Discover how to install Ubuntu from PXE server with this detailed guide. Learn step-by-step instructions for setting up and deploying Ubuntu over your network efficiently and effortlessly. #centlinux #linux #ubuntu #pxe
Table of Contents
Problem Statement
In our previous posts, we have configured a PXE boot server that supports both BIOS and UEFI based clients. We have also configured our CentOS 7 PXE server to install RHEL 6 and RHEL 7 operating systems using Kickstart. Now, we will install Ubuntu from PXE Server.
We will also create a Kickstart file for automated installation of Ubuntu 18.10 operating system, and ensure that it will support both BIOS and UEFI based clients.
In this article, we are performing everything from CLI, therefore, it is highly recommended that, you should have Linux Pocket Guide: Essential Commands (PAID LINK) for quick reference.
PXE Server Specification
We use the same CentOS 7 machine that we have configured as PXE Boot Server in our previous article. These specifications have been re-mentioned below for convenience of the readers.
- CPU – 2 Core (2.4 Mhz)
- Memory – 2 GB
- Storage – 50 GB
- Operating System – CentOS 7.5
- Hostname – pxe-server.itlab.com
- IP Address – 192.168.116.41/24
Read Also: How to install Windows 10 over PXE Linux Server
Configure NFS Server in CentOS 7
Connect to pxe-server.itlab.com using ssh as root user.
Install NFS packages using yum command.
# yum install -y nfs-utils
Start and Enable NFS service.
# systemctl start nfs-server # systemctl enable nfs-server Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/nfs-server.service to /usr/lib/systemd/system/nfs-server.service.
Create a directory for sharing Ubuntu 18.10 ISO.
# mkdir /nfsshare # chown nfsnobody:nfsnobody /nfsshare
Allow NFS and relevant ports in CentOS 7.5 Firewall.
# firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service={nfs,mountd,rpc-bind}
success
# firewall-cmd --reload
successAdjust SELinux Permissions.
# semanage fcontext --add -t nfs_t '/nfsshare(/.*)?' # restorecon -Rv /nfsshare/ restorecon reset /nfsshare context unconfined_u:object_r:var_t:s0->unconfined_u:object_r:nfs_t:s0
Export /nfsshare directory for all clients.
# echo "/nfsshare *(ro)" >> /etc/exports # exportfs -r
Copy Ubuntu ISO in NFS Share
Attach Ubuntu 18.10 Server ISO/DVD and mount it at /mnt/iso (you can use any mountpoint, according to your choice).
# mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/iso mount: /dev/sr0 is write-protected, mounting read-only
Copy contents of /mnt/iso directory to NFS server.
# cp -rf /mnt/iso /nfsshare/ubuntu18
Create Kickstart File for Automated Installation
We have to write a Kickstart file for Ubuntu 18.10 within the /nfsshare/ubuntu18/preseed/ directory, so it can be accessed by PXE clients via NFS service.
# vi /nfsshare/ubuntu18/preseed/ubuntu.seed
A sample kickstart file is given below, you can modify it according to your requirements.
# Enable extras.ubuntu.com. d-i apt-setup/extras boolean true # Install the Ubuntu desktop. tasksel tasksel/first multiselect ubuntu-desktop # On live DVDs, don't spend huge amounts of time removing substantial # application packages pulled in by language packs. Given that we clearly # have the space to include them on the DVD, they're useful and we might as # well keep them installed. ubiquity ubiquity/keep-installed string icedtea6-plugin openoffice.org #System language lang en_US #Language modules to install langsupport en_US #System keyboard keyboard us #System mouse mouse #System timezone timezone Asia/Karachi #Root password rootpw --disabled #Initial user (user with sudo capabilities) user ubuntu --fullname "ahmer" --password ahmer1234 #Reboot after installation reboot #Use text mode install text #Install OS instead of upgrade install #Installation media nfs --server=192.168.116.41 --dir=/nfsshare/ubuntu18/ #System bootloader configuration bootloader --location=mbr #Clear the Master Boot Record zerombr yes #Partition clearing information clearpart --all --initlabel #Basic disk partition part / --fstype ext4 --size 1 --grow --asprimary part swap --size 1024 part /boot --fstype ext4 --size 256 --asprimary #System authorization infomation auth --useshadow --enablemd5 #Network information network --bootproto=dhcp --device=eth0 #Firewall configuration firewall --disabled --trust=eth0 --ssh
Copy boot images in tftpboot directory
The Boot images in the Ubuntu ISO won’t work for network boot Therefore, we downloaded netboot images from Ubuntu website.
# wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/cosmic/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz --2018-11-17 11:09:13-- http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/cosmic/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz Resolving archive.ubuntu.com (archive.ubuntu.com)... 91.189.88.152, 91.189.88.161, 91.189.88.162, ... Connecting to archive.ubuntu.com (archive.ubuntu.com)|91.189.88.152|:80... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK Length: 56245393 (54M) [application/x-gzip] Saving to: ânetboot.tar.gz.1â 100%[======================================>] 56,245,393 179KB/s in 7m 23s 2018-11-17 11:16:40 (124 KB/s) - ânetboot.tar.gz.1â saved [56245393/56245393]
Extract download TARBall.
# mkdir netboot # tar xf netboot.tar.gz -C netboot
We need to copy initrd.gz and linux files from netboot directory ~/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/ to /var/lib/tftpboot/networkboot/ubuntu18 directory. These files will be referenced in the menu entry of PXE boot menu.
# mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/networkboot/ubuntu18
# cp ~/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/{linux,initrd.gz} /var/lib/tftpboot/networkboot/ubuntu18/Add Ubuntu Entry in PXE Menu
Edit PXE boot menu for BIOS based clients.
# vi /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
Add a menu entry for Ubuntu 18.10 installation therein.
default vesamenu.c32 prompt 0 timeout 30 menu title Ahmer's PXE Menu label Install RHEL 7.5 kernel /networkboot/rhel7/vmlinuz append initrd=/networkboot/rhel7/initrd.img inst.repo=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel7 ks=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel7/rhel7.cfg label Install RHEL 6.0 (64-bit) kernel /networkboot/rhel6/vmlinuz append initrd=/networkboot/rhel6/initrd.img inst.repo=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel6 ks=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel6/rhel6.cfg label Install Ubuntu 18.10 Server menu label Install Ubuntu 18.10 Server kernel networkboot/ubuntu18/linux append vga=788 initrd=networkboot/ubuntu18/initrd.gz ks=nfs:192.168.116.41:/nfsshare/ubuntu18/preseed/ubuntu.seed --- quiet
Edit PXE boot menu for UEFI based clients. For more information on UEFI, please refer to Add UEFI Support to PXE Server in CentOS 7.
# vi /var/lib/tftpboot/grub.cfg
Add a menu entry for Ubuntu 18.10 installation in this file.
set timeout=60
menuentry 'Install RHEL 7.5' {
linuxefi /networkboot/rhel7/vmlinuz inst.repo=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel7/ inst.ks=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel7/rhel7.cfg
initrdefi /networkboot/rhel7/initrd.img
}
menuentry 'Install RHEL 6.0' {
linuxefi /networkboot/rhel6/vmlinuz inst.repo=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel6/ inst.ks=ftp://192.168.116.41/pub/rhel6/rhel6.cfg
initrdefi /networkboot/rhel6/initrd.img
}
menuentry "Install Ubuntu 18.10 Server" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linuxefi /networkboot/ubuntu18/linux inst.repo=nfs:192.168.116.41:/nfsshare/ubuntu18 inst.ks=nfs:192.168.116.41:/nfsshare/ubuntu18/preseed/ubuntu.seed
initrdefi /networkboot/ubuntu18/initrd.gz
}
Now, connect a BIOS based PXE client to network and boot it. It will display the following PXE boot menu.
Similarly, connect a UEFI based PXE client to network and boot it. It will display the following PXE boot menu.
We have successfully configured our CentOS 7 PXE boot server to install Ubuntu 18.10. You can also add other versions of Ubuntu in similar manner.
Recommended Online Training: Learn Bash Shell in Linux for Beginners
Final Thoughts
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Good morning i’m having a difficulties installing Ubuntu thorugh network share on client. I followed centos tutorial working like a charm. Then i configure kickstart.. made it automated install of centos working fine.. now i’m trying to do multi PXE boot server. So i’m following this guide. So my first question do i have to use NFS server? Can’t i use same vsftpd share? I made a directory in /var/ftp/pub/crntos for centos and for ubuntu i made /ubuntu to share the whole image.. i used your kickstart configuration and i made some changes in there based on my network. Actually PXE boot screen coming fine i select ubuntu from the list its starting the installaion.. it found the ip from dhcp and start. But getting some nameserver error. I wish i can post the image so i can get you the right error… can you please suggest if you understand the situation. I’m learner so you take your time whenever you get a chance. Thankyou
Hi,
Answers to your questions are:
1) Yes, we can use FTP or HTTP instead of NFS.
2) Please check the NFS command in your kickstart file. May be you have used a hostname in place of IP Address. Please use an IP Address and check again.
If the problem persists then please contact me on Facebook.
Can I make the PXE boot menu time longer? Say 30 seconds instead of 5?
Yes, Please set timeout in /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default file.
could not find kernel image vesamenu.c32
vesamenu.c32 is in netboot.tar.gz. Please download netboot.tar.gz file, as mentioned above.
hello Sir,
You have used here Ubuntu18.04 Server but i want Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop How i can do that??
I will try to write on this topic soon.
Thank you for your post.
“`menuentry "Install Ubuntu 18.10 Server" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linuxefi /networkboot/ubuntu18/linux inst.repo=nfs:192.168.116.41:/nfsshare/ubuntu18 inst.ks=nfs:192.168.116.41:/nfsshare/ubuntu18/preseed/ubuntu.seed
initrdefi /networkboot/ubuntu18/initrd.gz
}
“`
saved me a lot of time
Thanks for sharing this.
I was trying to connect all parts together and i'm getting kernel command not found.
Please discuss it in detail at our Facebook Page.
I need this, too. I can't find any instructions on the Internet。
This is use for Ubuntu 20.04
Yes.
Hi, Amher,
I try this for Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS,
Ubuntu 1804 can be net boot, but after the boot, it is not automatically installed according with the ks file, and the installer stops at the first step to select the language; what could be the problem?
It looks like your PXE configurations are working fine. The problem pertains to Kickstart and you may need to recreate the Ubuntu ISO after customizing some files in it. Search for unattended installation of Ubuntu and you will find many useful posts on the topic.