On 2016-11-07 14:35, Bernard Fay wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We have a virtual environment based on XenServer. In this environment I
> defined a template for CentOS 7 servers.
>
> I would like to start a script a boot time to complete the configuration of
> new VMs based on this template. How can I have a script started before any
> login prompt to ask question to the user to complete the configuration such
> as hostname, IP address, etc?
Hi Bernard,
My first impulse was "don't!", and that's probably the best
advise. A popular model is that the "firstboot" package takes
care of this at the first user login, and *nix systems sort of
depend on this "logged in users do stuff" model.
Even better, use ansible, cfengine, chef, or puppet to automate
the task of setting things up. This is the _best_ solution and
you will eventually come back to it.
But, the darker, cynical part of my brain, the part that says
"what, you're cutting down on coffee?" part, said "sure you
can". Here's how it _could_ be done.
DON'T DO THIS. TURN BACK NOW.
Replace /sbin/init with a shell script that does what you want.
It will be the first userland process started, have the console
for I/O, and run as root. At completion, restore the original
/sbin/init and reboot. Leave no traces behind. Do not document
your awful hack, others will use your words against you.
Best regards,
--
Chuck