linux_install

Preview

TL;DR

One of base features of this project is usage of auto-profiles:

add_var "declare -gx" "dir" "${default_dir:-/mnt/mnt}"
add_var "declare -gx" "distr" "alpine"
add_var "declare -gx" "hostname" "$distr"
add_var "declare -gx" "user_name" "$user_name"
add_var "declare -gx" "user_shell" "$user_shell"
add_var "declare -gx" "passwd" "$passwd_default"
add_var "declare -gx" "arch" "x86_64"
add_var "declare -gx" "mirror_alpine" "$mirror_alpine"
add_var "declare -gx" "version_alpine" "edge"

Just run ./install_sys.sh <path_to_profile> and all work will be done.

This is minimal working auto-installation profile. It installs Alpine rootfs and configures it: adds user, setup hostname, set correct mirror.

About

Supported features table:

Feature	Auto-mode	Manual-mode
Offline install	WIP	No
Online install	Yes	Yes
Localization	Yes	Yes
User scripts	Yes	No

This script installs a base linux system from any linux distribution. Connection to mirror with packages for installing distribution is required. Tested on Alpinelinux (musl) and Archlinux (glibc). Supported Linux distros for installation:

1. Alpine
2. Archlinux
3. Astra
4. Debian
5. Voidlinux

Alternatives:

• For cloud-based linux instance, consider using cloud-init.
• Enterprise solution for installing on many PCs, consider using FAI.

Differences:

• From FAI: Uses only chosen mirror, has less size of live images (1GB vs 170MB).
• Distro-specific installer: Support variety of distribution, requires connection to mirror with packages.

See presentation of this project here (Russian).

Project is actively developed and it is ready to be used in a production environment

Dependencies

Requried

• coreutils util-linux bash wget tar zstd - For normal system
• busybox bash zstd findmnt lsblk - For busybox system (ex. Alpine)

Optional

• perl dpkg - debootstrap
• rpm2cpio - rpm-bootstrap
• qemu-user-static - foreign architectures

Build

• git squashfs-tools xorriso p7zip-full wget - live installer build (ubuntu)

Usage

Live installer

Manual mode

From ISO

• Download latest linux_install-*.iso file from releases.
• Boot from it. UEFI and BIOS systems are supported.
• Follow install instructions.
• That's all. You have installed system. Good luck!

From PXE (IPXE)

• Download latest linux_install-*.pxe.tar.gz file from releases.
• Unpack it to boot server. Variable ${linux_url} is a url to directory with needed files.
• To boot it from IPXE there is two necessary kernel options: modloop=${linux_url}/modloop-lts rootfs_net=${linux_url}/rootfs.img BOOTIF=01-${netX/mac}.
• Follow install instructions.
• That's all. You have installed system. Good luck!

Auto mode (PXE)

• Prepare auto live profile. (Build profile described here)
• You will need add kernel option AUTO_PROFILE=URL_TO_YOUR_PROFILE. Examples: AUTO_PROFILE=/auto_configs/live/example_auto_profile.sh OR AUTO_PROFILE=https://example.com/auto_profile.sh.
• Installation will start and complete itself.

Standalone

Manual mode

• Prepare directory for installation.
• Clone this repo.
• Execute ./profile_gen.sh and answer questions OR use one of prepared in ./auto_configs.
• Execute ./install_sys.sh your/profile.sh using installation profile to install system.
• That's all. You have installed system. Good luck!

Auto mode

In TL;DR

Building

• Clone this repo: git clone https://github.com/alealexpro100/linux_install.
• Change location of ALPINE_FILES in ./bin/make_images/build.sh. Some variables can be changed without changing file.
• Run it from root: sudo ./bin/make_images/build.sh.
• Images will be located at directory ./linux_install_builds.

Supported variables

• AUTO_PROFILE - Kernel option for live installer. URL of profile for auto mode.
• REBOOT_AFTER - Used for auto mode. If set to 0, prevents system from rebooting after installation.
• CUSTOM_DIR - Path to custom script and files.
• ECHO_MODE - Mode of interface (auto/cli/dialog).
• LANG_INSTALLER - Language for install interface. (NOT of target system!)
• QEMU_STATIC_BIN_DIR - Directory with qemu-static binaries.
• ALEXPRO100_LIB_DEBUG - Debug mode for alexpro100_lib.sh.
• LIVE_MODE - Used for live installation.
• DEFAULT_DIR - Default directory for installation.
• DEFAULT_DISTR - Default distribution for installation.
• BOOTLOADER_TYPE_DEFAULT - Default type of bootloader for installation.

Contents of project

• auto-configs/ - Directory with working configs for auto installation.
• bin/ - Tools used by script.
• bin/make_images - Build live installer.
• custom/ - Custom script and files. See here.
• lib/ - Installation files. Easy-to-edit installation system.
• tests/ - Testing scripts. See here.
• install_sys.sh - Install script. Requires profile for work.
• profile_gen.sh - Profile generator.
• private_parameters - File with private parameters.
• public_parameters - File with public parameters. Do NOT remove it.
• version_install - Version of this script.

Sources

• Debian deboostrap.
• Parts from arch-chroot and genfstab.
• Distribution used in builds.