: 417876
Total directory bytes: 712704
Path table size(bytes): 158
Max brk space used 3af000
2157808 extents written (4214 MB)
Done.
Signing CentOS iso Image...
Inserting md5sum into iso image...
md5 = e526291fc5ff0c83a7de64c183f27b78
Inserting fragment md5sums into iso image...
fragmd5 = 631648db156318da3cf5aef0db4d65efa7a774fcceabc45e9ecd7476f22b
frags = 20
Setting supported flag to 0
Done.
iso Created. [centos7-x86_64-my-custom.iso]

Troubleshooting

Custom Boot Menu does not show up over a serial connection

1. Hit the 'e' to edit the install options.

2. Delete the quiet option at the end of the first line

3. Replace quiet with the velow text.

   inst.ks=hd:LABEL=CentOS\x207\x20x86_64:/ks/ks.cfg console=ttyS0,115200n8` while editing install.
   

4. Hit ctrl+x to start the boot process.

References

• Syslinux ISOLINUX
• mkisofs man page
• genisoimage man page
• RedHat: Making the Kickstart File Available
• RedHat: Working with ISO Images
• centos 7 install via Kickstart File
• Tutorial CentOS 7 Install via USB
• Setup CentOS 7 Install USB
• CentOS Kickstart File Documentation
• Python Kickstart Tool Documentation
• Kickstart File Generator NOTE Select RHEL 7 from the dropdown
• Markdown DIR Generator