Sigh... for support reasons of a software vendor I have to maintain a 5.5u2 cluster.
Trying to stage for class / POC environment (hyperconvergence so has to work on hardware level), so I have to handle hardware
Goal:
1) Use kickstart structure answer files to load the nodes
2) Create a boot menu from vSphere 5.5u2 (oem customized versions) to allow user to boot USB image over IPMI, select node they are on, and it feeds it the correct ks.cfg file
I followed various guides / notes:
| vSphere Boot Menu Guides |
|---|
Template attached but details for fields and assumptions below.
Create menu for the list of nodes to each customization answer file Documentation: http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2011/07/automating-esxi-5x-kickstart-tips.html |
But either it is a translation issue of my understanding of their notes, or issue with 5.5u2 or ???
###
Step 1: Create bootable USB vSphere OS key on 2GB key
I named key label "esx5U2_auto_install"
I followed instructions and used tool rufus
I connected and used OEM vSphere cutomization ISO for vSphere 5.5u2
Step 2: Create answer file response files
Example is node 1-4 cluster.
on USB create directory "KS" and in that create files "NODE1.cfg" -"NODE4.cfg"
Example file for node1
| node1 ks.cfg |
|---|
# Accept vSphere license ULA vmaccepteula
# Set root password rootpw password
# Clear drive partition on first device in device list clearpart --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
# Set installation target to be first drive it finds in device list install --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
# Set static IP for vmnic0 per Spectrum Accelerate table network --bootproto=static --device=vmnic0 --ip=172.20.11.197 --netmask=255.255.255.0 --gateway=172.20.11.1 --hostname=node1 -- nameserver=172.20.12.100,172.20.13.100 vlanid=11
# Reboot host reboot
# Post Installation goodies # Enable SSH and Tech Suport modes vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_esx_shell vim-cmd hostsvc/start_esx_shell vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh vim-cmd hostsvc/start_ssh esxcli network firewall ruleset set --ruleset-id sshClient --enabled yes |
Step 3: Create menu for nodes
Edit file "isolinux.cfg" for above host menu options. Save this file in root of USB key.
Design is to boot over USB attached drive through the IMM (or local attached USB)
DEFAULT menu.c32 MENU TITLE 5.5u2 Boot Menu NOHALT 1 PROMPT 0 TIMEOUT 80 # LABEL hddboot LOCALBOOT 0x80 MENU LABEL ^Boot from local disk # LABEL IBM Spectrum Accelerate Node 1 Install KERNEL mboot.c32 APPEND -c boot.cfg ks=usb:/KS/NODE1.cfg +++ MENU LABEL ^1 Node1 Install # LABEL IBM Spectrum Accelerate Node 2 Install KERNEL mboot.c32 APPEND -c boot.cfg ks=usb:/KS/NODE2.CFG +++ MENU LABEL ^2 Node2 Install # LABEL IBM Spectrum Accelerate Node 3 Install KERNEL mboot.c32 APPEND -c boot.cfg ks=usb:/KS/NODE3.CFG +++ MENU LABEL ^3 Node3 Install # |
#############
But... When I boot it just runs normal script to install vSphere from basic answer file
What I think I am missing is what do I need to do to the boot.cfg file to get it to call the menu (DEFAULT menu.c32)
As usual, all help is appreciated.
PS: I also tried to just effect the base load for just test of answer file (aka without fancy menu) by modification of "boot.cfg" as noted below...and it booted normal installer and ignored answers
| boot.cfg - node 1 direct ks.cfg call |
|---|
bootstate=0 title=Loading ESXi installer kernel=/tboot.b00 kernelopt=ks=/KS/NODE1.cfg modules=/b.b00 --- /jumpstrt.gz --- /useropts.gz --- /k.b00 --- /chardevs.b00 --- /a.b00 --- /user.b00 --- /sb.v00 --- /s.v00 --- /brcm.v00 --- /misc_cni.v00 --- /net_bnx2.v00 --- /net_bnx2.v01 --- /net_cnic.v00 --- /net_tg3.v00 --- /scsi_bnx.v00 --- /scsi_bnx.v01 --- /brcdprov.v00 --- /net_bna.v00 --- /scsi_bfa.v00 --- /elxnet.v00 --- /emulex_c.v00 --- /ima_be2i.v00 --- /lpfc.v00 --- /scsi_be2.v00 --- /ianet_ci.v00 --- /net_igb.v00 --- /net_ixgb.v00 --- /lsiprovi.v00 --- /scsi_meg.v00 --- /scsi_mpt.v00 --- /scsi_mpt.v01 --- /concrete.v00 --- /filetran.v00 --- /fupb.v00 --- /fwupdate.v00 --- /hwckvm.v00 --- /ilfu.v00 --- /immpasst.v00 --- /pciinfo.v00 --- /soibms.v00 --- /mlnxprov.v00 --- /net_mlx4.v00 --- /net_mlx4.v01 --- /ima_qla4.v00 --- /net_qlcn.v00 --- /net_qlge.v00 --- /qlnative.v00 --- /qlogic_c.v00 --- /scsi_qla.v00 --- /ata_pata.v00 --- /ata_pata.v01 --- /ata_pata.v02 --- /ata_pata.v03 --- /ata_pata.v04 --- /ata_pata.v05 --- /ata_pata.v06 --- /ata_pata.v07 --- /block_cc.v00 --- /ehci_ehc.v00 --- /weaselin.t00 --- /esx_dvfi.v00 --- /xlibs.v00 --- /ipmi_ipm.v00 --- /ipmi_ipm.v01 --- /ipmi_ipm.v02 --- /misc_dri.v00 --- /mtip32xx.v00 --- /net_be2n.v00 --- /net_e100.v00 --- /net_e100.v01 --- /net_enic.v00 --- /net_forc.v00 --- /net_nx_n.v00 --- /net_vmxn.v00 --- /ohci_usb.v00 --- /rste.v00 --- /sata_ahc.v00 --- /sata_ata.v00 --- /sata_sat.v00 --- /sata_sat.v01 --- /sata_sat.v02 --- /sata_sat.v03 --- /sata_sat.v04 --- /scsi_aac.v00 --- /scsi_adp.v00 --- /scsi_aic.v00 --- /scsi_fni.v00 --- /scsi_hps.v00 --- /scsi_ips.v00 --- /scsi_lpf.v00 --- /scsi_meg.v01 --- /scsi_meg.v02 --- /scsi_mpt.v02 --- /scsi_mpt.v03 --- /scsi_qla.v01 --- /uhci_usb.v00 --- /tools.t00 --- /lnvcusto.v00 --- /xorg.v00 --- /imgdb.tgz --- /imgpayld.tgz build= updated=0 |