Quick Linux install

I happened to need an extra Linux install on one of my computers.

I went to my local Ubuntu mirror (under network installer) and downloaded the files ‘linux’ (kernel) and ‘initrd.gz’.

Copied them to random directory on the existing Linux install.

Rebooted, and typed ‘c’ in Grub to get a command line.

Entered the three commands kernel <path to linux>, initrd <path to initrd.gz> and boot.

Went quickly through the installer, downloading packages from a mirror and installing the sshd server.

Hey presto, Linux install in maybe 15 min or so? No fiddling with burning and juggling CD/DVD, which I really hate. Grub + network installer is a piece of genius.

(For an initial install, I usually boot from network, downloading the two above files by tfpt from another computer on the network, which is only slightly more involved and still avoids any need to juggle CDs.)

The only real remaining annoyance is that I had to attach a monitor + keyboard temporarily to the computer for the install. Sshd in BIOS anyone?

3 comments

  1. anaconda to rescue!

    > The only real remaining annoyance is that I had to attach a monitor +
    > keyboard temporarily to the computer for the install.

    anaconda (installer for Fedora, RHEL, CentOS etc) have a VNC feature just to fix this problem.

    Of course anaconda supports the grub + network trick too.

  2. Yet Another Way…

    Neat. I haven’t tried that particular method.

    If you’re on a debian/ubuntu machine, you can also use the program “debootstrap” which will do a base install into a directory. You can then chroot into that dir and do whatever you need…

    But you’re right, I LOVE grub.

  3. Thanks for the interesting pointers.

    I did not realise this is what debootstrap does, sounds interesting. And the VNC feature
    in anaconda sounds really neat. I will check those out at some point for sure…

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