Using kickstart file to start VM

[Wojciech Szpunar]

Hello,

I'm trying to run VM and auto install it with Kickstart file.
So I have file in root filesystem and in http accessible location but VM is failing to start.

At first I saw I need to add -kernel parameter to boot cause kvm was complaining about missing argument:

kvm: -append only allowed with -kernel option

Then I have added kernel parameter which according to documentation should be set to bzImage:

#Product%3A VPS2-Centos7-Kickstart (ID%3A 2)
args: -kernel bzImage; -append ks=/srv/centos7.ks.cfg;​

but this ends with another error:

qemu: could not load kernel 'bzImage': No such file or directory​

So now question is how I should add kickstart file to successfully start this machine?
Does anybody know?

I have try to use http as source but I got same error non stop.

Any ideas?

Regards

Wojtek

 

[fabian]

I guess you need to replace "bzImage" with the actual path to your kernel image..

 

[Wojciech Szpunar]

Hi,
Yes I was trying to do that too correct image should be called vmlinuz in this case but you still need to add -initrd otherwise kernel panic.

Systems starts to boot but then stops again on busybox error:
/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off

It have problems with finiding init and mounting /dev as well.

Any ideas? Anybody got it to work?

Regards

Wojtek

 

[LnxBil]

You added a Debian initrd, that's obviously not going to work. You need to use the kernel and initrd from a centos dvd if you want to install centos.

I suggest you setup a PXE server and install it via netboot. Much easier and you can easily build it for Debian- and RHEL-based systems.

 

[Wojciech Szpunar]

Hmmm yes I see that now, I thought that I'm giving init rd from CD obviously I miss understood boot command

Not sure if I can use netboot and PXE in a way I want it but I will look into it.
Basically I have 3rd party system integrated with Proxmox VE over API and this system is making a call over API to create Machine, set all parameters and then boot it.
I thought it would be easiest to just add Kickstart file like you do to normal startup of linux install but this didn't work and -append do require -kernel parameter then you need to add -initrd parameter as well otherwise kernel will panic.

Wonder why you cannot just pass ks:http://server_ip/ks.cfg to it as you do to bare metal installs etc.

Did you play with that in past?

 

[LnxBil]

You have to interfere with the boot loader, e.g. extract the parameters and append yours if you want to run it from command line.

Best is to configure via DHCP/PXE, once set up: lifetime joy!