Hey everyone! I've got a Windows server currently running WDS for imaging and deploying Windows PCs at my workplace. Now, we're looking to do something similar but for Linux machines. I have one Linux machine set up to create an image. Is there a complete tutorial out there on how to set this up? Our server and client are on the same network, and we have an existing DHCP server in place. I came across a tutorial suggesting that I need two LAN cards on the server across different networks, but that's not feasible for us since our DRBL/Clonezilla setup needs to remain on the same production LAN due to limited resources. Any guidance would be appreciated!
4 Answers
Using PXE boot in conjunction with kickstart and Ansible is an effective method for deployments. This approach automates the setup process and keeps everything up to date without needing to rely on custom images.
For deploying Linux, a lightweight kickstart file is your best bet. It allows for selective package installations and setting up SSHD. You can manage everything with Ansible from a management node to configure all your Linux systems. I’d recommend using Alma Linux—it’s free and based on RHEL, so you can access all the RHEL docs without cost.
If you're doing this frequently, consider using Terraform for spinning up VMs and Packer for imaging. It streamlines the entire process, regardless of the operating system.
IPXE might be what you're looking for. It can provide a menu that allows you to chain load the appropriate image for either WDS/netboot for Windows or Linux.
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