Provisioning Linux

You can create OS Provisioning and OS Configuration profiles for provisioning Linux OS on x86 systems. The profiles collect all the information such as type of target, OS image, time zone and language setup disk partitions, naming services and network details.

Provisioning Oracle Linux and other supported versions of Linux is very similar to provisioning Oracle Solaris 10 x86.You add the Linux image, create the OS Provisioning and OS Configuration profiles, create a Provision OS deployment plan, then apply the plan to provision the operating system.

The OS Provisioning plan will use Kickstart as the install mechanism to perform the installation. You do not need to do anything to enable Kickstart.

Provisioning requires a DHCP-enabled network interface for the boot interface. You can add multiple networks, as long as the networks are available and defined in the Enterprise Controller. You can select a NIC from the list of available logical interfaces for each network or you can use the Address Allocation Method for the selected networks. You cannot use the Address Allocation method for the boot interface. When you use a static IP address, you must provide the IP address when you apply a deployment plan that uses the profile. The IP address is assigned to the target system after provisioning.

Note:

When you specify the naming service in the OS Provisioning profile, each IP address in the Name Server field must be entered in a new row. IP addresses 0.0.0.0 or 255.255.255.255 are allowed. In the Domain Name Search List field, enter each domain name, such as 1domain.com and 2domain.com, on a new line.

Perform the following before you provision the operating system:

  • Import the OS image. Uploading the packages from Oracle to the library can take several hours.

  • (Optional) Edit an existing OS Provisioning profile or create a new profile.

  • Discover the service processors of the target systems.

  • Verify that the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services are enabled on Proxy Controllers. You cannot create an OS Configuration profile or assign any network if the DHCP services are not enabled. The Install Server option to provision OS on a server is not enabled if the DHCP is not enabled on any of the interfaces.

  • Verify that any scripts the profile uses are in a directory that the Enterprise Controller can access. You can save scripts in a local directory of the Enterprise Controller, or in a directory that the Enterprise Controller mounts using NFS.

Note:

It is a good practice to place the systems that you are going to provision in Maintenance Mode so that you can take the system offline without generating alerts and incidents.

Provisioning Linux

Procedure to provision Linux operating system.

  1. Verify that the Linux image you want to use is available in the library, or import the Linux image.
  2. Create an OS Provisioning profile and an OS Configuration profile using Linux as the Target Type. Configure the profiles with the parameters you want to use.
  3. Create a Provision OS deployment plan or other deployment plan that enables OS provisioning.
  4. Discover the service processors of the target systems.
  5. Place the asset in Maintenance Mode to prevent events related to a system going offline.
  6. Select the deployment plan and click Apply Plan to define the targets for the plan. Make any last minute changes in the plan, then submit the job.
  7. When the job completes and the new operating system is provisioned, take the asset out of Maintenance Mode.

Specifying Common Linux Parameters

You can specify common Linux parameters.

Specify the following parameters:

  • Installation number: The number that enables you to install all of the Linux software that is included in your subscription.

  • Partition action: Use this parameter when you want to change the disk partition of the system.

    • You can opt to remove all the existing Linux partitions and retain the non-Linux partitions. You can provide specification for the new partitions.

    • You can opt to preserve all the existing partitions. You must define new partitions, outside of the partitions that exist, in which to install the OS.

    • You can opt to remove all the existing partitions. Define specification for the new partitions.

  • Install protocol: Specify HTTP or NFS as the install protocol.

  • Kernel parameters: Enter kernel parameters for the GRUB menu of the target system, when needed.

  • MD5 Checksum: Select this option to use MD5 encryption for user passwords.

  • Reboot action: Select whether you want to reboot the target system after OS installation.

  • Disk label initialization: Select this option to initialize labels on new disks. This option creates labels that are appropriate for the target system architecture.

  • Shadow passwords: Select this option to use an /etc/shadow file to store passwords on the target system.

  • Clear master boot record: Select this option to clear all invalid partition tables.

  • Linux packages: You can specify the Linux packages to include or exclude during provisioning. To include a package, enter the package name in a line. To exclude any package, enter the package name preceded by a dash (-).

Specifying SuSE Parameters

Specify parameters to create a profile that installs the SuSE Linux OS.

  • FTP proxy server: Enter the name of the FTP proxy server to support FTP services.

  • HTTP proxy server: Enter the name of the HTTP proxy server to support HTTP services.

  • Install protocol: Specify HTTP or NFS as the install protocol.

  • Enable proxy servers: Select this option to enable the FTP and HTTP proxy servers that you specified in the FTP Proxy Server and HTTP Proxy Server fields.

  • Kernel parameters: Enter kernel parameters for the GRUB menu of the target system, when necessary.

  • Reboot action: Select whether you want to reboot the target system after OS installation.

  • Linux packages: You can specify the Linux packages to include or exclude during provisioning. To include a package, enter the package name in a line. To exclude any package, enter the package name preceded by a dash (-).