Web based kickstarts using simple configuration files from AFS are now supported. It started out as a common feature request and then I realized the value of the system. This system is designed to track Linux Realm Kit workstations and to make installing machines even easier. Using the web-kickstart system is now the recommended way to maintain labs and faculty/staff workstations.

The system works as follows. A systems administrator can put a configuration file (that's very similar to Solaris's Jump Start) into /afs/bp/system/config/linux-kickstart/configs/DEPT. (As normal, substitute DEPT for your department.) Next, boot your client machine with the CD from the web-kickstart server. The client will then request its kickstart from the server which will dynamically assemble the proper kickstart based off the configuration file. The client will merrily install itself completely automated.

There are a few requirements for this system to work. First, you must set the QIP record for the client machine to DHCP and the associated domain name must reverse resolve before the web-kickstart system will work. Secondly, as with the Solaris system, the file name of the configuration file must be the fully quantified domain name (FQDN) of the client.

The syntax of the configuration file is remarkably similar to that of the Solaris Jump Start configuration files but it does have quite a few differences and features. They can be as simple as

version WS3
printer dab-120-1

or be very complex containing multiple different scripts even using different interpreters. You could fairly easily have multiple scripts that run after the machine is installed one being Bash while the other Perl or even Python.

The web-kickstart project is improved and has features added on a fairly regular basis. The best way to keep up with its changes, find detailed documentation, download CD images, test your configuration files, etc is to visit the web-kicksart web site at http://web-kickstart.linux.ncsu.edu.