4 Automating the Installation by Using Kickstart

The Kickstart feature lets you automate the OS installation. A Kickstart installation uses a configuration file that instructs the installer how to perform a specific installation. The feature offers the following benefits:

• No user intervention is required during the installation process.

• It's easier to install a standard configuration when installing on many systems.

• The configuration file is useful for troubleshooting a boot problem with an installed system.

You can use Kickstart to install Oracle Linux locally. However, the best use of this feature is in the installation of the OS on many systems over the network. In a network installation, a Kickstart operation would include the following components:

• Kickstart configuration file

• A network configured so that different client systems can access the required installation and configuration files specific to those clients, over that network.

  For an example of a network installation configuration, see Creating a Network Installation Setup.