1KOAN.1(1) man KOAN.1(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.
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20 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.
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26 To browse remote objects on a cobbler server and see what you can
27 install using koan, run one of the following commands:
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29 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --list=profiles
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31 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --list=systems
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33 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:
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39 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --display --profile=name
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41 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --display --system=name
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43 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.
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49 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --replace-self --profile=name
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51 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --replace-self --system=name
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53 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.
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57 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.
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65 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --profile=name
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67 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --system=name
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69 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --virt --image=name
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71 Some of the overrides that can be used with --virt are:
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73 Flag Explanation Example
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75 --virt-name name of virtual machine to create testmachine
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77 --virt-type forces usage of qemu/xen/vmware qemu
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79 --virt-bridge name of bridge device virbr0
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81 --virt-path overwrite this disk partition /dev/sda4
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83 --virt-path use this directory
84 /opt/myimages
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86 --virt-path use this existing LVM volume VolGroup00
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88 --nogfx do not use VNC graphics (Xen only) (does not
89 take options)
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91 Nearly all of these variables can also be defined and centrally managed
92 by the Cobbler server.
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94 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 Using --update-config will update a system configuration as defined by
103 Cobbler.
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105 koan --server=cobbler.example.org --update-config
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107 Additionally, adding the flag --summary will print configuration run
108 stats.
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110 Koan passes in the system's FQDN in the background during the
111 configuration request. Cobbler will match this FQDN to a configured
112 system defined by Cobbler.
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114 The FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) maps to the system's hostname
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118 Koan respects the COBBLER_SERVER variable to specify the cobbler server
119 to use. This is a convenient way to avoid using the --server option
120 for each command. This variable is set automatically on systems
121 installed via cobbler, assuming standard kickstart templates are used.
122 If you need to change this on an installed system, edit
123 /etc/profile.d/cobbler.{csh,sh}.
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126 Reading the cobbler manpage and cobbler.github.io is highly
127 recommended.
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129 The mailing list is cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org.
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131 Subscribe at https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
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134 Michael DeHaan <michael.dehaan AT gmail>
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1382.8.4 2018-11-17 KOAN.1(1)