1KOAN(1) koan KOAN(1)
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6 koan - kickstart over a network, client side helper for cobbler
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9 koan --server=hostname [--list=type] [--virt|--replace-self|--display]
10 [--profile=name] [--system=name] [--image=name] [--add-reinstall-entry]
11 [--virt-name=name] [--virt-path=path] [--virt-type=type] [--nogfx]
12 [--static-interface=name] [--kexec]
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15 Koan stands for "kickstart-over-a-network" and is a client-side helper
16 program for use with Cobbler. koan allows for both network
17 provisioning of new virtualized guests (Xen, QEMU/KVM, VMware) and re-
18 installation of an existing system.
19 When invoked, koan requests install information from a remote cobbler
21 boot server, it then kicks off installations based on what is retrieved
22 from cobbler and fed in on the koan command line. The examples below
23 show the various use cases.
24
26 To browse remote objects on a cobbler server and see what you can
27 install using koan, run one of the following commands:
28 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --list=profiles
30 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --list=systems
32 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --list=images
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36 To learn more about what you are about to install, run one of the
37 following commands:
38 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --display --profile=name
40 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --display --system=name
42 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --display --image=name
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46 Using --replace-self will reinstall the existing system the next time
47 you reboot.
48 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --replace-self --profile=name
50 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --replace-self --system=name
52 Additionally, adding the flag --add-reinstall-entry will make it add
54 the entry to grub for reinstallation but will not make it automatically
55 pick that option on the next boot.
56 Also the flag --kexec can be appended, which will launch the installer
58 without needing to reboot. Not all kernels support this option.
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61 Using --virt will install virtual machines as defined by Cobbler.
62 There are various overrides you can use if not everything in cobbler is
63 defined as you like it.
64 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --profile=name
66 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --system=name
68 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --image=name
70 Some of the overrides that can be used with --virt are:
72 Flag Explanation Example
74 --virt-name name of virtual machine to create testmachine
76 --virt-type forces usage of qemu/xen/vmware qemu
78 --virt-bridge name of bridge device virbr0
80 --virt-path overwrite this disk partition /dev/sda4
82 --virt-path use this directory
84 /opt/myimages
85 --virt-path use this existing LVM volume VolGroup00
87 --nogfx do not use VNC graphics (Xen only) (does not
89 take options)
90 Nearly all of these variables can also be defined and centrally managed
92 by the Cobbler server.
93 If installing virtual machines in environments without DHCP, use of
95 --system instead of --profile is required. Additionally use
96 --static-interface=eth0 to supply which interface to use to supply
97 network information. The installer will boot from this virtual
98 interface. Leaving off --static-interface will result in an
99 unsuccessful network installation.
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102 Koan respects the COBBLER_SERVER variable to specify the cobbler server
103 to use. This is a convenient way to avoid using the --server option
104 for each command. This variable is set automatically on systems
105 installed via cobbler, assuming standard kickstart templates are used.
106 If you need to change this on an installed system, edit
107 /etc/profile.d/cobbler.{csh,sh}.
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110 Reading the cobbler manpage and fedorahosted.org/cobbler is highly
111 recommended.
112 The mailing list is cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org.
114 Subscribe at https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
116
118 Michael DeHaan <mdehaan@redhat.com>
119 2011-04-20 KOAN(1)