Linux – Install Linux over ssh

linuxssh

I'm a totally blind individual so can't install Linux with the normal install process. SSH does work for me how ever, is it possible to use an ssh connection to remotely install a Linux server? Ideally I'd like to pop in a cd, power on the machine I want to install Linux on, SSH into it and install through SSH. I'm not perticular about what distro I use, I also have experience with FreeBSD and OpenBSD if it's possible to do this with them.

Best Answer

Yes. I've done it with gentoo. However, you may need help turning on ssh after the livecd boots. So the steps would look like:

Pop in the CD, power on the computer
Let it load
Turn on SSHD - I'm not sure if it does this automatically or not, can't remember
SSH into it
Do all the install steps, taking very special care with the networking configuration
Reboot, and cross your toes
SSH into the newly installed computer and finish configuration/installation

Related Solutions

Linux – examples of kickstart files for CentOS 5.3

Here's a very minimal one for CentOS 5.2 - it should be close enough for your requirements:

text
install 
url --url http://.../CentOS/5.2/os/x86_64

lang en_GB.UTF-8
keyboard uk

rootpw --iscrypted $1$......    # change this
firewall --enabled --port=22:tcp
authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5
selinux --disabled
timezone --utc Europe/London
bootloader --location=mbr --driveorder=sda

clearpart --all --drives=cciss/c0d0 --initlabel
part /boot --fstype ext3 --size=100 --ondisk=cciss/c0d0 --asprimary
part pv.1 --size 1 --grow --ondisk=cciss/c0d0 --asprimary
volgroup VolGroup00 pv.1
logvol / --fstype ext3 --name=LogVol00 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=8192
logvol swap --fstype swap --name=LogVol01 --vgname=VolGroup00 --recommended
logvol /var --fstype ext3 --name=LogVol02 --vgname=VolGroup00 --size=1 --grow 

reboot

%packages
-bluez-utils

%post
/usr/bin/yum -y update >> /root/post_install.log 2>&1
/sbin/chkconfig --del bluetooth
/sbin/chkconfig --del cups

I use this at work for completely unattended installations on an HP pSeries Blade server. You'll need to change the cciss/c0d0 style labels to match your SCSI controller.

Ssh – install SSH2 (server?) on FreeBSD

FreeBSD has OpenSSH-server installed by default

Enable it with sshd_enable=YES in rc.conf, and run "sh /etc/rc.d/sshd start"

Edit: Make sure "Protocol 2" is enabled in /etc/ssh/sshd_config and reload sshd with "sh /etc/rc.d/sshd reload".

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Linux – examples of kickstart files for CentOS 5.3

Ssh – install SSH2 (server?) on FreeBSD

Related Topic