On Mon, Apr 08, 2013 at 10:20:51AM +0100, Philip Hands wrote: > Hi Regid, > > Regid Ichira <[email protected]> writes: > > 1. The auto alias doesn't work. auto=true does work. In fact, the > > installation guide has contradictory saying on this issue. > > http://d-i.debian.org/manual/en.i386/apbs02.html, B.2. Using > > preseeding, has examples with only auto, without a value. And > > further down that page, it is written that a value is always > > required. > > The problem here is that in one context, it's talking about a syslinux > label "auto" which allows you to select a kernel command line that > includes the kernel parameters: > > auto=true priority=critical > > when compared to the other labels (i.e. expert, rescue, install, ...) > > This can been seen looking at i.e.: > > debian-svn/d-i/installer/build/boot/x86/adtxt.cfg > > which includes: > > =-=-=-=- > label auto > menu label ^Automated install > kernel ${KERNEL} > append desktop=%desktop% auto=true priority=critical ${VIDEO_MODE} > initrd=${INITRD} -- quiet ${CONSOLE} > =-=-=-=- > > In the other context it's talking about preseed aliases, where if one > specifies a parameter on the kernel command line (so at the end of the > line, rather than at the start) then if you put auto=true, it gets > expanded to auto-install/enable=true, which is then used for preseeding > the value. > > Assuming that that explanation makes sense, and is true as far as you're > concerned, perhaps you would be kind enough to suggest some way of > improving the documentation, since this is not the first time it has > caused this confusion. >
1. auto=true with priority=critical took care of not being asked to verify the host and domain name. The dhcp server serves them. 2. My suggestion to improve the documentation is to move a paragrph that is alreay there more close to the example. Along with adding a few lines about when auto is taken from the syslinux boot label. diff -Naurp apbs02.html*: --- apbs02.html 2013-04-09 15:53:43.000000000 +0300 +++ apbs02.html.mod 2013-04-09 19:56:06.000000000 +0300 @@ -207,7 +207,28 @@ auto url=autoserver </pre></div> <p> -This relies on there being a DHCP server that will get the machine to +The <code class="literal">auto</code> boot label is not yet defined everywhere. +Here it is actually a syslinux boot label. As such, it is meant to be consumed by syslinux. +All the other boot parameters that are mentioned in this page are recognized either +by the installer or by the kernel, and are meant to be consumed by them. +Users with a crafted installer, crafted syslinux settings, or where syslinux is not used, might fall into +the group where a plain <code class="literal">auto</code>, as opposed to +<code class="literal">auto=true</code>, will be silently ignored. +The same effect of the syslinux <code class="literal">auto</code> boot label may be achieved by simply adding the two +parameters <code class="literal">auto=true priority=critical</code> to the kernel +command line. The <code class="literal">auto</code> parameter is an alias for +<code class="literal">auto-install/enable</code> and setting it to +<code class="literal">true</code> delays the +locale and keyboard questions until after there has been a chance to +preseed them, while <code class="literal">priority</code> is an alias for +<code class="literal">debconf/priority</code> and setting it to +<code class="literal">critical</code> stops any questions with a lower priority +from being asked. + +</p> +<p> + +Obvoiusly, using <code class="literal">url=autoserver</code> here also relies on there being a DHCP server that will get the machine to the point where <code class="literal">autoserver</code> can be resolved by DNS, perhaps after adding the local domain if that was provided by DHCP. If this was done at a site where the domain is @@ -301,21 +322,6 @@ for you. </p> <p> - -The <code class="literal">auto</code> boot label is not yet defined everywhere. -The same effect may be achieved by simply adding the two -parameters <code class="literal">auto=true priority=critical</code> to the kernel -command line. The <code class="literal">auto</code> parameter is an alias for -<code class="literal">auto-install/enable</code> and setting it to -<code class="literal">true</code> delays the -locale and keyboard questions until after there has been a chance to -preseed them, while <code class="literal">priority</code> is an alias for -<code class="literal">debconf/priority</code> and setting it to -<code class="literal">critical</code> stops any questions with a lower priority -from being asked. - -</p> -<p> Additional options that may be of interest while attempting to automate an install while using DHCP are: <code class="literal">interface=auto -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/[email protected]
