How to Remotely Install Red Hat 5.2 and Automatically Deploy the Adlagent with Deployment Solution 6.9

Review the steps in this article. The solution was implemented with a Red Hat 5.2 but it can be applied to other version of the OS.

Note: The below procedure is an example how to perform a Remote installation of Red Hat 5.2 using Deployment Solution but is absolutely not supported.

1. Setting up an FTP Repository on DS

Create a folder "Repository" into the Deployment Server share. This folder will contain Red Hat 5.2 distribution files.

Install Microsoft Transfer Protocol Services and create a New FTP Site

Call it "Repository" and click Next

Leave the default port setting and click Next

Leave FTP User Isolation default setting and click Next

Browse to the "Repository" folder created in the Deployment Server share previously

Set Site Access Permissions to "Read" only, click Next and Finish

In Properties, Security Accounts tab of the FTP site tick the box "Allow anonymous access" and apply the new setting

In the Home Directory tab set "UNIX" as Directory listing style apply the new setting and click OK

2. Preparing Red Hat 5.2 install files

Create a folder RD52 in the repository and copy Red Hat 5.2 files from your source media.

In the same folder create a folder PXE. This foder will contain red hat boot image files and the the configuration files

Enter the PXE folder and create two folders Boot and Config

Enter the Boot folder and copy the files initrd.img and vmlinuz from RD52\Images\pxeboot

At last copy the fie pxelinux.0 from eXpress\Deployment Server\Bootiz\platform\Linux\x86\PXE

Ccreate a folder pxelinux.cfg

Enter the folder pxelinux.cfg and create a file default

Open the file defaut with WordPad and enter the following lines

ks=ftp://ds.altiris.ie/RD52/PXE/Config/HP.cfg is a parameter passed to the boot image to retrieve the pre-defined answer file used by linux installer. (refer to section 4. Setting up Red Hat Kickstart file)

The file, also "kickstart" file will be placed in RD52\PXE\Config folder.

3. Setting up Altiris pxe server

Click New, select Linux, User supplies and browse to the Boot folder located in RD52\PXE\Boot

In DS tab set HP Red Hat 5.2 as Default boot option when needed so the client directly boot into Red Hat 5.2 boot image.

Note: Remember to remove it when all the clients have booted started the remote installation to avoid other clients to start the full installation

Create a script task that shuts down the clients that needs to run the remote installation as below

4. Setting up Red Hat Kickstart file

On a pre-installed red hat 5.2 machine install KickStart Utility and fill in the requested information

Specify the ftp information for the installation method, as below

Create partitions.

Select the packages needed.

Save the answer file as HP.cfg and place it in the config folder on the ftp server as shown earlier

5. Setting up the Post-Installation script for Altiris Agent automatic install

Copy the linux agent from eXpress\Deployment Server\Agents\ADLAgent to the Repository folder

Copy the adlagent.conf from an installed agent (/opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/conf) to the Repository

Copy Altiris Agent install script (AltirisInstall) to c:\Program Files\Altiris\eXpress\Deployement Server\Repository

Below is the content of the install script:

#!/bin/bash

#                        Altiris Agent Automatic Install                #
#                        ===============================                #
                           



########################################################################
#                                                                       #
#           This script can be used as a sample to automatically        #
#           install the Altiris agent and connect it to Altiris         #
#           Deployment Solution Console                                 #
#                                                                       #
#           Apply the necessary settings according to your envir        #
#           onment :                                                    #
#                                                                       #
#                     set the agent version used in sections            #
#           "Agent Version" and "Package Download"                      #
#                                                                       #
#                    set your FTP settings in section                   #
#           "FTP Access and Security Settings"                          #
#                                                                       #
#                                                                       #
########################################################################





## Common variables

DATE=`date +%Y%m%d`
CACHE=/Altiris
LOG=$CACHE/$DATE.log

## Agent Information

PKG=altiris-adlagent-2.6-65.i386.bin
CONF=/opt/altiris/deployment/adlagent/conf
SERVICE=adlagent

# FTP Access and Security Settings

HOST=10.0.0.8
USER=anonymous
PASSWD=anonymous

## Make Altiris install cache and logs directory

if [ -d $CACHE ];

   then echo "Cache Already Exists !"> /dev/null

else

mkdir $CACHE && echo "Cache Created !"> $LOG

fi

## Package Download

cd $CACHE

if [ -f $PKG ];

    then echo "Altiris package has already been retrieved"> $LOG

else

ftp -inv $HOST <<END_SCRIPT
quote USER $USER
quote PASS $PASSWD
binary
get $PKG
get adlagent.conf
bye
END_SCRIPT

fi

if [ -f $PKG ]

    then echo "Alriris package has been successfully retrieved !"> $LOG

else

echo "Altiris package could not be retrieved, check your network 
connection !"> $LOG && exit 0

fi

## Altiris agent install and configuration

if [ -f /etc/init.d/adlagent ];

    then echo "Altiris agent is already installed !"> $LOG

else

sh $PKG && cp -Rfv adlagent.conf $CONF

service $SERVICE start && echo "Agent successfully installed !"> $LOG

fi

if ps ax | grep -v grep | grep $SERVICE > /dev/null

    then echo "Altiris Agent is running !">> $LOG

else

echo "Check agent installation or manually start the agent by runnin 
g the following command: service adlagent start">> $LOG 

fi

## Cleanup

exit 0

Setup kickstart Post-Installation section as below to download the script. AltirisInstall will be downloaded and placed to the desired run-level after the system has ben installed. This script will then run at next system startup.

References

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux https://kb-altiris.com