# Basic Installation

Linux systems are installed using PXE and Kickstart. The Kickstart
configuration is auto-generated base on the configuration stored in sysdb/bob.

When PXE boot is not an option, e.g. in restricted networks, it is possible to start iPXE from a USB stick or other media.

The general process for a installation is:

1. Register and configure the system with sysdb
2. Tell sysdb to perform an installation on the next boot
3. Reboot the system and trigger a PXE boot (usually by pressing F12 during
   POST)

The default way to interact with sysdb is to use [bob](https://git.psi.ch/linux-infra/bob). `bob` is already set up on `lxsup.psi.ch` for general use.

Altenatively you many have on your workstation a local copy of `bob`. This can be done by installing the RPM from the pli-misc repository - https://repos.psi.ch/rhel8/latest/pli-misc/ or by installing the Python package manually.

You might need to set a `PSI_BOB_USER` environment variable (`export PSI_BOB_USER=<you-name-it>`) or use the option `--user` if your local user is different from the one on sysdb.

## Sysdb Configuration

Register node:
```bash
bob node add $FQDN $ENV netboot
```

To be able to PXE boot we need to configure at least one MAC address for the new node:
```bash
bob node add-mac $FQDN 00:50:56:aa:fe:9b
```

Finally we need to configure the installer to use, and the Puppet-related parameters:
```bash
bob node set-attr $FQDN ipxe_installer=rhel8install
bob node set-attr $FQDN puppet_role=role::server
```

and optional:
```bash
# static IP address (options: static, dhcp)
bob node set-attr $FQDN network=static
bob node set-attr $FQDN puppet_group=cluster
bob node set-attr $FQDN puppet_subgroup=compute
bob node set-attr $FQDN puppet_env=prod
```


Finally ensure that the node is set to `netboot`:
```bash
bob node netboot $FQDN
```

### Example

Minimal example:

```bash
bob node add lx-test-02.psi.ch lx netboot
bob node add-mac lx-test-02 00:50:56:9d:19:76
bob node set-attr lx-test-02.psi.ch ipxe_installer=rhel8install puppet_role=role::server
bob node netboot lx-test-02.psi.ch

# show the configuration
bob node list -v lx-test-02
```


### Special Settings

#### Custom Kernel Commandline Arguments
For custom kernel commandline arguments for the installer (e.g. to provide drivers) the sysdb attribute `kernel_cmdline` can be used:

```bash
bob node set-attr lx-test-02.psi.ch kernel_cmdline=inst.dd=https://linuxsoft.cern.ch/elrepo/dud/el8/x86_64/dd-megaraid_sas-07.725.01.00-1.el8_9.elrepo.iso
```

#### Custom Partitioning

Please check out the [Partitioning page](partitioning).