Pre-Requirements

• Host OS: Ubuntu 11.04. (Because the script tested only with Ubuntu 11.04).
• Access to the internet (But if you can use your local ubuntu mirror, no internet access will need. Again, tested only with official mirror accessible via the internet).
• root access (or sudo).

How to configure ubuntukickstart.sh script

The right and the only way to configure the script is the setting of environment variables:

• LOG_FILE is used to specify the location of log file. Defaults to ubuntukickstart.log.
• HTTP_ROOT is used to specify the location of host http root directory. Defaults to /var/www.
• KICKSTART_HTTP_PATH is used to specify the URL of kickstart file. Defaults to http://$BRIDGE_IP/ks.cfg.
• CLOUDPIPECONF_PATH is used to specify the location of cloudpipeconf.sh. Defaults to cloudpipeconf.sh.
• UBUNTU_MIRROR_URL is used to specify the URL of Ubuntu mirror. Defaults to http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu.
• NETBOOT_IMG is used to specify the URL of ubuntu server netboot tarball. Defaults to http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz.
• NETWORK_NAME is used to specify the name of virtual libvirt network. Defaults to ubuntu-pxe.
• REAL_IFACE is used to specify the real host (not VM) network interface with internet access. Defaults to eth0.
• BRIDGE_IFACE is used to specify the name of virtual bridge interface. Defaults to vbr27.
• BRIDGE_IP is used to specify the IP address of virtual bridge interface. Defaults to 192.168.119.1.
• BRIDGE_NETMASK is used to specify the network mask of virtual bridge interface. Defaults to 255.255.255.0.
• DHCP_START is used to specify the first network address of DHCP range for virtual network. Defaults to 192.168.119.2.
• DHCP_END is used to specify the last network address of DHCP range for virtual network. Defaults to 192.168.119.254.
• TFTPBOOT_DIR is used to specify the root directory of TFTP server. Defaults to /tftpboot.
• BOOTP_FILE is used to specify the file of boot image. Defaults to pxelinux.0.
• ROOT_PASSWD_FILE is used to specify the file where VM root password will be stored. Defaults to rootpasswd.txt.
• ROOT_PASSWORD is used to specify the root password. Defaults to random generated password by makepasswd utility. Then this password will be stored in ROOT_PASSWD_FILE.
• VM_MAC is used to specify MAC of the VM. Defaults to 00:16:3e:77:e2:ed.
• VM_IP is used to specify IP of the VM. Defaults to 192.168.119.10.
• VM_NAME is used to specify the VM name. Defaults to NewMach.
• VM_RAM is used to specify the total amount of VM RAM in MB. Defaults to 384.
• VM_DISK_SIZE_GB is used to specify the size of the hdd image in GB. Defaults to 1.
• VM_DISK_PATH is used to specify the path to the hdd image. Defaults to new_cloudpipe_image.img.

Creating cloudpipe image

• Get all needed scripts from repo:

  • cloudpipeconf.sh
  • ssh.sh
  • ubuntukickstart.sh

• Run ubuntukickstart.sh under root privilegies. Use environment variables to configure it, if necessary. Default configuration is valid and fully workable.

• Wait for an end of ubuntu server installation.

• Verify that the VM is not running like this:

  # virsh list --all

  You will see the status of the VM named $VM_NAME. Make sure that it is in the shut off state.

• Check the log file for any failed operations.

• Then upload the VM hdd image into OpenStack. Don't forget about root password.

Theory of operation of ubuntukickstart.sh

1. Install all needed packages.
2. Configure virtual network for the VM.
3. Create virtual network.
4. Make TFTP root directory.
5. Download Ubuntu Server 11.04 netboot tarball.
6. Extract it into TFTP root directory.
7. Edit some files in TFTP root directory (to switch on automatic install using kickstart).
8. Get root password for the VM.
9. Edit kickstart config file and copy it into http server root directory.
10. Copy cloudpipeconf.sh file into http server root directory, too.
11. Start a new VM with automated ubuntu server install.
12. Wait for an end of it installation, then shutdown it.
13. If everything goes right the cloudpipe image will be ready for usage. Root password will be stored at rootpasswd.txt by default or at path provided by $ROOT_PASSWD_FILE.

Known issues

• If you already have rootpasswd.txt file or another wich is specified by $ROOT_PASSWD_FILE, the script will overwrite it. So, you can lost root password stored in this file before.