1.4 Booting the Target System for Installation

Basically, there are two different ways to customize the boot process for installation apart from those mentioned under Section 1.3.7, Wake on LAN and Section 1.3.3, Using PXE Boot. You can either use the default boot options and function keys or use the boot options prompt of the installation boot screen to pass any boot options that the installation kernel might need on this particular hardware.

1.4.1 Using the Default Boot Options

The boot options are described in detail in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Generally, just selecting Installation starts the installation boot process.

If problems occur, use Installation—ACPI Disabled or Installation—Safe Settings. For more information about troubleshooting the installation process, refer to Section 13.2, Installation Problems, (↑ Start-Up ).

1.4.2 Using the F Keys

The menu bar at the bottom screen offers some advanced functionality needed in some setups. Using the F keys, you can specify additional options to pass to the installation routines without having to know the detailed syntax of these parameters (see Section 1.4.3, Using Custom Boot Options).

See the table below for a complete set of the options available.

Table 1-1 F Keys During Installation

Key

Purpose

Available Options

F1

Provide help

None

F2

Select the installation language

All supported languages

F3

Change screen resolution for installation

  • Text mode

  • VESA

  • resolution #1

  • resolution #2

  • ...

F4

Select the installation source

  • CD-ROM or DVD

  • SLP

  • FTP

  • HTTP

  • NFS

  • SMB

  • Hard Disk

F5

Choose appropriate kernel options

  • Default

  • No ACPI

  • No local APIC

  • Installation—ACPI Disabled

  • Installation—Safe Settings

F6

Apply driver update disk

Driver

1.4.3 Using Custom Boot Options

Using the appropriate set of boot options helps facilitate your installation procedure. Many parameters can also be configured later using the linuxrc routines, but using the boot options is easier. In some automated setups, the boot options can be provided with initrd or an info file.

The following table lists all installation scenarios mentioned in this chapter with the required parameters for booting and the corresponding boot options. Just append all of them in the order they appear in this table to get one boot option string that is handed to the installation routines. For example (all in one line):

install=... netdevice=... hostip=...netmask=... vnc=... vncpassword=...
   

Replace all the values (...) in this string with the values appropriate for your setup.

Table 1-2 Installation (Boot) Scenarios Used in This Chapter

Installation Scenario

Parameters Needed for Booting

Boot Options

Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up )

None: system boots automatically

None needed

Section 1.1.1, Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Static Network Configuration

  • Location of the installation server

  • Network device

  • IP address

  • Netmask

  • Gateway

  • VNC enablement

  • VNC password

  • install=(nfs,http,​ftp,smb)://path_to_instmedia

  • netdevice=some_netdevice (only needed if several network devices are available)

  • hostip=some_ip

  • netmask=some_netmask

  • gateway=ip_gateway

  • vnc=1

  • vncpassword=some_password

Section 1.1.2, Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Dynamic Network Configuration

  • Location of the installation server

  • VNC enablement

  • VNC password

  • install=(nfs,http,​ftp,smb)://path_to_instmedia

  • vnc=1

  • vncpassword=some_password

Section 1.1.3, Remote Installation via VNC—PXE Boot and Wake on LAN

  • Location of the installation server

  • Location of the TFTP server

  • VNC enablement

  • VNC password

Not applicable; process managed through PXE and DHCP

Section 1.1.4, Simple Remote Installation via SSH—Static Network Configuration

  • Location of the installation server

  • Network device

  • IP address

  • Netmask

  • Gateway

  • SSH enablement

  • SSH password

  • install=(nfs,http,​ftp,smb)://path_to_instmedia

  • netdevice=some_netdevice (only needed if several network devices are available)

  • hostip=some_ip

  • netmask=some_netmask

  • gateway=ip_gateway

  • usessh=1

  • sshpassword=some_password

Section 1.1.5, Simple Remote Installation via SSH—Dynamic Network Configuration

  • Location of the installation server

  • SSH enablement

  • SSH password

  • install=(nfs,http,​ftp,smb)://path_to_instmedia

  • usessh=1

  • sshpassword=some_password

Section 1.1.6, Remote Installation via SSH—PXE Boot and Wake on LAN

  • Location of the installation server

  • Location of the TFTP server

  • SSH enablement

  • SSH password

Not applicable; process managed through PXE and DHCP

HINT: More Information about linuxrc Boot Options

Find more information about the linuxrc boot options used for booting a Linux system in /usr/share/doc/packages/linuxrc/linuxrc.html.