Install CentOS thru network


!!! Now 5.4 is avialable

1. If nic is not supported by default, download the dvd images to hdd's extra partition.

2. Download network install ISO image

3. Burn network install CD

4. Label the volume to be installed
	# mkfs.ext3 -L CentOS /dev/sda9

5. Find the CentOS mirror site you will use for installation, then using traceroute,
   find its numerical ip address.
   Also find directory where centos/5.3/os/x86_64 exists.

6. Start install using CD, choosing text mode install
	boot: linux text

   a. At "Choose a Language", choose an appropriate one.

   b. At "Keyboard Type", choose an appropriate one.

   c. At "Installation Method", choose HTTP

   d. At "Networking Device", choose an appropriate one.

   e. At "Configure TCP/IP", select/unselect appropriate ones. 
	If manual IP is selected, enter appropriate values.

   f. At "HTTP Setup", enter appropriate values, referencing the following examples.
	ex. http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu (128.61.111.10)
	128.61.111.10
	pub/centos/5.3/os/x86_64

	ex. http://ftp.riken.go.jp (134.160.38.1)
	134.160.38.1
	pub/Linux/centos/5.3/os/x86_64

	*** ex. http://mirrors.kernel.org (199.6.1.174)	Definitive site!!!*****
	199.6.1.174
	centos/5.4/os/x86_64

	ex. http://www.ftp.ne.jp (192.26.91.193)
	192.26.91.193
	/Linux/distributions/CentOS/5.4/os/x86_64

	* Even a nic is failing to be recognized, installer gives wrong message of "Can't find site"
	* Since the current installer does not have reverse DNS capability,
enter explicit IP address.
	* Give an absolute ip address of server found by traceroute command.

   g. At "Would you like to use VNC", choose "Use text mode"

   h. At "System to Upgrade", choose "Reinstall System"

   i. At "Partitioning Type", choose "Create custom layout", and select drives.
	Then choose a partion to install

   j. At "Partitioning", choose a partion, and select "Edit"
	At "Add Partition"
	1. Choose "File System Options", then at "File System Options"
	   Choose "Format as:", and ext3
	2. Set "Mount Point:" to /, and choose OK
	If all partions to use for CentOS are editted, choose OK.
	At "Format Warning", if the message is appropriate choose Yes.

   k. At "Boot Loader Configuration", simply OK by selecting default "Use GRUB Boot Loader"
   l. At "Boot Loader Configuration", enter "vga=792" for a good display.
	Also unselect "Use a GRUB Password".
	Next, simply accept default partition to boot.
	Finally install boot loader to a specific partition not MBR

   m. At "Network Configuration", Examine the current settings.
	If some nics has to be unconfigured off-line on boot, leave it "Unconfigured"

   n. At "Hostname Configuration", enter appropriate name manually.
	Shorter name is better because it precede to each command prompt

   o. At "Time Zone Selection", choose an appropriate one.

   p. At "Root Password", enter an appropriate one.

   q. At "Package selection", unselect all packages software to install

   r. At "Installation to begin", choose OK.

   s. At "Complete", Remove installation media before hitting Enter.


5. Post-install
   a. At "Setup Agent", unless you need to do something, simply "Exit"

   b. examine /etc/fstab, and eliminate some entries.

   c. If you are going to change network settings,
	# service network stop
		*** Do change settings here ***
	# service network start

	Even you have some nic related bugs, keep doing

   d. Upgrade yum list, and the system
	# yum list update
	# yum update

   e. If kernel is upgraded in previous step, restart the system.

   e. Add Gnome Desktop Environment
	# yum groupinstall "X Window System"
	# yum groupinstall "Gnome Desktop Environment"
	# system-config-display

   f. Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf for proper setting.
	Section "Device"
		Identifier	"nForce780a"
		Driver		"vesa"
		BusID		"PCI:2:0:0"
	EndSection

	Section "Monitor"
		Identifier	"EizoL887"
		HorizSync	31-76
		VertRefresh	59-61
		DPMS		"On"
	EndSection

	Section "Screen"
		Identifier	"Screen0"
		Device		"Videocard0"
		Monitor		"EizoL887"
		DefaultDepth	24
		SubSection	"Display"
			Viewport	0 0
			Depth		24
			Modes		"1600x1200"
		EndSubSection
	EndSection

   g. Install nforce bugs fixes if necessary.

   h. Edit /etc/inittab
	Change a line default run level from 5 to 3

   i. For kernel bugs, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf if necessary.
      Then to make it effective,
	# grub-install /dev/sda?

   j. Left it alone for an extended period to find any kernel bug messages.

   k. Examine dmesg for possible fixes

   l. edit /boot/grub/menu.lst for possible fix
  

Sample files:
/etc/sysconfig/network

	NETWORKING=yes
	NETWORKING_IP4=yes
	NETWORKING_IPV6=no
	GATEWAYDEV=
	GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
	HOSTNAME=localhost.localdomain

/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

	# nVidia Corporation MCP78S Ethernet Controller
	DEVICE=eth0
	BOOTPROTO=none
	BROADCAST=192.168.1.255
	NETWORK=192.168.1.0
	HWADDR=00:1b:24:d7:18:b4
	IPV6_AUTOCONF=yes
	ONBOOT=yes
	TYPE=Ethernet
	USERCTL=no
	IPV6INIT=no
	PEERDNS=yes
	NETMASK=255.255.255.0
	IPADDR=192.168.128.16
	GATEWAY=192.168.128.254

resolv.conf

	search lan0.e-aiyama.com
	nameserver 192.168.128.254
	nameserver 192.168.64.1

/sbin/init.d/network restart


If yum is not present,
   a. Download it.

   b. Install it
	# rpm -Uvh yum*.noarch.rpm


nForce network chip bugs
	"irq 252 disabled: nobody cared"

   a. Download drivers
	# cd ~
	# wget http://elrepo.org/linux/elrepo/el5/x86_64/RPMS/kmod-nvidia-185.18.36-2.el5.elrepo.x86_64.rpm
	# wget http://elrepo.org/linux/elrepo/el5/x86_64/RPMS/nvidia-x11-drv-185.18.36-2.el5.elrepo.x86_64.rpm

   b. Install them
	# rpm -ivh *.rpm

   c. Examine /etc/modprobe.conf file for
	alias eth? forcedeth

   d. Make sure that everything is configured correctly
	/usr/sbin/system-config-network

   e. Restart network
	# service network restart