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Scenario:

I have a network of 20 computers as clients and a Server. I am planning to install CentOS 5.5 Final as OS to all PCS (for both Server and Client Computers). Problem is that I am not having any Optical media in client PCs and want to install the OS in all computers.

Available Resources:

1. 1 x Servers Machine
2. 20 x Client Computers
3. 1 x 512MB USB Flash Drive
4. 1 x CentOS 5.5 Final Installation DVD
5. Network Established over Ethernet Standards (SOHO = Small Office and Home Network Office)

Target / Requirements:

1. To install CentOS to all PCs without using DVD-ROM
2. To use USB Flash Drive to Boot System and Network Resources to access Installation Files

Solution:

So, let’s start without wasting a minute. First of all we will install CentOS 5.5 Final at Server Machine with required tools. Please remember that NFS is required to fulfill the task achievements.

Server Installation

1. Install NFS into the Server Machine
2. Copy all the contents of Installation Disk at a suitable place in it (/data/CentOS_5.5_Final/)
   [root@myServer ~] mkdir –p /data/CentOS_5.5_Final
   [root@myServer ~] cp /media/CentOS_5.5_Final /data/CentOS_5.5_Final -r
3. Add these lines at the bottom of exports file (vi /etc/exports)
   /data/CentOS_5.5_Final/ *(ro,sync)
4. Run following command to identify the new shares
   [root@myServer ~] exportfs –ra
5. Restart the NFS and PORTMAP services
   [root@myServer ~] service nfs restart
   [root@myServer ~] service portmap restart
6. Add NFS and PORTMAP to automatically start at boot time
   [root@myServer ~] chkconfig –level 345 nfs on
   [root@myServer ~] chkconfig –level 345 portmap on
7. Please note the IP Address of the Server, so that we can use it later on in this How-To
   Here we are using
   IP Address: 192.168.50.254
   Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
   Gateway: 192.168.50.50
   Nameserver: 192.168.50.1
8. That’s it; server side task is completed successfully.

Creating Bootable USB to boot CentOS 5.5

1. Insert USB Flash Drive in Server Machine and identify it via following commands
   [root@myServer ~] fdisk –l
   [root@myServer ~] mount
   Mostly USB Drives are named as sdb, it would be /dev/sdb or /dev/sdb1 or anything like that, because USB Drives are treated as SCSI Drives in Linux.
2. Once you have identified the USB Drive, first & most important, unmount the USB Drive
   [root@myServer ~] umount /dev/sdb
3. execute the following command in Terminal
   [root@myServer ~] dd if=/media/CentOS_5.5_Final/images/diskboot.iso of=/dev/sdb
   here, we suppose that Installation disk is inserted and mounted at /media/CentOS_5.5_Final/
4. Please be patient, while it transfers the Boot Image to USB. Once transferred unplug the USB because it’s created Bootable and you can now Boot your computer from this USB.

Booting Client from USB Drive

1. Plug in the USB & Set USB Flash Drive as First Boot Device in BIOS
2. Boot your computer from USB Drive
3. That’s it …

Installing Linux / CentOS from USB & Network

1. Once system is booted from USB, you will be prompted to select installation mode, press simply Enter to start installation in GUI mode
2. Select the default values, from installation wizard as usual upto installation source
3. Select NFS Image from Installation source and move Next
4. Select Manual IP Setting & uncheck the IPv6
5. Set the IP Address same as Server Subnet (e.g., 192.168.50.216 etc) and rest of the information as set by network administrator
6. Add 192.168.50.254 as Server IP Address for NFS Server & /data/CentOS_5.5_Final as Installation Path for Installation media
7. Now move Next, once Anaconda running … messages appears, you can take a breath and enjoy installation from Network now!
8. That’s it …

Note:

These all settings are verified and tested in the documented specifications, and it may vary in other distributions. You can use the same method to install multiple distributions from the same server; only thing that you need to change is Bootable USB and Installation Path at NFS Server J!