FAI on CentOS 8

To use FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) to install CentOS 8 using a CentOS 8 server, you need to configure FAI and create specific configuration files tailored to the CentOS 8 installation. Below are the steps to set up FAI and perform the installation:

Setting Up FAI Configuration Files

1. Install FAI: Ensure that FAI is installed on your CentOS 8 server. You can install it using the following command:

   sudo dnf install fai -y        

2. Configure FAI Directories: FAI expects configuration files to be stored in the /etc/fai directory. Make sure the directory exists:

   sudo mkdir -p /etc/fai/{config,class}        

3. Create Configuration Files: Create the configuration files needed for the CentOS 8 installation. These files will define the package selection, partitioning, and post-installation tasks.

- CentOS Configuration File (`centos.cfg`):

Example content:

     # CentOS installation configuration

     disk_config sda

     partition / ext4 10G

     partition swap swap 4G        

4. Define Classes: Classes allow you to define groups of systems with similar configurations. Create class files in the /etc/fai/class directory if needed.

Configuring FAI to Perform Installations

1. Start FAI Installation: Boot the target system from the PXE boot menu to begin the FAI installation process.

2. Select Installation Target: During the boot process, select the appropriate FAI class if necessary.

3. Perform Installation: FAI will automatically detect the hardware and install CentOS 8 according to the configuration defined in the centos.cfg file.

4. Monitor Installation Progress: Monitor the installation progress for any errors or warnings. FAI will log installation activities to /var/log/fai/.

Post-Installation Tasks

1. Customize Post-Installation Scripts: Customize post-installation scripts to perform additional configuration tasks after the CentOS 8 installation completes. These scripts can be defined in the configuration files or invoked separately.

2. Test and Validate Installations: After the installations are complete, ensure that the systems boot successfully and operate as expected. Verify that the configurations and package selections are applied correctly.

Additional Considerations

- Package Selection: Adjust the package selection in the centos.cfg file to include the packages you want to install during the CentOS 8 installation.

- Post-Installation Steps: Define any post-installation steps or configurations you want to perform after the CentOS 8 installation completes. This could include network configurations, user setups, or additional software installations.

By following these steps, you can set up FAI to perform unattended installations of CentOS 8 using a CentOS 8 server, streamlining the deployment process and ensuring consistent system configurations across your infrastructure.