Quick poll

[David A. Bandel]

On Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 10:32 AM, Michael Hipp <Michael at hipp.com> wrote:

[snip]

>
> <IMHO>
> Text mode install is the only sane option.
> But I think you're nuts or masochistic or something for going thru all the
> uber complexity of attempting a network install. Pop in the one CD, click
> thru the text installer, reboot and move on to the next project.
> </IMHO>

Umm.  Uber complex?  Not.

I run dhcp anyway, so no big deal adding:
   next-server xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx;
   filename "pxelinux.0";

PXE, once set up (I think I changed the ethernet setting and IP) is done.

Debian has a network install .tar.gz.  Untar it in your tftpboot/ directory.

Make sure tftpd is installed and running (I use atftpd spawned via
openbsd-inetd).

Boot any system and tell it to boot from the network.

(wow, how uber easy is the above? -- uber as far as I'm concerned).
Now once in a while I have to d/l and untar a new network install
file, but it's small and everything installs from a Debian repository
-- and I just choose that from a list.

>
>> I'm afraid I fail to see the sense behind installing servers with X.
>> I also see little sense in burning a DVD just to throw it away after 1
>> install and d/l a newer one 2 weeks later for another install.
>
> This topic comes up about once a month on the ubuntu-server list. The
> conclusion is always the same...
>
> X doesn't belong on a server. If it runs X it isn't a server. That's not an
> opinion, it's a definition. Even MS is beginning to wise up to such (so it
> *must* be true.)

Right.  An M$ server w/ a CLI.  I don't know any non-UNIX MCSE's that
can handle that.

>
> A CD-R disc costs approximately nothing even in worthless US dollars. The
> hassle of burning the disc has to be endured only once every 6 months but is
> reusable many times (and the total efforts consists of about one full minute
> of actual work then do something else while the disc burns). Versus the head
> banging complexity of trying to get all the Goldilocks to line up to make
> network install work.

Actually, I would never burn a DVD.  Just mount it and use it from
there.  If I'm ever forced to actually burn a disc, it's usually for
someone else (or I immediately give it away to someone who can
actually use it).

The biger problem is the time and bandwicth required to d/l 3.6Gb,
most of which I will never use.

>
>  Simple is better than complex.

KISS principle.

>  Complex is better than complicated.

No, both are bad (and destined to failure).

>    (from The Zen of Python)
>
>> Perhaps there are just too many who've started their training on M$
>> and can't deal with non-graphical, non-local installs.
>
> You're describing me. But even in my late 40s I am still teachable. Whether
> that could be said of your average MSCE is doubtful.
>

I have no doubt you could do network installs.

Ciao,

David A. Bandel
-- 
Focus on the dream, not the competition.
            - Nemesis Air Racing Team motto