Configuring AutoYaST to use static IP addresses

(Last modified: 29Jul2005)

This document (10098449) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

goal

fact

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9

AutoYaST

symptom

I would like to use a base autoinst.xml control file and just change the interface information, having that information used to configure a static IP address on the interface.

fix

Solution provided in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 2

AutoYaST will use the IP address information in the /info file to configure the host interface, if there is no interface configuration defined in the autoinst.xml control file. The control file uses the <interfaces> tag to define the network interface configuration.

Sample /info file:
domain: provo.novell.com
nameserver: 192.168.112.5
hostip: 192.168.112.200
gateway: 192.168.112.2
netmask: 255.255.255.0
instmode: http
server: 192.168.112.10
serverdir: /install/sles9/sp2/i386

Refer to the linuxrc info file format in the AutoYaST documentation for more details. Linuxrc looks for the info file in the root directory at two locations: floppy disk and initrd

Snippet from autoinst.xml control file:
<?xml version = '1.0'?>
<!DOCTYPE profile SYSTEM "/usr/share/autoinstall/dtd/profile.dtd">
<profile xmlns="http://www.suse.com/1.0/yast2ns" xmlns:config="http://www.suse.com/1.0/configns">
---snip---
<configure>
    <networking>
      <dns>
        <dhcp_hostname config:type="boolean">false</dhcp_hostname>
        <dhcp_resolv config:type="boolean">false</dhcp_resolv>
        <domain>provo.novell.com</domain>
        <hostname>sles9auto</hostname>
        <nameservers config:type="list">
          <nameserver>192.168.112.5</nameserver>
          <nameserver>192.168.112.6</nameserver>
        </nameservers>
        <searchlist config:type="list">
          <search>provo.novell.com</search>
        </searchlist>
      </dns>
      <routing>
        <ip_forward config:type="boolean">false</ip_forward>
      </routing>
    </networking>
</configure>
---snip---
</profile>

Refer to the AutoYaST documentation for more information on control files.

Notice that the control file does not contain any <interfaces> tags. This instructs autoyast to use the static IP address information in the /info file to configure the host interface.

Limitations:
1. Even though the domain and nameserver are configured in the /info file, domain must be configured in the control file. Only the nameserver value will be used in /etc/resolv.conf.
2. The hostname must be configured with the <hostname> control file tags.

As an alternative, you do not need to use the /info file. You can simply put the interface information on the boot options line before starting the install. If the control file is missing the <interfaces> tag, then it will use the parameters specified on boot options line.

1. Boot from the install CD1
2. Select Installation
3. Press F3 and select your type and network installation source
4. Include the following "Boot Options" hostip=192.168.112.200 gateway=192.168.112.2 netmask=255.255.255.0 autoyast=http://192.168.112.10/profiles/autoinst.xml

The autoinst.xml would contain a snippet like the one shown above.

Limitations:
1. Same as above.
2. The "Boot Options" line is limited to 155 characters after the showopts parameter. All parameters included prior to showopts are not included in the character count.

document

Document Title:	Configuring AutoYaST to use static IP addresses
Document ID:	10098449
Solution ID:	NOVL102944
Creation Date:	29Jul2005
Modified Date:	29Jul2005
Novell Product Class:	Linux

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