1.1 Installation Scenarios for Remote Installation

This section introduces the most common installation scenarios for remote installations. For each scenario, carefully check the list of prerequisites and follow the procedure outlined for this scenario. If in need of detailed instructions for a particular step, follow the links provided for each one of them.

IMPORTANT: The configuration of the X Window System is not part of any remote installation process. After the installation has finished, log in to the target system as root, enter telinit 3, and start SaX2 to configure the graphics hardware as described in Section 2.2, Setting Up Graphics Card and Monitor, (↑ Start-Up ).

1.1.1 Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Static Network Configuration

This type of installation still requires some degree of physical access to the target system to boot for installation. The installation itself is entirely controlled by a remote workstation using VNC to connect to the installation program. User interaction is required as with the manual installation in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ).

For this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • Target system with working network connection

  • Controlling system with working network connection and VNC viewer software or Java-enabled browser (Firefox, Konqueror, Internet Explorer, or Opera)

  • Physical boot medium (CD or DVD) for booting the target system

  • Valid static IP addresses already assigned to the installation source and the controlling system

  • Valid static IP address to assign to the target system

To perform this kind of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server. For an SMB installation source, refer to Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Boot the target system using the first CD or DVD of the openSUSE media kit.

  3. When the boot screen of the target system appears, use the boot options prompt to set the appropriate VNC options and the address of the installation source. This is described in detail in Section 1.4, Booting the Target System for Installation.

    The target system boots to a text-based environment, giving the network address and display number under which the graphical installation environment can be addressed by any VNC viewer application or browser. VNC installations announce themselves over OpenSLP and can be found using Konqueror in service:/ or slp:/ mode.

  4. On the controlling workstation, open a VNC viewing application or Web browser and connect to the target system as described in Section 1.5.1, VNC Installation.

  5. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  6. Finish the installation.

1.1.2 Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Dynamic Network Configuration

This type of installation still requires some degree of physical access to the target system to boot for installation. The network configuration is made with DHCP. The installation itself is entirely controlled from a remote workstation using VNC to connect to the installer, but still requires user interaction for the actual configuration efforts.

For this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • Target system with working network connection

  • Controlling system with working network connection and VNC viewer software or Java-enabled browser (Firefox, Konqueror, Internet Explorer, or Opera)

  • Physical boot medium (CD, DVD, or custom boot disk) for booting the target system

  • Running DHCP server providing IP addresses

To perform this kind of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server. For an SMB installation source, refer to Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Boot the target system using the first CD or DVD of the openSUSE media kit.

  3. When the boot screen of the target system appears, use the boot options prompt to set the appropriate VNC options and the address of the installation source. This is described in detail in Section 1.4, Booting the Target System for Installation.

    The target system boots to a text-based environment, giving the network address and display number under which the graphical installation environment can be addressed by any VNC viewer application or browser. VNC installations announce themselves over OpenSLP and can be found using Konqueror in service:/ or slp:/ mode.

  4. On the controlling workstation, open a VNC viewing application or Web browser and connect to the target system as described in Section 1.5.1, VNC Installation.

  5. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  6. Finish the installation.

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

This type of installation is completely hands-off. The target machine is started and booted remotely. User interaction is only needed for the actual installation. This approach is suitable for cross-site deployments.

To perform this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • TFTP server

  • Running DHCP server for your network

  • Target system capable of PXE boot, networking, and Wake on LAN, plugged in and connected to the network

  • Controlling system with working network connection and VNC viewer software or Java-enabled browser (Firefox, Konqueror, Internet Explorer, or Opera)

To perform this type of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server or configure an SMB installation source as described in Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Set up a TFTP server to hold a boot image that can be pulled by the target system. This is described in Section 1.3.2, Setting Up a TFTP Server.

  3. Set up a DHCP server to provide IP addresses to all machines and reveal the location of the TFTP server to the target system. This is described in Section 1.3.1, Setting Up a DHCP Server.

  4. Prepare the target system for PXE boot. This is described in further detail in Section 1.3.5, Preparing the Target System for PXE Boot.

  5. Initiate the boot process of the target system using Wake on LAN. This is described in Section 1.3.7, Wake on LAN.

  6. On the controlling workstation, open a VNC viewing application or Web browser and connect to the target system as described in Section 1.5.1, VNC Installation.

  7. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  8. Finish the installation.

1.1.4 Simple Remote Installation via SSH—Static Network Configuration

This type of installation still requires some degree of physical access to the target system to boot for installation and to determine the IP address of the installation target. The installation itself is entirely controlled from a remote workstation using SSH to connect to the installer. User interaction is required as with the regular installation described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ).

For this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • Target system with working network connection

  • Controlling system with working network connection and working SSH client software

  • Physical boot medium (CD, DVD, or custom boot disk) for the target system

  • Valid static IP addresses already assigned to the installation source and the controlling system

  • Valid static IP address to assign to the target system

To perform this kind of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server. For an SMB installation source, refer to Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Boot the target system using the first CD or DVD of the openSUSE media kit.

  3. When the boot screen of the target system appears, use the boot options prompt to set the appropriate parameters for network connection, address of the installation source, and SSH enablement. This is described in detail in Section 1.4.3, Using Custom Boot Options.

    The target system boots to a text-based environment, giving the network address under which the graphical installation environment can be addressed by any SSH client.

  4. On the controlling workstation, open a terminal window and connect to the target system as described in Connecting to the Installation Program.

  5. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  6. Finish the installation.

1.1.5 Simple Remote Installation via SSH—Dynamic Network Configuration

This type of installation still requires some degree of physical access to the target system to boot for installation and determine the IP address of the installation target. The installation itself is entirely controlled from a remote workstation using VNC to connect to the installer, but still requires user interaction for the actual configuration efforts.

For this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • Target system with working network connection

  • Controlling system with working network connection and working SSH client software

  • Physical boot medium (CD or DVD) for booting the target system

  • Running DHCP server providing IP addresses

To perform this kind of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server. For an SMB installation source, refer to Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Boot the target system using the first CD or DVD of the openSUSE media kit.

  3. When the boot screen of the target system appears, use the boot options prompt to pass the appropriate parameters for network connection, location of the installation source, and SSH enablement. See Section 1.4.3, Using Custom Boot Options for detailed instructions on the use of these parameters.

    The target system boots to a text-based environment, giving you the network address under which the graphical installation environment can be addressed by any SSH client.

  4. On the controlling workstation, open a terminal window and connect to the target system as described in Connecting to the Installation Program.

  5. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  6. Finish the installation.

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

This type of installation is completely hands-off. The target machine is started and booted remotely.

To perform this type of installation, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • Remote installation source: NFS, HTTP, FTP, or SMB with working network connection

  • TFTP server

  • Running DHCP server for your network, providing a static IP to the host to install

  • Target system capable of PXE boot, networking, and Wake on LAN, plugged in and connected to the network

  • Controlling system with working network connection and SSH client software

To perform this type of installation, proceed as follows:

  1. Set up the installation source as described in Section 1.2, Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources. Choose an NFS, HTTP, or FTP network server. For the configuration of an SMB installation source, refer to Section 1.2.5, Managing an SMB Installation Source.

  2. Set up a TFTP server to hold a boot image that can be pulled by the target system. This is described in Section 1.3.2, Setting Up a TFTP Server.

  3. Set up a DHCP server to provide IP addresses to all machines and reveal the location of the TFTP server to the target system. This is described in Section 1.3.1, Setting Up a DHCP Server.

  4. Prepare the target system for PXE boot. This is described in further detail in Section 1.3.5, Preparing the Target System for PXE Boot.

  5. Initiate the boot process of the target system using Wake on LAN. This is described in Section 1.3.7, Wake on LAN.

  6. On the controlling workstation, start an SSH client and connect to the target system as described in Section 1.5.2, SSH Installation.

  7. Perform the installation as described in Section 1.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Start-Up ). Reconnect to the target system after it reboots for the final part of the installation.

  8. Finish the installation.