Console Installation¶

Overview¶

A console is a multi user system (ideally running on standard hardware) with a graphical desktop. The individual users do not have admin rights on the system and all configuration and packages must be deployed by puppet (ensuring reproducibility and fast re-installation in case of hardware failures, etc.)

Consoles are, for example, used at experimental stations, beamlines, endstations.

The standard naming of a console is: <group>-cons-<two digit number> Due to various reasons these systems must have a static IP assigned.

Installation Workflow¶

1. Email to linux-eng@psi.ch to remove console from sls/swissfel environment (need to know hostname, command to be executed on puppet server is: rm /srv/puppet/alias_reservation/<hostname>*)
2. Upgrade BIOS/UEFI
3. "Activate" UEFI (instead of BIOS) - ensure secure boot is disabled
4. Register the machine in Package-Fence: https://enter.psi.ch:1443 to give it access to the PSI network
5. Register a static ip in https://qip.psi.ch/qip (or via request to the Network Team (via ServiceNow)) for the console

6. Create the necessary bob entries for the machine:

   bob node delete x12sa-cons-02
   bob node add --environment sls_beamlines --group console --sub-group x12sa --boot netboot --mac 84:a9:3e:60:9b:16 --install rhel9 x12sa-cons-02
   

7. Create a host specific file (<your-console.psi.ch>.yaml) in the respective hiera repository/directory with the following content:

networking::setup: auto_static_ip

1. Ensure that the UEFI/BIOS is set to netboot
2. Kickstart the machine