Applies to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1

4 Configuration and Installation Options

This chapter introduces important parts of a control file for standard purposes. To learn about other available options, use the configuration management system.

Note that for some configuration options to work, additional packages need to be installed, depending on the software selection you have configured. If you choose to install a minimal system then some packages might be missing and need to be added to the individual package selection.

YaST will install packages required in the second phase of the installation and before the post-installation phase of AutoYaST has started. However, if necessary YaST modules are not available in the system, important configuration steps will be skipped. For example, no security settings will be configured if yast2-security is not installed.

4.1 General Options

General options include all the settings related to the installation process and the environment of the installed system.

The mode section configures the behavior of AutoYaST with regard to confirmation and rebooting. The following needs to be in the <general><mode> section.

By default, the user must confirm the auto-installation process. This option allows the user to view and change the settings for a target system before they are committed and can be used for debugging. confirm is set to true by default to avoid recursive installs when the system schedules a reboot after initial system setup. Only disable confirmation if you want to carry out a fully unattended installation.

With halt you cause AutoYaST to shut down the machine after all packages have been installed. Instead of a reboot into stage two, the machine is turned off. The boot loader is already installed and all your chroot scripts have run.

final_halt and final_reboot halts or reboots the machine after the installation and the configuration are finished at the end of stage 2.

final_restart_services: After installation and configuration are finished at the end of stage 2 all services will be restarted by default. With this flag set to false no restart will be done.

activate_systemd_default_target: After installation and configuration are finished at the end of stage 2 the default target system will be activated.

ntp_sync_time_before_installation specifies the NTP server with which the system time has to be synchronized before starting the installation on the target system. It will be not synchronized if this flag has not been used. Please keep in mind that you need a reachable NTP server and network connections while running the installation.

max_systemd_wait specifies how long AutoYaST waits at most for systemd to set up the default target. Normally you do not need to bother with this entry. If it is not preset a reasonable default (30 seconds) is used.

Attribute

Values

Description

confirm

If this boolean is set to true, the installation stops at the confirmation screen (also called proposal screen) and needs to be confirmed with the Install button.

<confirm config:type="boolean">true</confirm>

Optional. The default is true.

halt

Shuts down the machine after the first stage. So if you turn it on again, the machine boots and the second stage of the autoinstallation starts.

<halt config:type="boolean">true</halt>

Optional. The default is false.

second_stage

This boolean determines if AutoYaST will run in the second stage too (after the partitioning, software and boot loader installation of the first stage). If you set this to false, a normal manual installation happens in the second stage.

<second_stage config:type="boolean">true</second_stage>

Optional. The default is true.

final_reboot

If you set this to true, the machine will reboot at the very end of the installation (when everything is installed and configured at the end of the second stage).

<final_reboot config:type="boolean">true</final_reboot>

Optional. The default is false. It makes no sense to set this and final_halt to true.

final_halt

If you set this to true, the machine will shut down at the very end of the installation (when everything is installed and configured at the end of the second stage).

<final_halt config:type="boolean">true</final_halt>

Optional. The default is false. It makes no sense to set this and final_reboot to true.

final_restart_services

If you set this entry to false, all services will not be restarted at the very end of the installation (when everything is installed and configured at the end of the second stage).

<final_restart_services config:type="boolean">false</final_restart_services>

Optional. The default is true.

activate_systemd_default_target

If you set this entry to false, the default target will not be activated via the call systemctl isolate.

<activate_systemd_default_target config:type="boolean">false</activate_systemd_default_target>

Optional. The default is true.

AutoYaST allows you to configure the proposal screen with the <proposals config:type="list"> option in the control file. All proposals that are listed in that section are shown in the proposal screen if you set the confirm option to true. Proposals are also used during the regular installation and can be found in the file control.xml in the root directory of the installation media.

Example 4.1: General Options
<general>
  <signature-handling>
    <accept_unsigned_file config:type="boolean">true</accept_unsigned_file>
    <accept_file_without_checksum config:type="boolean">true</accept_file_without_checksum>
    <accept_verification_failed config:type="boolean">true</accept_verification_failed>
    <accept_unknown_gpg_key config:type="boolean">true</accept_unknown_gpg_key>
    <import_gpg_key config:type="boolean">true</import_gpg_key>
    <accept_non_trusted_gpg_key config:type="boolean">true</accept_non_trusted_gpg_key>
    </signature-handling>
    <cio_ignore config:type="boolean">false</cio_ignore>       <! -- IBM System z only -->
  <mode>
    <halt config:type="boolean">false</halt>
    <forceboot config:type="boolean">false</forceboot>
    <final_reboot config:type="boolean">false</final_reboot>
    <final_halt config:type="boolean">false</final_halt>
    <confirm config:type="boolean">true</confirm>
    <second_stage config:type="boolean">true</second_stage>
  </mode>
  <proposals config:type="list">
    <proposal>partitions_proposal</proposal>
  </proposals>
  <wait>
    <pre-modules config:type="list">
      <module>
        <name>networking</name>
        <sleep>
          <time config:type="integer">10</time>
          <feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>
        </sleep>
        <script>
          <source>sleep 5</source>
          <debug config:type="boolean">false</debug>
        </script>
      </module>
    </pre-modules>
    <post-modules config:type="list">
      <module>
        <name>networking</name>
        <sleep>
          <time config:type="integer">3</time>
          <feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>
        </sleep>
        <script>
          <source>sleep 7</source>
          <debug config:type="boolean">false</debug>
        </script>
      </module>
    </post-modules>
  </wait>
  <storage>
    <!--
       partition_alignment:
         align_optimal  - That's the default. Partitions are aligned like the
                          kernel suggests. This can lead to problem with some
                          machines/bioses that are unable to boot with that
                          alignment
         align_cylinder -  Partitions always start on a cylinder boundary
    -->
     <partition_alignment config:type="symbol">align_cylinder</partition_alignment>
  </storage>
</general>

You can let AutoYaST sleep before and after each module run during the second stage. You can run scripts and/or pass a value (in seconds) for AutoYaST to sleep. In the example above AutoYaST will sleep for 15 seconds (10+5) before the network configuration starts and 10 seconds (3+7) after the network configuration is done. The scripts in the example do not really make a lot of sense because you could pass that value as time value too. They are only used to show how scripts in the wait section work now.

With the flag cio_ignore devices can be blacklisted. This option is available on IBM System z only.

Tip
Tip: Enabling Multipath for the Installation

When installing on a network storage that is accessed via multiple paths, you need to enable multipath for the installation with the start_multipath parameter that needs to be placed within the following XML structure:

<general>
  <storage>
    <start_multipath config:type="boolean">true</start_multipath>
  </storage>
</general>

Alternatively, you can pass the following parameter to linuxrc: LIBSTORAGE_MULTIPATH_AUTOSTART=ON

4.2 Reporting

The report resource manages three types of pop-ups that may appear during installation:

  • message pop-ups (usually non-critical, informative messages),

  • warning pop-ups (if something might go wrong),

  • error pop-ups (in case an error occurs).

Example 4.2: Reporting Behavior
<report>    
  <messages>
    <show config:type="boolean">true</show>
    <timeout config:type="integer">10</timeout>
    <log config:type="boolean">true</log>
  </messages>
  <errors>
    <show config:type="boolean">true</show>
    <timeout config:type="integer">10</timeout>
    <log config:type="boolean">true</log>
  </errors>
  <warnings>
    <show config:type="boolean">true</show>
    <timeout config:type="integer">10</timeout>
    <log config:type="boolean">true</log>
  </warnings>
</report>

Depending on your experience, you can skip, log and show (with timeout) those messages. It is recommended to show all messages with timeout. Warnings can be skipped in some places but should not be ignored.

The default setting in auto-installation mode is to show all messages without logging and without timeout.

Warning
Warning: Critical System Messages

Note that not all messages during installation are controlled by the report resource. Some critical messages concerning package installation and partitioning will show up ignoring your settings in the report section. Usually those messages will need to be answered with Yes or No.

4.3 System Registration and Extension Selection

Registering the system with the can be configured within the suse_register resource. The following example registers the system with the SUSE Customer Center. In case your organization provides its own registration server, you need to specify the required data with the reg_server* properties. Refer to the table below for details.

<suse_register>
  <do_registration config:type="boolean">true</do_registration>
  <email>tux@example.com</email>
  <reg_code>MY_SECRET_REGCODE</reg_code>
  <install_updates config:type="boolean">true</install_updates>
  <slp_discovery config:type="boolean">false</slp_discovery>
</suse_register>
 

As an alternative to the fully automated registration, AutoYaST can also be configured to start the YaST registration module during the installation. this offers the possibility to enter the registration data manually. The following XML code is required:

<general>
 <semi-automatic config:type="list">
   <semi-automatic_entry>scc</semi-automatic_entry>
 </semi-automatic>
</general>
Tip
Tip: Using the Installation Network Settings

In case you need to use the same network settings that were used for the installation, AutoYaST needs to run the network setup in stage 1 right before the registration is started:

<networking>
  <setup_before_proposal config:type="boolean">true</setup_before_proposal
</networking>
Table 4.1: System Registration: XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

do_registration

Specify whether the system should be registered or not. Can be set to true or false.

<do_registration config:type="boolean"
>true</do_registration>

If set to false all other options are ignored and the system is not registered.

e-mail

The e-mail address matching the registration code.

<email>tux@example.com</email>

Required value.

reg_code

The registration code.

<reg_code>SECRET_REGCODE</reg_code>

Required value.

install_updates

Defines if the update repositories provided by the registration server are used during the installation (true) or not (false).

<install_updates config:type="boolean"
>true</install_updates>

Optional. The default value is false.

slp_discovery

Search for the registration server via SLP.

<slp_discovery config:type="boolean"
>true</slp_discovery>

Optional. The default value is false.

Expects to find a single server. If more than one server is found, the installation will fail. In case there is more than one registration server available, you need to specify one with reg_server.

Optional, If neither slp_discovery or reg_server are set, the system is registered with the SUSE Customer Center.

reg_server

URl to the SMT server

<reg_server>
  https://smt.example.com
</reg_server>

Optional, If neither slp_discovery or reg_server are set, the system is registered with the SUSE Customer Center.

reg_server_cert_fingerprint_type

Fingerprint type. Can either be SHA1 or SHA256.

<reg_server_cert_fingerprint_type>
  SHA1
</reg_server_cert_fingerprint_type>

Requires a checksum value provided with reg_server_cert_fingerprint. Using the fingerprint is recommended, since it ensures the SSL certificate is verified. The matching certificate will be automatically imported when the SSL communication fails because of a verification error.

reg_server_cert_fingerprint

Fingerprint value in hexadecimal notion (case-insensitive).

<reg_server_cert_fingerprint>
  01:AB...:EF
</reg_server_cert_fingerprint>

Requires a fingerprint type value provided with reg_server_cert_fingerprint_type. Using the fingerprint is recommended, since it ensures the SSL certificate is verified. The matching certificate will be automatically imported when the SSL communication fails because of a verification error.

reg_server_cert

Path to the SSL certificate on the server.

<reg_server_cert>
  http://smt.example.com/smt.crt
</reg_server_cert>

Using this option is not recommended, since the certificate that is downloaded is not verified. Use reg_server_cert_fingerprint instead.

addons

Specify an extension from the registration server that should be added to the installation repositories. See Section 4.3.1, “Extensions” for details.

4.3.1 Extensions

The SUSE Customer Center provides several extensions, such as sle-sdk (Software Development Kit - SDK) that can be added as additional installation sources during the installation. Adding extensions can be configured via the addons property within the suse_register block. Below is a list of all extensions available for SUSE Linux Enterprise on x86_64:

Note
Note: Availability of Extensions

The availability of extensions is product and architecture dependent. All listed extensions are available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on the x86_64 architecture. Not all extensions are available on other architectures. The only extension available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is the sle-sdk.

Some extensions, such as the sle-we, sle-ha and sle-ha-geo require a registration code.

<addons config:type="list">
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-ha</name>
    <reg_code>YOUR_REG_CODE_HERE</reg_code>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-ha-geo</name>
    <reg_code>YOUR_REG_CODE_HERE</reg_code>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-module-web-scripting</name>
    <reg_code/>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-module-adv-systems-management</name>
    <reg_code/>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-module-legacy</name>
    <reg_code/>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-we</name>
    <reg_code>YOUR_REG_CODE_HERE</reg_code>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-sdk</name>
    <reg_code/>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
  <addon>
    <arch>x86_64</arch>
    <name>sle-module-public-cloud</name>
    <reg_code/>
    <release_type>nil</release_type>
    <version>12</version>
  </addon>
</addons>

4.4 The Boot Loader

This documentation is for yast2-bootloader and applies to SLE 12 SP1. For older product versions, use the documentation that comes with your distribution in /usr/share/doc/packages/autoyast2/

The general structure of the AutoYaST boot loader part looks like the following:

<bootloader>
  <loader_type>
    <!-- boot loader type (grub2 or grub2-efi) -->
  </loader_type>
  <global>
    <!-- 
      entries defining the installation settings for GRUB 2 and
      the generic boot code
    -->
  </global>
  <device_map config:type="list">
    <!-- entries defining the order of devices -->
  </device_map>
 </bootloader>

4.4.1 Loader Type

Define which boot loader to use: grub2 or grub2-efi.

<loader_type>grub2</loader_type>

4.4.2 Globals

This is an important if optional part. Define here where to install GRUB 2 and how the boot process will work. Again, yast2-bootloader proposes a configuration if you do not define one. Usually the AutoYaST control file includes only this part and all other parts are added automatically during installation by yast2-bootloader. Unless you have some special requirements, do not specify the boot loader configuration in the XML file.

<global>
  <activate config:type="boolean">true</activate>
  <timeout config:type="integer">10</timeout>
  <suse_btrfs config:type="boolean">true</suse_btrfs>
  <terminal>gfxterm</terminal>
  <gfxmode>1280x1024x24</gfxmode>     
</global>

Attribute

Description

activate

Set the boot flag on the boot partition. The boot partition can be / if there is no separate /boot partition. If the boot partition is on a logical partition, the boot flag is set to the extended partition.

<activate config:type="boolean">true</activate>

append

Kernel parameters added at the end of boot entries for normal and recovery mode.

<append>nomodeset vga=0x317</append>

boot_boot

Write GRUB 2 to a separate /boot partition. If no separate /boot partition exists, GRUB 2 will be written to /.

<boot_boot>false</boot_boot>

boot_custom

Write GRUB 2 to a custom device.

<boot_custom>/dev/sda3</boot_custom>

boot_extended

Write GRUB 2 to the extended partition (important if you want to use a generic boot code and the /boot partition is logical). NOTE: if the boot partition is logical, you should use boot_mbr (write GRUB 2 to MBR) rather than generic_mbr.

<boot_extended>false</boot_extended>

boot_mbr

Write GRUB 2 to MBR of the first disk in the order (device.map includes order of disks).

<boot_mbr>false</boot_mbr>

boot_root

Write GRUB 2 to / partition.

<boot_root>false</boot_root>

generic_mbr

Write generic boot code to MBR, will be ignored if boot_mbr is set to true.

<generic_mbr config:type="boolean">false</generic_mbr>

gfxmode

Graphical resolution of the GRUB 2 screen (requires <terminal> to be set to gfxterm. Valid entries are auto, HORIZONTALxVERTICAL, or HORIZONTALxVERTICALxCOLOR DEPTH. You can display the screen resolutions available to GRUB 2 on a particular system by typing vbeinfo at the GRUB 2 command line in the running system.

<gfxmode>1280x1024x24</gfxmode>

os_prober

If set to true, automatically searches for operating systems already installed and generates boot entries for them during the installation

<os_prober config:type="boolean">false</os_prober>

suse_btrfs

If set to true, booting from Btrfs snapshots will be enabled.

<suse_btrfs config:type="boolean">false</suse_btrfs>

serial

Command to execute if the GRUB 2 terminal mode is set to serial.

<serial>
  serial --speed=115200 --unit=0 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
</serials>

terminal

Specify the GRUB 2 terminal mode to use, Valid entries are console, gfxterm, and serial. If set to serial, the serial command needs to be specified with <serial>, too.

<terminal>serial</terminal>

timeout

The timeout in seconds until the default boot entry is booted automatically.

<timeout config:type="integer">10</timeout>

vgamode

Adds the Kernel parameter vga=VALUE to the boot entries.

<vgamode>0x317</vgamode>

xen-append

Kernel parameters added at the end of boot entries for Xen guests.

<append>nomodeset vga=0x317</append>

xen-kernel-append

Kernel parameters added at the end of boot entries for Xen kernels on the VM Host Server.

<xen-append>dom0_mem=768M</xen-append>

4.4.3 Device map

GRUB 2 avoids mapping problems between BIOS drives and Linux devices by using device ID strings (UUIDs) or file system labels when generating its configuration files. GRUB 2 utilities create a temporary device map on the fly, which is usually sufficient, particularly on single-disk systems. However, if you need to override the automatic device mapping mechanism, create your custom mapping in this section.

<device_map config:type="list">
  <device_map_entry>
    <firmware>hd0</firmware> <!-- order of devices in target map  -->
    <linux>/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3500418AS_6VM23FX0</linux> <!-- name of device (disk)  -->
  </device_map_entry>
</device_map>

4.5 Partitioning

4.5.1 Drive Configuration

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<profile>
  <partitioning config:type="list">
    <drive>
     ...
    </drive>
  </partitioning>
</profile>

Attribute

Values

Description

device

The device you want to configure in this <drive> section. You can use persistent device names via id, like /dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD3200AAKS-75L9A0_WD-WMAV27368122 or by-path,like /dev/disk/by-path/pci-0001:00:03.0-scsi-0:0:0:0.

<device>/dev/sda</device>

Optional. If left out, AutoYaST tries to guess the device. See Tip: Skipping Devices on how to influence guessing.

A RAID must always have /dev/md as device.

initialize

If set to true, the partition table gets wiped out before AutoYaST starts the partition calculation.

<initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>

Optional. The default is false.

partitions

A list of <partition> entries (see Section 4.5.2, “Partition Configuration”).

<partitions config:type="list">
  <partition>...</partition>
  ...
</partitions>

Optional. If no partitions are specified, AutoYaST will create a reasonable partitioning (see Section 4.5.4, “Automated Partitioning”).

pesize

This value only makes sense with LVM.

<pesize>8M</pesize>

Optional. Default is 4M for LVM volume groups.

use

Specifies the strategy AutoYaST will use to partition the hard disk.

Choose between:

  • all (uses the whole device while calculating the new partitioning),

  • linux (only existing Linux partitions are used),

  • free (only unused space on the device is used, no other partitions are touched),

  • 1,2,3 (a list of comma separated partition numbers to use).

This parameter should be provided.

type

Specify the type of the drive,

Choose between:

  • CT_DISK for physical hard disks (default),

  • CT_LVM for LVM volume groups,

<type config:type="symbol">CT_LVM</type>

Optional. Default is CT_DISK for a normal physical hard disk.

disklabel

Describes the type of the partition table.

Choose between:

  • msdos

  • gpt

<disklabel>gpt</disklabel>

Optional. By default YaST decides what makes sense.

keep_unknown_lv

This value only makes sense for type=CT_LVM drives. If you are reusing a logical volume group and you set this to true, all existing logical volumes in that group will not be touched unless they are specified in the <partitioning> section. So you can keep existing logical volumes without specifying them.

<keep_unknown_lv config:type="boolean"
>false</keep_unknown_lv>

Optional. The default is false.

Tip
Tip: Skipping Devices

You can influence AutoYaST's device-guessing for cases where you do not specify a <device> entry on your own. Usually AutoYaST would use the first device it can find that looks reasonable but you can configure it to skip some devices like this:

<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>
    <skip_list config:type="list">
      <listentry>
        <!-- skip devices that use the usb-storage driver -->
        <skip_key>driver</skip_key>
        <skip_value>usb-storage</skip_value>
      </listentry>
      <listentry>
        <!-- skip devices that are smaller than 1GB -->
        <skip_key>size_k</skip_key>
        <skip_value>1048576</skip_value>
        <skip_if_less_than config:type="boolean">true</skip_if_less_than>
      </listentry>
      <listentry>
        <!-- skip devices that are larger than 100GB -->
        <skip_key>size_k</skip_key>
        <skip_value>104857600</skip_value>
        <skip_if_more_than config:type="boolean">true</skip_if_more_than>
      </listentry>
    </skip_list>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

For a list of all possible <skip_key>, run yast2 ayast_probe on an already installed system.

4.5.2 Partition Configuration

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<drive>
  <partitions config:type="list">
    <partition>
      ...
    </partition>
  </partitions>
</drive>

Attribute

Values

Description

create

Specify if this partition must be created or if it already exists.

<create config:type="boolean"
>false</create>

If set to false, you also need to set partition_nr to tell AutoYaST the partition number.

mount

The mount point of this partition.

<mount>/</mount>
<mount>swap</mount>

You should have at least a root partition (/) and a swap partition.

fstopt

Mount options for this partition.

<fstopt>
  ro,noatime,user,data=ordered,acl,user_xattr
</fstopt>

See man mount for available mount options.

label

The label of the partition (useful for the mountby parameter; see below).

<label>mydata</label>

See man e2label for an example.

uuid

The uuid of the partition (only useful for the mountby parameter; see below).

<uuid
>1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-b9a761bde3fb</uuid>

See man uuidgen.

size

The size of the partition, for example 4G, 4500M, etc. The /boot partition and the swap partition can have auto as size. Then AutoYaST calculates a reasonable size. One partition can have the value max to use all remaining space.

You can also specify the size in percentage. So 10% will use 10% of the size of the hard disk or volume group. You can mix auto, max, size, and percentage as you like.

<size>10G</size>

format

Specify if AutoYaST should format the partition.

<format config:type="boolean">false</format>

If you set create to true, then you likely want this option set to true as well.

file system

Specify the file system to use on this partition:

  • btrfs

  • ext2

  • ext3

  • ext4

  • fat

  • xfs

  • swap

<filesystem config:type="symbol"
>ext3</filesystem>

Optional. The default is btrfs for the root partition (/) and xfs for data partitions.

mkfs_options

Specify an option string that is added to the mkfs command.

<mkfs_options>-I 128</mkfs_options>

Optional. Only use this when you know what you are doing.

partition_nr

The partition number of this partition. If you have set create=false or if you use LVM, then you can specify the partition via partition_nr. You can force AutoYaST to only create primary partitions by assigning numbers below 5.

<partition_nr config:type="integer"
>2</partition_nr>

Usually, numbers 1 to 4 are primary partitions while 5 and higher are logical partitions.

partition_id

The partition_id sets the id of the partition. If you want different identifiers than 131 for Linux partition or 130 for swap, configure them with partition_id.

<partition_id config:type="integer"
>131</partition_id>

The default is 131 for Linux partition and 130 for swap.

mountby

Instead of a partition number, you can tell AutoYaST to mount a partition by device, label, uuid, path or id, which are the udev path and udev id (see /dev/disk/...).

<mountby config:type="symbol"
>label</mountby>

See label and uuid documentation above. The default depends on YaST and usually is id.

subvolumes

List of subvolumes to create for a file system of type Btrfs. This key only makes sense for file systems of type Btrfs. If there is a default subvolume used for the distribution (for example @ in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server) the name of this default subvolume is automatically prepended to the names in this list.

<subvolumes config:type="list">
  <path>tmp</path>
  <path>opt</path>
  <path>srv</path>
  <path>var/crash</path>
  <path>var/lock</path>
  <path>var/run</path>
  <path>var/tmp</path>
  <path>var/spool</path>
  ...
</subvolumes>

lv_name

If this partition is in a logical volume in a volume group specify the logical volume name here (see the is_lvm_vg parameter in the drive configuration).

<lv_name>opt_lv</lv_name>

stripes

An integer that configures LVM striping. Specify across how many devices you want to stripe (spread data).

<stripes config:type="integer">2</stripes>

stripesize

Specify the size of each block in KB.

<stripesize config:type="integer"
>4</stripesize>

lvm_group

If this is a physical partition used by (part of) a volume group (LVM), you need to specify the name of the volume group here.

<lvm_group>system</lvm_group>

pool

pool must be set to true if the LVM logical volume should be an LVM thin pool.

<pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>

used_pool

The name of the LVM thin pool that is used as a data store for this thin logical volume. If this is set to something non-empty, it implies that the volume is a so-called thin logical volume.

<used_pool>my_thin_pool</used_pool>

raid_name

If this physical volume is part of a RAID, specify the name of the RAID.

<raid_name>/dev/md0</raid_name>

raid_type

Specify the type of the RAID.

<raid_type>raid1</raid_type>

raid_options

Specify RAID options, see below.

<raid_options>...</raid_options>

resize

This boolean must be true if an existing partition should be resized. In this case, you want to set create to false and usually you do not want to format the partition. You need to tell AutoYaST the partition_nr and the size. The size can be in percentage of the original size or a number, like 800M. max and auto do not work as size here.

<resize config:type="boolean"
>false</resize>

Resizing only works with physical disks, not with LVM volumes.

4.5.3 RAID Options

The following elements must be placed within the following XML structure:

<partition>
  <raid_options>
    ...
  </raid_options>
</partition>

Attribute

Values

Description

chunk_size

<chunk_size>4</chunk_size>

parity_algorithm

Possible values are:

left_asymmetric, left_symmetric, right_asymmetric, right_symmetric.

For RAID6 and RAID10 the following values can be used:

parity_first, parity_last, left_asymmetric_6, left_symmetric_6, right_asymmetric_6, right_symmetric_6, parity_first_6, n2, o2, f2, n3, o3, f3 for RAID6 and RAID10.

<parity_algorithm
>left_asymmetric</parity_algorithm>

raid_type

Possible values are: raid0, raid1 and raid5.

<raid_type>raid1</raid_type>

The default is raid1.

device_order

This list contains the optional order of the physical devices:

<device_order config:type="list">
   <device>/dev/sdb2</device>
   <device>/dev/sda1</device>
   ...
</device_order>

This is optional and the default is alphabetical order.

4.5.4 Automated Partitioning

For automated partitioning, you only need to provide the sizes and mount points of partitions. All other data needed for successful partitioning is calculated during installation—unless provided in the control file.

If no partitions are defined and the specified drive is also the drive where the root partition should be created, the following partitions are created automatically:

  • /boot

    The size of the /boot partition is determined by the architecture of the target system.

  • swap

    The size of the swap partition is determined by the amount of memory available in the system.

  • / (root partition)

    The size of the root partition is determined by the space left after creating swap and /boot.

Depending on the initial status of the drive and how it was previously partitioned, it is possible to create the default partitioning in the following ways:

Use Free Space

If the drive is already partitioned, it is possible to create the new partitions using the free space on the hard disk. This requires the availability of sufficient space for all selected packages in addition to swap.

Reuse all available space

Use this option to delete all existing partitions (Linux and non-Linux).

Reuse all available Linux partitions

This option deletes all existing Linux partitions. Other partitions (for example Windows partitions) remain untouched. Note that this works only if the Linux partitions are at the end of the device.

Reuse only specified partitions

This option allows you to select specific partitions to delete. Start the selection with the last available partition.

Repartitioning only works if the selected partitions are neighbors and located at the end of the device.

Important
Important: Beware of Data Loss

The value provided in the use property determines how existing data and partitions are treated. The value all means that the entire disk will be erased. Make backups and use the confirm property if you need to keep some partitions with important data. Otherwise, no pop-ups will notify you about partitions being deleted.

If multiple drives are in the target system, identify all drives with their device names and specify how the partitioning should be performed.

Partition sizes can be given in gigabytes, megabytes or can be set to a flexible value using the keywords auto and max. max uses all available space on a drive, therefore should only be set for the last partition on the drive. With auto the size of a swap or boot partition is determined automatically, depending on the memory available and the type of the system.

A fixed size can be given as shown below:

1GB, 1G, 100MB, or 1000M will all create a partition of the size 1 Gigabyte.

Example 4.3: Automated Partitioning

The following is an example of a single drive system, which is not pre-partitioned and should be automatically partitioned according to the described pre-defined partition plan. If you do not specify the device, it will be automatically detected.

<partitioning  config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sda</device>       
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

A more detailed example shows how existing partitions and multiple drives are handled.

Example 4.4: Detailed Automated Partitioning
<partitioning  config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sda</device>            
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
	<mount>/</mount>
	<size>10G</size>
      </partition>
      <partition>
	<mount>swap</mount>
	<size>1G</size>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
  </drive>
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sdb</device>
    <use>all</use>
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
	<filesystem  config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
	<mount>/data1</mount>
	<size>15G</size>	
      </partition>
      <partition>
	<filesystem  config:type="symbol">jfs</filesystem>
	<mount>/data2</mount>
	<size>auto</size>	
      </partition>
    </partitions>
    <use>free</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

4.5.5 Advanced Partitioning Features

4.5.5.1 Wipe out Partition Table

Usually this is not needed because AutoYaST can delete partitions one by one automatically, but you need the option to let AutoYaST clear the partition table instead of deleting partitions individually.

Go to the drive section and add:

<initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>

With this setting AutoYaST will delete the partition table before it starts to analyze the actual partitioning and calculates its partition plan. Of course this means, that you cannot keep any of your existing partitions.

4.5.5.2 Mount Options

By default a file system to be mounted is identified in /etc/fstab by the device name. This identification can be changed so the file system is found by searching for a UUID or a volume label. Note that not all file systems can be mounted by UUID or a volume label. To specify how a partition is to be mounted, use the mountby property which has the symbol type. Possible options are:

  • device (default)

  • label

  • UUID

If you choose to mount the partition using a label, the name entered for the label property is used as the volume label.

Add any valid mount option in the fourth field of /etc/fstab. Multiple options are separated by commas. Possible fstab options:

Mount read-only (ro)

No write access to the file system. Default is false.

No access time (noatime)

Access times are not updated when a file is read. Default is false.

Mountable by User (user)

The file system can be mounted by a normal user. Default is false.

Data Journaling Mode (ordered, journal, writeback)
journal

All data is committed to the journal prior to being written to the main file system.

ordered

All data is directly written to the main file system before its metadata is committed to the journal.

writeback

Data ordering is not preserved.

Access Control List (acl)

Enable access control lists on the file system.

Extended User Attributes (user_xattr)

Allow extended user attributes on the file system.

Example 4.5: Mount Options
<partitions config:type="list">
  <partition>   
    <filesystem config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
    <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
    <fstopt>ro,noatime,user,data=ordered,acl,user_xattr</fstopt>
    <mount>/local</mount>
    <mountby config:type="symbol">uuid</mountby>
    <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
    <size>10G</size>
  </partition>
</partitions>

4.5.5.3 Keeping Specific Partitions

In some cases you should leave partitions untouched and only format specific target partitions, rather than creating them from scratch. For example, if different Linux installations coexist, or you have another operating system installed, likely you do not want to wipe these out. You may also want to leave data partitions untouched.

Such scenarios require certain knowledge about the target systems and hard disks. Depending on the scenario, you might need to know the exact partition table of the target hard disk with partition ids, sizes and numbers. With this data you can tell AutoYaST to keep certain partitions, format others and create new partitions if needed.

The following example will keep partitions 1, 2 and 5 and delete partition 6 to create two new partitions. All remaining partitions will only be formatted.

Example 4.6: Keeping partitions
<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sdc</device>
      <partitions config:type="list">
        <partition>
          <create config:type="boolean">false</create>
          <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
          <mount>/</mount>
          <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
        </partition>
        <partition>
          <create config:type="boolean">false</create>
          <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
          <partition_nr config:type="integer">2</partition_nr>
          <mount>/space</mount>
        </partition>
        <partition>
          <create config:type="boolean">false</create>
          <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
          <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem>
          <partition_nr config:type="integer">5</partition_nr>
          <mount>swap</mount>
        </partition>
        <partition>
          <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
          <mount>/space2</mount>
          <size>5G</size>
        </partition>
        <partition>
          <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
          <mount>/space3</mount>
          <size>max</size>
        </partition>
      </partitions>
    <use>6</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

The last example requires exact knowledge of the existing partition table and the partition numbers of those partitions that should be kept. In some cases however, such data may not be available, especially in a mixed hardware environment with different hard disk types and configurations. The following scenario is for a system with a non-Linux OS with a designated area for a Linux installation.

Keeping partitions
Figure 4.1: Keeping partitions

In this scenario, shown in figure Figure 4.1, “Keeping partitions”, AutoYaST will not create new partitions. Instead it searches for certain partition types on the system and uses them according to the partitioning plan in the control file. No partition numbers are given in this case, only the mount points and the partition types (additional configuration data can be provided, for example file system options, encryption and file system type).

Example 4.7: Auto-detection of partitions to be kept.
<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <create config:type="boolean">false</create>
        <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
        <mount>/</mount>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
      </partition>
      <partition>
        <create config:type="boolean">false</create>
        <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
        <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">130</partition_id>
        <mount>swap</mount>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

4.5.6 Using an Existing Mount Table (fstab)

This option will allow AutoYaST to use an existing /etc/fstab and use the partition data from a previous installation. All partitions are kept and no new partitions are created. The partitions will be formatted and mounted as specified in /etc/fstab on a Linux root partition.

Although the default behavior is to format all partitions, it is also possible to leave some partitions untouched and only mount them, for example data partitions. If multiple installations are found on the system (multiple root partitions with different fstab files, the installation will abort, unless the root partition is configured in the control file. The following example illustrates how this option can be used:

Example 4.8: Reading an Existing /etc/fstab
<partitioning_advanced>
  <fstab>
    <!-- Read data from existing fstab. If multiple root partitions are
            found, use the one specified below. Otherwise the first root
	    partition is taken -->
    <!-- <root_partition>/dev/sda5</root_partition> -->
    <use_existing_fstab config:type="boolean">true</use_existing_fstab>
    <!-- all partitions found in fstab will be formatted and mounted
            by default unless a partition is listed below with different
	    settings -->
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
        <mount>/bootmirror</mount>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
  </fstab>
</partitioning_advanced>

4.5.7 Logical Volume Manager (LVM)

To configure LVM, first create a physical volume using the normal partitioning method described above.

Example 4.9: Create LVM Physical Volume

The following example shows how to prepare for LVM in the partitioning resource. A non-formatted partition is created on device /dev/sda1 of the type LVM and with the volume group system. This partition will use all space available on the drive.

<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sda</device>         
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <create config:type="boolean">true</create>	  	  
        <lvm_group>system</lvm_group>
        <partition_type>primary</partition_type>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">142</partition_id>
        <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
        <size>max</size>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>
Example 4.10: LVM Logical Volumes
<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sda</device>             
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>	 
        <lvm_group>system</lvm_group>
        <partition_type>primary</partition_type>
        <size>max</size>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/system</device>       
      <is_lvm_vg config:type="boolean">true</is_lvm_vg>
      <partitions config:type="list">
	<partition>
	  <filesystem config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
	  <lv_name>user_lv</lv_name>
	  <mount>/usr</mount>
	  <size>15G</size>
	</partition>
	<partition>
	  <filesystem config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
	  <lv_name>opt_lv</lv_name>
	  <mount>/opt</mount>
	  <size>10G</size>
	</partition>
	<partition>
	  <filesystem config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
	  <lv_name>var_lv</lv_name>
	  <mount>/var</mount>
	  <size>1G</size>
	</partition>
      </partitions>
      <pesize>4M</pesize>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

It is possible to set the size to max for the logical volumes. Of course, you can only use max for one(!) logical volume. You cannot set two logical volumes in one volume group to max.

4.5.8 Software RAID

Using AutoYaST, you can create and assemble software RAID devices. The supported RAID levels are the following:

RAID 0

This level increases your disk performance. There is no redundancy in this mode. If one of the drives crashes, data recovery will not be possible.

RAID 1

This mode offers the best redundancy. It can be used with two or more disks. An exact copy of all data is maintained on all disks. As long as at least one disk is still working, no data is lost. The partitions used for this type of RAID should have approximately the same size.

RAID 5

This mode combines management of a larger number of disks and still maintains some redundancy. This mode can be used on three disks or more. If one disk fails, all data is still intact. If two disks fail simultaneously, all data is lost.

Multipath

This mode allows access to the same physical device via multiple controllers for redundancy against a fault in a controller card. This mode can be used with at least two devices.

As with LVM, you need to create all RAID partitions first and assign them to the RAID device you want to create afterwards. Additionally you need to specify whether a partition or a device should be part of the RAID or if it should be a Spare device.

The following example shows a simple RAID1 configuration:

Example 4.11: RAID1 configuration
<partitioning config:type="list">
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sda</device>
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">253</partition_id>
        <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
        <raid_name>/dev/md0</raid_name>
        <raid_type>raid</raid_type>
        <size>4G</size>            
      </partition>

	<!-- Insert a configuration for the regular partitions located on
	        /dev/sda here (for example / and swap) -->
        
    </partitions>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/sdb</device>
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">253</partition_id>
        <raid_name>/dev/md0</raid_name>            
        <raid_type>raid</raid_type>
        <size>4gb</size>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
  <drive>
    <device>/dev/md</device>
    <partitions config:type="list">
      <partition>
        <filesystem config:type="symbol">reiser</filesystem>
        <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
        <mount>/space</mount>
        <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
        <partition_nr config:type="integer">0</partition_nr>
        <raid_options>
          <chunk_size>4</chunk_size>
          <parity_algorithm>left-asymmetric</parity_algorithm>
          <raid_type>raid1</raid_type>
        </raid_options>
      </partition>
    </partitions>
    <use>all</use>
  </drive>
</partitioning>

Keep the following in mind when configuring a RAID:

  • The device for raid is always /dev/md

  • The property partition_nr is used to determine the MD device number. If partition_nr is equal to 0, then /dev/md0 is configured.

  • All RAID-specific options are contained in the raid_options resource.

4.5.9 IBM System z Specific Configuration

4.5.9.1 Configuring DASD Disks

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<dasd>
 <devices config:type="list">
  <listentry>
   ...
  </listentry>
 </devices>
</dasd>

tags in the <profile> section. Each disk needs to be configured in a separate <listentry> ... </listentry> section.

Attribute

Values

Description

device

DASD is the only value allowed

<device
>DASD</dev_name>

dev_name

The device (dasdn) you want to configure in this section.

<dev_name
>/dev/dasda</dev_name>

Optional but recommended. If left out, AutoYaST tries to guess the device.

channel

Channel by which the disk is accessed.

<channel>0.0.0150</channel>

Mandatory.

diag

Enable or disable the use of DIAG. Possible values are true (enable) or false (disable).

<diag
config:type="boolean">true</diag>

Optional.

4.5.9.2 Configuring zFCP Disks

The following elements must be placed within the following XML structure:

<profile>
  <zfcp>
    <devices config:type="list">
      <listentry>
        ...
      </listentry>
    </devices>
  </zfcp>
<profile>

Each disk needs to be configured in a separate listentry section.

Attribute

Values

controller_id

Channel number

<controller_id
>0.0.fc00</controller_id>

4.6 Software

4.6.1 Package Selection with Patterns

Patterns are configured like this:

Example 4.12: Package Selection in the Control File with Patterns
<software>
  <patterns config:type="list">
    <pattern>directory_server</pattern>
  </patterns>
  <packages  config:type="list">
    <package>apache</package>
    <package>postfix</package>
  </packages>
  <do_online_update config:type="boolean">true</do_online_update>
</software>

4.6.2 Installing Additional and Customized Packages

In addition to the packages available for installation on the DVD-ROMs, you can add external packages including customized kernels. Customized kernel packages must be compatible to the SUSE packages and must install the kernel files to the same locations.

Unlike in earlier in versions, you do not need a special resource in the control file to install custom and external packages. Instead you need to re-create the package database and update it with any new packages or new package versions in the source repository.

A script is provided for this task which will query packages available in the repository and create the package database. Use the command /usr/bin/create_package_descr. When creating the database, all languages will be reset to English.

Example 4.13: Creating Package Database
cd /usr/local/DVDs/LATEST/suse
create_package_descr -x PATH_TO_EXTRA_PROV -d /usr/local/CDs/LATEST/suse

In the above example, the directory /usr/local/CDs/LATEST/suse contains the architecture dependent (for example x86_64) and architecture independent packages (noarch). This might look different on other architectures.

The advantage of this method is that you can keep an up-to-date repository with fixed and updated package. Additionally this method makes the creation of custom CD-ROMs easier.

To add your own RPMs to an installation source (or a module such as the SDK), add a file add_on_products to the installation source.

media_url [path_on_media [product_1 [product_2 [....]]]

media_url is the URL of the media, path_on_media is the path to the catalog on the media. If not present, / (root) is assumed. product_1 and following are the names of products, which should be marked for installation. If no product is specified, all products found on the media are selected for installation. For example:

http://192.168.66.6/SLES/sdk/DVD1
        http://192.168.66.6/SLES/DVD1/updates

As an alternative to adding the add_on_products file to the installation source, you can use the AutoYaST control file to specify modules, extensions and add-on products. For example:

<add-on>
  <add_on_products config:type="list">
    <listentry>
      <media_url>http://192.168.66.6/SLES/DVD1/updates</media_url>
      <product>SLES_Updates</product>
      <alias>SuSE-Updates</alias>
      <product_dir>/</product_dir>
      <priority config:type="integer">20</priority>
      <ask_on_error config:type="boolean">false</ask_on_error>
      <name>MyUpdates</name> <
    </listentry>
  </add_on_products>
</add-on>

AutoYaST can ask the user to make add-on products, modules or extension available instead of reporting a time-out error when no repository can be found at the given location. Set ask_on_error to true (the default is false).

If you want to use unsigned installation sources with AutoYaST, turn off the checks with the following configuration in your AutoYaST control file.

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<general>
  <signature-handling>
    ...
  </signature-handling>
</general>

Default values for all options are false. If an option is set to false and a package or repository fails the respective test, it is silently ignored and will not be installed. Note that setting any of these options to true is a potential security risk. Never do it when using packages or repositories from third party sources.

Attribute

Values

accept_unsigned_file

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept unsigned files like the content file.

<accept_unsigned_file config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_unsigned_file>

accept_file_without_checksum

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept files without a checksum in the content file.

<accept_file_without_checksum config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_file_without_checksum>

accept_verification_failed

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept signed files even when the verification of the signature failed.

<accept_verification_failed config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_verification_failed>

accept_unknown_gpg_key

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept new gpg keys on the installation source, for example the key used to sign the content file.

<accept_unknown_gpg_key config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_unknown_gpg_key>

accept_non_trusted_gpg_key

This means, the key is known, but is not trusted by you.

<accept_non_trusted_gpg_key config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_non_trusted_gpg_key>

import_gpg_key

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept and import new gpg keys on the installation source in its database.

<import_gpg_key config:type="boolean"
>true</import_gpg_key>

It is possible to configure the signature handling for each add-on product, module, or extension individually. The following elements must be between the signature-handling section of the individual add-on product, module, or extension. All settings are optional. If not configured, the global signature-handling from the general section is used.

Attribute

Values

accept_unsigned_file

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept unsigned files like the content file for this add-on product.

<accept_unsigned_file config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_unsigned_file>

accept_file_without_checksum

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept files without a checksum in the content file for this add-on.

<accept_file_without_checksum config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_file_without_checksum>

accept_verification_failed

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept signed files even when the verification of the signature fails.

<accept_verification_failed config:type="boolean"
>true</accept_verification_failed>

accept_unknown_gpg_key

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept new gpg keys on the installation source, for example the key used to sign the content file.

<accept_unknown_gpg_key>
  <all config:type="boolean">false</all>
  <keys config:type="list">
    <keyid>3B3011B76B9D6523</keyid>
  </keys>
</accept_unknown_gpg_key>

accept_non_trusted_gpg_key

This means, the key is known, but it is not trusted by you.

<accept_non_trusted_gpg_key>
  <all config:type="boolean">false</all>
  <keys config:type="list">
    <keyid>3B3011B76B9D6523</keyid>
  </keys>
</accept_non_trusted_gpg_key>

import_gpg_key

If set to true, AutoYaST will accept and import new gpg keys on the installation source into its database.

<import_gpg_key>
  <all config:type="boolean">false</all>
  <keys config:type="list">
    <keyid>3B3011B76B9D6523</keyid>
  </keys>
</import_gpg_key>

4.6.3 Kernel Packages

Kernel packages are not part of any selection. The required kernel is determined during installation. If the kernel package is added to any selection or to the individual package selection, installation will mostly fail because of conflicts.

To force the installation of a specific kernel, use the kernel property. The following is an example of forcing the installation of the default kernel. This kernel will be installed even if an SMP or other kernel is required.

Example 4.14: Kernel Selection in the Control File
<software>        
  <kernel>kernel-default</kernel>
  ...
</software>

4.6.4 Removing Automatically Selected Packages

Some packages are selected automatically either because of a dependency or because it is available in a selection.

Removing such packages might break the system consistency and it is not recommended to remove basic packages unless a replacement which provides the same services is provided. The best example for this case are mail transfer agent (MTA) packages. By default, postfix will be selected and installed. If you want to use another MTA like sendmail, then postfix can be removed from the list of selected package using a list in the software resource. However, note that sendmail is not shipped with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The following example shows how this can be done:

Example 4.15: Package Selection in Control File
<software>
  <packages  config:type="list">
    <package>sendmail</package>
  </packages>
  <remove-packages  config:type="list">
    <package>postfix</package>
  </remove-packages>
</software>
Note
Note: Package Removal Failure

Note that it is not possible to remove a package, that is part of a pattern (see Section 4.6.1, “Package Selection with Patterns”). When specifying such a package for removal, the installation will fail with the following error message:

The package resolver run failed. Please check
      your software section in the autoyast profile.

4.6.5 Installing Packages in Stage 2

If you want to install packages after the reboot during stage two, instead of during the normal installation process in stage one, you can use the post-packages element for that:

<software>
  <post-packages config:type="list">
    <package>yast2-cim</package>
  </post-packages>
</software>

4.6.6 Installing Patterns in Stage 2

You can also install patterns in stage 2. Use the post-patterns element for that:

<software>
  <post-patterns config:type="list">
    <pattern>apparmor</pattern>
  </post-patterns>
</software>

4.6.7 Online Update in Stage 2

You can perform an online update at the end of the installation. Set the boolean do_online_update to true. Of course this only makes sense if you add an online update repository in the suse-register/customer-center section, for example, or in a post-script. If the online update repository was already available in stage one via the add-on section, then AutoYaST has already installed the latest packages available. If a kernel update is done via online-update, a reboot at the end of stage two is triggered.

<software>
  <do_online_update config:type="boolean">true</do_online_update>
</software>

4.7 Services and Targets

With the services-manager resource you can set the default systemd target and specify in detail which system services you want to start or deactivate.

The default-target property specifies the default systemd target into which the system boots. Valid options are graphical for a graphical login, or multi-user for a console login.

The <enable config:type="list"> and <disable config:type="list"> let you explicitly enable or disable services.

Example 4.16: Configuring Services and Targets
<services-manager>
  <default_target>multi-user</default_target>
  <services>
    <disable config:type="list">
      <service>cups</service>
    </disable>
    <enable config:type="list">
      <service>sshd</service>
    </enable>
  </services>
</services-manager>

4.8 Network Configuration

Network configuration is used to connect a single workstation to an Ethernet-based LAN or to configure a dial-up connection. More complex configurations (multiple network cards, routing, etc.) are also provided.

If the following setting is set to true YaST will keep network settings created during the installation (via Linuxrc) and/or merge it with network settings from the AutoYaST control file (if defined). AutoYaST settings have higher priority than already present configuration files. YaST will write ifcfg-* files based on the entries in the control file without removing old ones. If there is an empty or no dns and routing section, YaST will keep already existing values. Otherwise settings from the control file will be applied.

<keep_install_network
config:type="boolean">true</keep_install_network>

To configure network settings and activate networking automatically, one global resource is used to store the whole network configuration.

Example 4.17: Network configuration
<networking>
  <dns>
    <dhcp_hostname config:type="boolean">true</dhcp_hostname>
    <domain>site</domain>
    <hostname>linux-bqua</hostname>
    <nameservers config:type="list">
      <nameserver>192.168.1.116</nameserver>
      <nameserver>192.168.1.117</nameserver>
      <nameserver>192.168.1.118</nameserver>
    </nameservers>
    <resolv_conf_policy>auto</resolv_conf_policy>
    <searchlist config:type="list">
      <search>example.com</search>
      <search>example.net</search>
    </searchlist>
    <write_hostname config:type="boolean">false</write_hostname>
  </dns>
  <interfaces config:type="list">
    <interface>
      <bootproto>dhcp</bootproto>
      <device>eth0</device>
      <startmode>auto</startmode>
    </interface>
    <interface>
      <bootproto>static</bootproto>
      <broadcast>127.255.255.255</broadcast>
      <device>lo</device>
      <firewall>no</firewall>
      <ipaddr>127.0.0.1</ipaddr>
      <netmask>255.0.0.0</netmask>
      <network>127.0.0.0</network>
      <prefixlen>8</prefixlen>
      <startmode>nfsroot</startmode>
      <usercontrol>no</usercontrol>
    </interface>
  </interfaces>
  <ipv6 config:type="boolean">true</ipv6>
  <keep_install_network config:type="boolean">false</keep_install_network>
  <managed config:type="boolean">false</managed>       ###### NetworkManager ?
  <net-udev config:type="list">
    <rule>
      <name>eth0</name>
      <rule>ATTR{address}</rule>
      <value>00:30:6E:08:EC:80</value>
    </rule>
  </net-udev>
  <s390-devices config:type="list">
    <listentry>
      <chanids>0.0.0800 0.0.0801 0.0.0802</chanids>
      <type>qeth</type>
    </listentry>
  </s390-devices>
  <routing>
    <ipv4_forward config:type="boolean">false</ipv4_forward>
    <ipv6_forward config:type="boolean">false</ipv6_forward>
    <routes config:type="list">
      <route>
        <destination>192.168.2.1</destination>
        <device>eth0</device>
        <extrapara>foo</extrapara>
        <gateway>-</gateway>
        <netmask>-</netmask>
      </route>
      <route>
        <destination>default</destination>
        <device>eth0</device>
        <gateway>192.168.1.1</gateway>
        <netmask>-</netmask>
      </route>
      <route>
        <destination>default</destination>
        <device>lo</device>
        <gateway>192.168.5.1</gateway>
        <netmask>-</netmask>
      </route>
    </routes>
  </routing>
</networking>
Tip
Tip: IPv6 Address Support

Using IPv6 addresses in AutoYaST is fully supported. To disable IPv6 Address Support, set <ipv6 config:type="boolean">false</ipv6>

4.8.1 Persistent Names of Network Interfaces

The following elements must be between the <net-udev>...</net-udev> tags.

Element

Description

Comment

name

Network interface name, e.g. eth3

required

rule

ATTR{address} for a MAC based rule, KERNELS for a bus ID based rule

required

value

e.g. f0:de:f1:6b:da:69 for a MAC rule, 0000:00:1c.1 or 0.0.0700 for a bus ID rule

required

4.8.2 s390 Devices

The following elements must be between the <s390-devices>...</s390-devices> tags.

Element

Description

Comment

type

qeth, ctc or iucv

chanids

channel ids separated by spaces

<chanids>0.0.0700 0.0.0701 0.0.0702</chanids>

layer2

<layer2 config:type="boolean">true</layer2>

boolean; default: false

portname

QETH port name

protocol

CTC / LCS protocol, a small number (as a string)

<protocol>1</protocol>

optional

router

IUCV router/user

4.8.3 Proxy

Configure your Internet proxy (caching) settings.

Configure proxies for HTTP and FTP with http_proxy and ftp_proxy, respectively. Addresses or names that should be directly accessible need to be specified with no_proxy (space separated values). If you are using a proxy server with authorization, fill in proxy_user and proxy_password,

Example 4.18: Network configuration: Proxy
<proxy>
  <enabled config:type="boolean">true</enabled>
  <ftp_proxy>http://192.168.1.240:3128</ftp_proxy>
  <http_proxy>http://192.168.1.240:3128</http_proxy>
  <no_proxy>localhost</no_proxy>
  <proxy_password>testpw</proxy_password>
  <proxy_user>testuser</proxy_user>
</proxy>

4.8.4 (X)Inetd

The control file has elements to specify which superserver should be used (netd_service), whether it should be enabled (netd_status) and how the services should be configured (netd_conf).

A service description element has two parts: key and non-key. When writing the configuration, services are matched using the key fields; to the matching service, non-key fields are applied. If no service matches, it is created. If more services match, a warning is reported. The key fields are script, service, protocol and server.

service and protocol are matched literally. script is the base name of the configuration file: usually a file in /etc/xinetd.d, for example "echo-udp", or "inetd.conf". For compatibility with 8.2, server is matched more loosely: if it is /usr/sbin/tcpd, the real server name is taken from server_args. After that, the basename of the first whitespace-separated word is taken and these values are compared.

Note
Note

Since SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 it is possible to configure the network for the installed system while the first installation stage. In that case you have to set

<second_stage config:type="boolean">false</second_stage>

in the general/mode section.

Example 4.19: Inetd Example
<profile>
  <inetd>
    <netd_service config:type="symbol">xinetd</netd_service>
    <netd_status config:type="integer">0</netd_status>
    <netd_conf config:type="list">
      <conf>
	<script>imap</script>
	<service>pop3</service>
	<enabled config:type="boolean">true</enabled>
      </conf>
      <conf>
	<server>in.ftpd</server>
	<server_args>-A</server_args>
	<enabled config:type="boolean">true</enabled>
      </conf>
      <conf>
	<service>daytime</service>
	<protocol>tcp</protocol>
      </conf>
      <conf>...</conf>
    </netd_conf>
  </inetd>
</profile>

4.9 NIS

Using the nis resource, you can configure the target machine as a NIS client. The following example shows a detailed configuration using multiple domains.

Example 4.20: Network configuration: NIS
 <nis>
  <nis_broadcast config:type="boolean">true</nis_broadcast>
  <nis_broken_server config:type="boolean">true</nis_broken_server>
  <nis_by_dhcp config:type="boolean">false</nis_by_dhcp>
  <nis_domain>test.com</nis_domain>
  <nis_local_only config:type="boolean">true</nis_local_only>
  <nis_options></nis_options>
  <nis_other_domains config:type="list">
    <nis_other_domain>
      <nis_broadcast config:type="boolean">false</nis_broadcast>
      <nis_domain>domain.com</nis_domain>
      <nis_servers config:type="list">
        <nis_server>10.10.0.1</nis_server>
      </nis_servers>
    </nis_other_domain>
  </nis_other_domains>
  <nis_servers config:type="list">
    <nis_server>192.168.1.1</nis_server>
  </nis_servers>
  <start_autofs config:type="boolean">true</start_autofs>
  <start_nis config:type="boolean">true</start_nis>
</nis>

4.10 Authentication Client

The following is a simple example for an LDAP user authentication. NSS and PAM will automatically be configured accordingly. Required data are the name of the search base (base DN, e.g, dc=mydomain,dc=com) and the IP address of the LDAP server.

Example 4.21: Network configuration: Authentication Client
<auth-client>
  <sssd>yes</sssd>
  <nssldap>no</nssldap>
  <sssd_conf>
    <sssd>
      <config_file_version>2</config_file_version>
      <services>nss, pam, sudo</services>
      <domains>EXAMPLE</domains>
    </sssd>
    <auth_domains>
      <domain>
        <domain_name>EXAMPLE</domain_name>
        <id_provider>ldap</id_provider>
        <sudo_provider>ldap</sudo_provider>
        <ldap_uri>ldap://example.com</ldap_uri>
        <ldap_sudo_search_base>ou=sudoers,dc=example,dc=com</ldap_sudo_search_base>
      </domain>
    </auth_domains>
  </sssd_conf>
</auth-client>
Tip
Tip: Using ldaps://

To use LDAP with native SSL (rather than TLS), add the ldaps resource:

<auth-client>
  <sssd_conf>
    <auth_domains>
      <domain>
        <ldaps config:type="boolean">true</ldaps>
      </domain>
    </auth_domains>
  </sssd_conf>
</auth-client>

4.11 NFS Client and Server

Configuring a system as an NFS client or an NFS server is can be done using the configuration system. The following examples show how both NFS client and server can be configured.

From SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 on, the structure of NFS client configuration has changed. Some global configuration options were introduced: enable_nfs4 to switch NFS4 support on/off and idmapd_domain to define domain name for rpc.idmapd (this only makes sense when NFS4 is enabled). Attention: the old structure is not compatible with the new one and the control files with an NFS section created on older releases will not work with newer products.

Example 4.22: Network Configuration: NFS Client
<nfs>
  <enable_nfs4 config:type="boolean">true</enable_nfs4>
  <idmapd_domain>suse.cz</idmapd_domain>
  <nfs_entries config:type="list">
    <nfs_entry>
      <mount_point>/home</mount_point>
      <nfs_options>sec=krb5i,intr,rw</nfs_options>
      <server_path>saurus.suse.cz:/home</server_path>
      <vfstype>nfs4</vfstype>
    </nfs_entry>
    <nfs_entry>
      <mount_point>/work</mount_point>
      <nfs_options>defaults</nfs_options>
      <server_path>bivoj.suse.cz:/work</server_path>
      <vfstype>nfs</vfstype>
    </nfs_entry>
    <nfs_entry>
      <mount_point>/mnt</mount_point>
      <nfs_options>defaults</nfs_options>
      <server_path>fallback.suse.cz:/srv/dist</server_path>
      <vfstype>nfs</vfstype>
    </nfs_entry>
  </nfs_entries>
</nfs>
Example 4.23: Network Configuration: NFS Server
<nfs_server>
  <nfs_exports config:type="list">
    <nfs_export>
      <allowed config:type="list">
        <allowed_clients>*(ro,root_squash,sync)</allowed_clients>
      </allowed>
      <mountpoint>/home</mountpoint>
    </nfs_export>
    <nfs_export>
      <allowed config:type="list">
        <allowed_clients>*(ro,root_squash,sync)</allowed_clients>
      </allowed>
      <mountpoint>/work</mountpoint>
    </nfs_export>
  </nfs_exports>
  <start_nfsserver config:type="boolean">true</start_nfsserver>
</nfs_server>

4.12 NTP Client

Select whether to start the NTP daemon when booting the system. The NTP daemon resolves host names when initializing.

To run NTP daemon in chroot jail, set start_in_chroot. Starting any daemon in a chroot jail is more secure and strongly recommended. To adjust NTP servers, peers, local clocks, and NTP broadcasting, add the appropriate entry to the control file. An example of various configuration options is shown below.

Example 4.24: Network configuration: NTP Client
<ntp-client>
  <configure_dhcp config:type="boolean">false</configure_dhcp>
  <peers config:type="list">
    <peer>
      <address>ntp.example.com</address>
      <options></options>
      <type>server</type>
    </peer>
  </peers>
  <start_at_boot config:type="boolean">true</start_at_boot>
  <start_in_chroot config:type="boolean">true</start_in_chroot>
</ntp-client>

4.13 Mail Configuration

For the mail configuration of the client, this module lets you create a detailed mail configuration. The module contains various options. We recommended you use it at least for the initial configuration.

Example 4.25: Mail Configuration
<mail>
  <aliases config:type="list">
    <alias>
      <alias>root</alias>
      <comment></comment>
      <destinations>foo</destinations>
    </alias>
    <alias>
      <alias>test</alias>
      <comment></comment>
      <destinations>foo</destinations>
    </alias>
  </aliases>
  <connection_type config:type="symbol">permanent</connection_type>
  <fetchmail config:type="list">
    <fetchmail_entry>
      <local_user>foo</local_user>
      <password>bar</password>
      <protocol>POP3</protocol>
      <remote_user>foo</remote_user>
      <server>pop.foo.com</server>
    </fetchmail_entry>
    <fetchmail_entry>
      <local_user>test</local_user>
      <password>bar</password>
      <protocol>IMAP</protocol>
      <remote_user>test</remote_user>
      <server>blah.com</server>
    </fetchmail_entry>
  </fetchmail>
  <from_header>test.com</from_header>
  <listen_remote config:type="boolean">true</listen_remote>
  <local_domains config:type="list">
    <domains>test1.com</domains>
  </local_domains>
  <masquerade_other_domains config:type="list">
      <domain>blah.com</domain>
  </masquerade_other_domains>
  <masquerade_users config:type="list">
    <masquerade_user>
      <address>joe@test.com</address>
      <comment></comment>
      <user>joeuser</user>
    </masquerade_user>
    <masquerade_user>
      <address>bar@test.com</address>
      <comment></comment>
      <user>foo</user>
    </masquerade_user>
  </masquerade_users>
  <mta config:type="symbol">postfix</mta>
  <outgoing_mail_server>test.com</outgoing_mail_server>
  <postfix_mda config:type="symbol">local</postfix_mda>
  <smtp_auth config:type="list">
    <listentry>
      <password>bar</password>
      <server>test.com</server>
      <user>foo</user>
    </listentry>
  </smtp_auth>
  <use_amavis config:type="boolean">true</use_amavis>
  <virtual_users config:type="list">
    <virtual_user>
      <alias>test.com</alias>
      <comment></comment>
      <destinations>foo.com</destinations>
    </virtual_user>
    <virtual_user>
      <alias>geek.com</alias>
      <comment></comment>
      <destinations>bar.com</destinations>
    </virtual_user>
  </virtual_users>
</mail>

4.14 Security Settings

Using the features of this module, you can to change the local security settings on the target system. The local security settings include the boot configuration, login settings, password settings, user addition settings, and file permissions.

Configuring the security settings automatically corresponds to the Custom Settings in the security module available in the running system which lets you create your own, customized configuration.

Example 4.26: Security configuration

See the reference for the meaning and the possible values of the settings in the following example.

<security>
  <console_shutdown>ignore</console_shutdown>
  <cwd_in_root_path>no</cwd_in_root_path>
  <displaymanager_remote_access>no</displaymanager_remote_access>
  <fail_delay>3</fail_delay>
  <faillog_enab>yes</faillog_enab>
  <gid_max>60000</gid_max>
  <gid_min>101</gid_min>
  <gdm_shutdown>root</gdm_shutdown>
  <lastlog_enab>yes</lastlog_enab>
  <encryption>md5</encryption>
  <obscure_checks_enab>no</obscure_checks_enab>
  <pass_max_days>99999</pass_max_days>
  <pass_max_len>8</pass_max_len>
  <pass_min_days>1</pass_min_days>
  <pass_min_len>6</pass_min_len>
  <pass_warn_age>14</pass_warn_age>
  <passwd_use_cracklib>yes</passwd_use_cracklib>
  <permission_security>secure</permission_security>
  <run_updatedb_as>nobody</run_updatedb_as>
  <uid_max>60000</uid_max>
  <uid_min>500</uid_min>
</security>

4.14.1 Password Settings Options

Change various password settings. These settings are mainly stored in the /etc/login.defs file.

Use this resource to activate one of the encryption methods currently supported. If not set, DES is configured.

DES, the Linux default method, works in all network environments, but it restricts you to passwords no longer than eight characters. MD5 allows longer passwords, thus provides more security, but some network protocols do not support this, and you may have problems with NIS. Blowfish is also supported.

Additionally, you can set up the system to check for password plausibility and length etc.

4.14.2 Boot Settings

Use the security resource, to change various boot settings.

How to interpret CtrlAltDel?

When someone at the console has pressed the CtrlAltDel key combination, the system usually reboots. Sometimes it is desirable to ignore this event, for example, when the system serves as both workstation and server.

Shutdown behavior of GDM

Configure a list of users allowed to shut down the machine from GDM.

4.14.3 Login Settings

Change various login settings. These settings are mainly stored in the /etc/login.defs file.

4.14.4 New user settings (useradd settings)

Set the minimum and maximum possible user and group ID

4.15 Users

The root and at least one normal user can be added during install using data supplied in the control file. User data and passwords (encrypted or in clear text) are part of the configure resource in the control file.

At least the root should be configured during auto-installation so you can login after the installation is finished. It will also ensure nobody else can login to the system (in case the password is not set).

The two users in the following example are added during system configuration.

Example 4.27: User Configuration
<users config:type="list">
  <user>
    <username>root</username>
    <user_password>password</user_password>
    <encrypted config:type="boolean">true</encrypted>
    <forename/>
    <surname/>
  </user>
  <user>
    <username>tux</username>
    <user_password>password</user_password>
    <encrypted config:type="boolean">true</encrypted>
    <forename>Tux</forename>
    <surname>Linux</surname>	  	
  </user>
</users>

The last example shows the minimal information required for adding users. Additional options are available for a more customized user account management. The data in /etc/default/useradd is used to determine the home directory of the user to be created plus other parameters.

Note
Note: Users set up during the first stage

Starting with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1, users are set up during the first stage (in previous versions it happened in the second one). So with a minimal profile, you can set up an usable system running only the first stage.

4.16 Custom User Scripts

By adding scripts to the auto-installation process you can customize the installation according to your needs and take control in different stages of the installation.

In the auto-installation process, five types of scripts can be executed at different points in time during the installation:

All scripts need to be in the <scritps> section.

  • pre-scripts (very early, before anything else really happens)

  • postpartitioning-scripts (after partitioning and mounting to /mnt but before RPM installation)

  • chroot-scripts (after the package installation, before the first boot)

  • post-scripts (during the first boot of the installed system, no services running)

  • init-scripts (during the first boot of the installed system, all services up and running)

4.16.1 Pre-Install Scripts

Executed before YaST does any real change to the system (before partitioning and package installation but after the hardware detection).

You can use a pre-script to modify your control file and let AutoYaST reread it. Find your control file in /tmp/profile/autoinst.xml. Adjust the file and store the modified version in /tmp/profile/modified.xml. AutoYaST will read the modified file after the pre-script finishes.

It is also possible to change the partitioning in your pre-script.

Note
Note: Pre-Install Scripts with Confirmation

Pre-scripts are executed at an early stage of the installation. This means if you have requested to confirm the installation, the pre-scripts will be executed before the confirmation screen shows up (profile/install/general/mode/confirm).

Note
Note: Pre-Install and Zypper

If you would like to call zypper in the pre-install script you will have to set the environment variable ZYPP_LOCKFILE_ROOT="/var/run/autoyast" in order to prevent conflicts with the running YAST process.

Pre-Install Script elements must be placed as follows:

<scripts>
  <pre-scripts config:type="list">
    <script>
      ...
    </script>
  </pre-scripts>
</scripts>

4.16.2 Post-partitioning Scripts

Executed after YaST has done the partitioning and written the fstab. The empty system is already mounted to /mnt.

Post-partitioning script elements must be placed as follows:

<scripts>
  <postpartitioning-scripts config:type="list">
    <script>
      ...
    </script>
  </postpartitioning-scripts>
</scripts>

4.16.3 Chroot Environment Scripts

Chroot scripts are executed before the machine reboots for the first time. You can execute chroot scripts before the installation chroots into the installed system and configures the boot loader or you can execute a script after the chroot into the installed system has happened (look at the chrooted parameter for that).

Chroot Environment script elements must be placed as follows:

<scripts>
  <chroot-scripts config:type="list">
    <script>
      ...
    </script>
  </chroot-scripts>
</scripts>

4.16.4 Post-Install Scripts

These scripts are executed after AutoYaST has completed the system configuration and after it has booted the system for the first time.

It is possible to execute post scripts in an earlier phase while the installation network is still up and before AutoYaST configures the system. To run network-enabled post scripts, the boolean property network_needed needs to be set to true.

Post-install script elements must be placed as follows:

<scripts>
    <post-scripts config:type="list">
      <script>
        ...
      </script>
    </post-scripts>
  </scripts>

4.16.5 Init Scripts

These scripts are executed when YaST has finished, during the initial boot process after the network has been initialized. These final scripts are executed using /usr/lib/YaST2/bin/autoyast-initscripts.sh and are executed only once. Init scripts are configured using the tag init-scripts.

The following elements must be between the <scripts><init-scripts config:type="list"><script> ... </script></init-scripts>...</scripts> tags

Table 4.2: Init script XML representation

Element

Description

Comment

location

Define a location from where the script gets fetched. Locations can be the same as for the profile (HTTP, FTP, NFS, etc.).

<location
>http://10.10.0.1/myInitScript.sh</location>

Either <location> or <source> must be defined.

source

The script itself (source code), encapsulated in a CDATA tag. If you do not want to put the whole shell script into the XML profile, use the location parameter.

<source>
<![CDATA[ 
echo "Testing the init script" >
/tmp/init_out.txt 
]]>
</source>

Either <location> or <source> must be defined.

filename

The file name of the script. It will be stored in a temporary directory under /tmp

<filename>mynitScript5.sh</filename>

Optional ion case you only have a single init script. The default name (init-scripts) is used in this case. If having specified more than one init script, you must set a unique name for each script.

rerun

A script is only run once. Even if you use ayast_setup to run an XML file multiple times, the script is only run once. Change this default behavior by setting this boolean to true.

<rerun config:type="boolean">true</rerun>

Optional, default is false (scripts only run once).

When added to the control file manually, scripts need to be included in a CDATA element to avoid confusion with the file syntax and other tags defined in the control file.

4.16.6 Script XML Representation

All XML elements described below can be used for each of the script types described above. The only exceptions are chrooted and network_needed—they are only valid for chroot and post-install scripts.

Table 4.3: Script XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

location

Define a location from where the script gets fetched. Locations can be the same as for the control file (HTTP, FTP, NFS, etc.).

<location
>http://10.10.0.1/myPreScript.sh</location>

Either location or source must be defined.

source

The script itself (source code), encapsulated in a CDATA tag. If you do not want to put the whole shell script into the XML control file, refer to the location parameter.

<source>
<![CDATA[ 
echo "Testing the pre script" > /tmp/pre-script_out.txt 
]]>
</source>

Either location or source must be defined.

interpreter

Specify the interpreter that must be used for the script. Supported options are shell and perl.

<interpreter>perl</interpreter>

Optional (default is shell).

file name

The file name of the script. It will be stored in a temporary directory under /tmp.

<filename>myPreScript5.sh</filename>

Optional. Default is the type of the script (pre-scripts in this case). If you have more than one script, you should define different names for each script.

feedback

If this boolean is true, output and error messages of the script (STDOUT and STDERR) will be shown in a pop-up, which the user needs to confirm via the OK button. the pop-up will only be shown if the script produces any such output.

<feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>

Optional, default is false.

feedback_type

This can be message, warning or error. Set the timeout for these pop-ups in the <report> section.

<feedback_type>warning</feedback_type>

Optional, if missing, an always blocking pop-up is used.

debug

If this is true, every single line of a shell script is logged. Perl scripts are run with warnings turned on.

<debug config:type="boolean">true</debug>

Optional, default is true.

notification

This text will be shown in a pop-up for the time the script is running in the background.

<notification>Please wait while script is running...</notification>

Optional, if not configured, no notification pop-up will be shown.

param-list

It is possible to specify parameters given to the script being called. You may have more than one param entry. They are concatenated by a single space character on the script command line. If any shell quoting should be necessary (for example to protect embedded spaces) you need to include this.

<param-list>
  <param>par1</param>
  <param>par2 par3</param>
  <param>"par4.1 par4.2"</param>
</param-list>

Optional, if not configured, no parameters get passed to script.

rerun

A script is only run once. Even if you use ayast_setup to run an XML file multiple times, the script is only run once. Change this default behavior by setting this boolean to true.

<rerun config:type="boolean">true</rerun>

Optional, default is false (scripts only run once).

chrooted

If set to false, the installed system remains mounted at /mnt and no chroot happens. The boot loader is not installed either at this stage. Setting it to true means, a chroot into /mnt is performed, where the installed system is mounted. The boot loader is installed, and if you want to change anything in the installed system, you do not need to use the /mnt prefix anymore.

<chrooted config:type="boolean"
>true</chrooted>

Optional, default is false. This option is only available for chroot environment scripts.

network_needed

If set to false the script will run after the YaST modules like the user configuration and everything else are done. The network is configured but not up and running yet. With this value set to true, the script runs before all YaST modules are configured. So there is no local user and no network is configured but the installation network is still up and running (if you did a network installation)..

<network_needed config:type="boolean"
>true</network_needed>

Optional, default is false. This option is only available for post-install scripts.

4.16.7 Script Example

Example 4.28: Script Configuration
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE profile>
<profile xmlns="http://www.suse.com/1.0/yast2ns" xmlns:config="http://www.suse.com/1.0/configns">
<scripts>
  <chroot-scripts config:type="list">
    <script>
      <chrooted config:type="boolean">true</chrooted>
      <filename>chroot.sh</filename>
      <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
      <source><![CDATA[
#!/bin/sh
echo "Testing chroot (chrooted) scripts"
ls
]]>                    
      </source>
    </script>
    <script>
      <filename>chroot.sh</filename>
        <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
        <source><![CDATA[
#!/bin/sh
echo "Testing chroot scripts"
df
cd /mnt
ls
]]>                    
        </source>
      </script>
    </chroot-scripts>
    <post-scripts config:type="list">
      <script>
        <filename>post.sh</filename>
        <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
        <source><![CDATA[
#!/bin/sh

echo "Running Post-install script"
systemctl start portmap
mount -a 192.168.1.1:/local /mnt
cp /mnt/test.sh /tmp
umount /mnt
]]>
        </source>
      </script>
      <script>
        <filename>post.pl</filename>
        <interpreter>perl</interpreter>
        <source><![CDATA[
#!/usr/bin/perl
print "Running Post-install script";

]]>
        </source>
      </script>
    </post-scripts>
    <pre-scripts config:type="list">
      <script>
        <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
        <location>http://192.168.1.1/profiles/scripts/prescripts.sh</location>
      </script>
      <script>
        <filename>pre.sh</filename>
        <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
        <source><![CDATA[
#!/bin/sh
echo "Running pre-install script"
]]>
        </source>
      </script>
    </pre-scripts>
    <postpartitioning-scripts config:type="list">
      <script>
        <filename>postpart.sh</filename>
        <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
        <debug config:type="boolean">false</debug>
        <feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>
        <source><![CDATA[
touch /mnt/testfile
echo Hi
]]>
        </source>
      </script>
    </postpartitioning-scripts>
  </scripts>
</profile>

After installation is finished, the scripts and the output logs can be found in the directory /var/adm/autoinstall. The scripts are located in the subdirectory scripts and the output logs in the log directory.

The log consists of the output produced when executing the shell scripts using the following command:

/bin/sh -x SCRIPT_NAME 2&>/var/adm/autoinstall/logs/SCRIPT_NAME.log

4.17 System Variables (Sysconfig)

Using the sysconfig resource, it is possible to define configuration variables in the sysconfig repository (/etc/sysconfig) directly. Sysconfig variables, offer the possibility to fine-tune many system components and environment variables exactly to your needs.

The following example shows how a variable can be set using the sysconfig resource.

Example 4.29: Sysconfig Configuration
<sysconfig config:type="list" >
  <sysconfig_entry>
    <sysconfig_key>XNTPD_INITIAL_NTPDATE</sysconfig_key>
    <sysconfig_path>/etc/sysconfig/xntp</sysconfig_path>
    <sysconfig_value>ntp.host.com</sysconfig_value>
  </sysconfig_entry>
  <sysconfig_entry>
    <sysconfig_key>HTTP_PROXY</sysconfig_key>
    <sysconfig_path>/etc/sysconfig/proxy</sysconfig_path>
    <sysconfig_value>proxy.host.com:3128</sysconfig_value>
  </sysconfig_entry>
  <sysconfig_entry>
    <sysconfig_key>FTP_PROXY</sysconfig_key>
    <sysconfig_path>/etc/sysconfig/proxy</sysconfig_path>
    <sysconfig_value>proxy.host.com:3128</sysconfig_value>
  </sysconfig_entry>
</sysconfig>

Both relative and absolute paths can be provided. If no absolute path is given, it is treated as a sysconfig file under the /etc/sysconfig directory.

4.18 Adding Complete Configurations

For many applications and services you might have prepared a configuration file which should be copied to the appropriate location in the installed system, for example if you are installing a Web server and have a ready to go server configuration file (httpd.conf).

Using this resource, you can embed the file into the control file by specifying the final path on the installed system. YaST will copy this file to the specified location.

This feature requires the autoyast2 package to be installed. If the package is missing, AutoYaST will automatically install the package if it is missing.

You can specify the file_location where the file should be retrieved from. This can also be a location on the network such as an HTTP server: <file_location>http://my.server.site/issue</file_location>.

You can create directories by specifying a file_path that ends with a slash.

Example 4.30: Dumping files into the installed system
<files config:type="list">
  <file>
    <file_path>/etc/apache2/httpd.conf</file_path>
    <file_contents>

<![CDATA[
some content
]]>

    </file_contents>
  </file>
  <file>
    <file_path>/mydir/a/b/c/</file_path> <!-- create directory -->
  </file>
</files>

A more advanced example is shown below. This configuration will create a file using the content supplied in file_contents and change the permissions and ownership of the file. After the file has been copied to the system, a script is executed, which can be used to manipulate the file and prepare it for the environment of the client.

Example 4.31: Dumping files into the installed system
<files config:type="list">
  <file>
    <file_path>/etc/someconf.conf</file_path>
    <file_contents>

<![CDATA[
some content
]]>

    </file_contents>
    <file_owner>tux.users</file_owner>
    <file_permissions>444</file_permissions>
    <file_script>
      <interpreter>shell</interpreter>
      <source>

<![CDATA[
#!/bin/sh

echo "Testing file scripts" >> /etc/someconf.conf
df
cd /mnt
ls
]]>

      </source>
    </file_script>
  </file>
</files>

4.19 Ask the User for Values during Installation

You have the option to let the user decide the values of specific parts of the control file during the installation. If you use this feature, a pop-up will ask the user to enter a specific part of the control file during installation. If you want a full auto installation, but the user should set the password of the local account, you can do this via the ask directive in the control file.

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      ...
    </ask>
  </ask-list> tags
</general>
Table 4.4: Ask the User for Values: XML representation

Element

Description

Comment

question

The question you want to ask the user.

<question>Enter the LDAP server</question>

The default value is the path to the element (the path often looks strange, so we recommend entering a question).

default

Set a preselection for the user. A text entry will be filled out with this value. A check box will be true or false and a selection will have the given value preselected.

<default>dc=suse,dc=de</default>

Optional.

help

An optional help text that is shown on the left side of the question.

<help>Enter the LDAP server address.</help>

Optional.

title

An optional title that is shown above the questions.

<title>LDAP server</title>

Optional.

type

The type of the element you want to change. Possible values are symbol, boolean, string and integer. The file system in the partition section is a symbol, while the encrypted element in the user configuration is a boolean. You can see the type of that element if you look in your control file at the config:type="...." attribute. You can also use static_text as type. A static_text is a text that does not require any user input and can be used to show information if it is not wanted in the help text.

<type>symbol</type>

Optional. The default is string. If type is symbol, you must provide the selection element too (see below).

password

If this boolean is set to true, a password dialog pops up instead of a simple text entry. Setting this to true only makes sense if type is string.

<password config:type="boolean">true</password>

Optional. The default is false.

pathlist

A list of path elements. A path is a comma separated list of elements that describes the path to the element you want to change. For example, the LDAP server element can be found in the control file in the <ldap><ldap_server> section. So if you want to change that value, you need to set the path to ldap,ldap_server. If you want to change the password of the first user in the control file, you need to set the path to users,0,user_password. The 0 indicates the first user in the <users config:type="list"> list of users in the control file.

<pathlist config:type="list">
  <path>networking,dns,hostname</path>
  <path>...</path>
</pathlist>

This information is optional but you should at least provide path or file.

file

You can store the answer to a question in a file, to use it in one of your scripts later. If you ask during stage=inital and you want to use the answer in stage2, then you need to copy the answer-file in a chroot script that is running as chrooted=false. Use the command: cp /tmp/my_answer /mnt/tmp/. The reason is that /tmp in stage1 is in the RAM disk and will get lost after the reboot, but the installed system is already mounted at /mnt/.

<file>/tmp/answer_hostname</file>

This information is optional, but you should at least provide path or file.

password

If this boolean is set to true, a password dialog pops up instead of a simple text entry. Setting this to true only makes sense if type is string.

<password config:type="boolean">true</password>

Optional. The default is false.

stage

Stage configures the installation stage in which the question pops up. You can set this value to cont or initial. initial means the pop-up comes up very early in the installation, shortly after the pre-script has run. cont means, that the dialog with the question comes after the first reboot when the system boots for the very first time. Questions you answer during the inital stage will write their answer into the control file on the hard disk. You should know that if you enter clear text passwords during initial. Of course it does not make sense to ask for the file system to use during the cont phase. The hard disk is already partitioned at that stage and the question will have no effect.

<stage>cont</stage>

Optional. The default is initial.

selection

The selection element contains a list of entry elements. Each entry represents a possible option for the user to choose. The user cannot enter a value in a text box, but he can choose from a list of values.

<selection config:type="list">
  <entry>
    <value>
        btrfs
    </value>
    <label>
        Btrfs File System
    </label>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <value>
        ext3
    </value>
    <label>
        Extended3 File System
    </label>
  </entry>
</selection>

Optional for type=string, not possible for type=boolean and mandatory for type=symbol.

dialog

You can ask more than one question per dialog. To do so, specify the dialog-id with an integer. All questions with the same dialog-id belong to the same dialog. The dialogs are sorted by the id too.

<dialog config:type="integer">3</dialog>

Optional.

element

you can have more than one question per dialog. To make that possible you need to specify the element-id with an integer. The questions in a dialog are sorted by id.

<element config:type="integer">1</element>

Optional (see dialog).

width

You can increase the default width of dialog. If there are multiple width specifications per dialog, the largest one is used. The number is roughly equivalent to the number of characters.

<width config:type="integer">50</width>

Optional.

height

You can increase default height of dialog. If there are multiple height specifications per dialog, largest one is used. The number is roughly equivalent to number of lines.

<height config:type="integer">15</height>

Optional.

frametitle

You can have more than one question per dialog. Each question on a dialog has a frame that can have a frame title, a small caption for each question. You can put multiple elements into one frame. They need to have the same frame title.

<frametitle>User data</frametitle>

Optional. Default is no frame title.

script

You can run scripts after a question has been answered (see the table below for detailed instructions about scripts).

<script>...</script>

Optional (default is no script).

ok_label

You can change the label on the Ok button. The last element that specifies the label for a dialog wins.

<ok_label>Finish</ok_label>

Optional.

back_label

You can change the label on the Back button. The last element that specifies the label for a dialog wins.

<back_label>change values</back_label>

Optional.

timeout

You can specify an integer here that is used as timeout in seconds. If the user does not answer the question before the timeout, the default value is taken as answer. When the user touches or changes any widget in the dialog, the timeout is turned off and the dialog needs to be confirmed via the ok-button.

<timeout config:type="integer">30</timeout>

Optional. A missing value is interpreted as 0, which means that there is no timeout.

default_value_script

You can run scripts to set the default value for a question (see Section 4.19.1, “Default Value Scripts” for detailed instructions about default value scripts). This feature is useful if you can calculate a default value, especially in combination with the timeout option.

<default_value_script>...</default_value_script>

Optional. Default is no script.

4.19.1 Default Value Scripts

You can run scripts to set the default value for a question. This feature is useful if you can calculate a default value, especially in combination with the timeout option.

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      <default_value_script>
        ...
      </default_value_script>
    </ask>
  </ask-list>
</general>
Table 4.5: Default Value Scripts: XML representation

Element

Description

Comment

source

The source code of the script. Whatever you echo to STDOUT will be used as default value for the ask-dialog. If your script has an exit code other than 0, the normal default element is used. Take care you use echo -n to suppress the \n and that you echo reasonable values and not okay for a boolean

<source>...</source>

This value is required, otherwise nothing would be executed.

interpreter

The interpreter to use.

<interpreter>perl</interpreter>

The default value is shell. You can also set /bin/myinterpreter as value.

4.19.2 Scripts

You can run scripts after a question has been answered.

The elements listed below must be placed within the following XML structure:

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      <script>
        ...
      </script>
    </ask>
  </ask-list>
</general>
Table 4.6: Scripts: XML representation

Element

Description

Comment

file name

The file name of the script.

<filename>my_ask_script.sh</filename>

The default is ask_script.sh

source

The source code of the script. Together with rerun_on_error activated, you check the value that was entered for sanity. Your script can create a file /tmp/next_dialog with a dialog id specifying the next dialog AutoYaST will raise. A value of -1 terminates the ask sequence. If that file is not created, AutoYaST will run the dialogs in the normal order (since 11.0 only).

<source>...</source>

This value is required, otherwise nothing would be executed.

environment

A boolean that passes the value of the answer to the question as an environment variable to the script. The variable is named VAL.

<environment config:type="boolean">true</environment>

Optional. Default is false.

feedback

A boolean that turns on feedback for the script execution. STDOUT will be displayed in a pop-up window that must be confirmed after the script execution.

<feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>

Optional, default is false.

debug

A boolean that turns on debugging for the script execution.

<debug config:type="boolean">true</debug>

Optional, default is true. This value needs feedback to be turned on, too.

rerun_on_error

A boolean that keeps the dialog open until the script has an exit code of 0 (zero). So you can parse and check the answers the user gave in the script and display an error with the feedback option.

<rerun_on_error config:type="boolean">true</rerun_on_error>

Optional, default is false. This value should be used together with the feedback option.

Below you can see an example of the usage of the ask feature.

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      <pathlist config:type="list">
        <path>ldap,ldap_server</path>
      </pathlist>
      <stage>cont</stage>
      <help>Choose your server depending on your department</help>
      <selection config:type="list">
        <entry>
          <value>ldap1.mydom.de</value>
          <label>LDAP for development</label>
        </entry>
        <entry>
          <value>ldap2.mydom.de</value>
          <label>LDAP for sales</label>
        </entry>
      </selection>
      <default>ldap2.mydom.de</default>
      <default_value_script>
        <source> <![CDATA[
echo -n "ldap1.mydom.de"
]]>
        </source>
      </default_value_script>
    </ask>
    <ask>
      <pathlist config:type="list">
        <path>networking,dns,hostname</path>
      </pathlist>
      <question>Enter Hostname</question>
      <stage>initial</stage>
      <default>enter your hostname here</default>
    </ask>
    <ask>
      <pathlist config:type="list">
        <path>partitioning,0,partitions,0,filesystem</path>
      </pathlist>
      <question>File System</question>
      <type>symbol</type>
      <selection config:type="list">
        <entry>
          <value config:type="symbol">reiser</value>
          <label>default File System (recommended)</label>
        </entry>
        <entry>
          <value config:type="symbol">ext3</value>
          <label>Fallback File System</label>
        </entry>
      </selection>
    </ask>
  </ask-list>
</general>

The following example shows a to choose between AutoYaST control files. AutoYaST will read the modified.xml file again after the ask-dialogs are done. This way you can fetch a complete new control file.

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      <selection config:type="list">
        <entry>
          <value>part1.xml</value>
          <label>Simple partitioning</label>
        </entry>
        <entry>
          <value>part2.xml</value>
          <label>encrypted /tmp</label>
        </entry>
        <entry>
          <value>part3.xml</value>
          <label>LVM</label>
        </entry>
      </selection>
      <title>XML Profile</title>
      <question>Choose a profile</question>
      <stage>initial</stage>
      <default>part1.xml</default>
      <script>
        <filename>fetch.sh</filename>
        <environment config:type="boolean">true</environment>
        <source>
<![CDATA[
wget http://10.10.0.162/$VAL -O /tmp/profile/modified.xml 2>/dev/null
]]>
        </source>
        <debug config:type="boolean">false</debug>
        <feedback config:type="boolean">false</feedback>
      </script>
    </ask>tion>
  </ask-list>
</general>

You can verify the answer of a question with a script like this:

<general>
  <ask-list config:type="list">
    <ask>
      <script>
        <filename>my.sh</filename>
        <rerun_on_error config:type="boolean">true</rerun_on_error>
        <environment config:type="boolean">true</environment>
        <source><![CDATA[
if [ "$VAL" = "myhost" ]; then
    echo "Illegal Hostname!";
    exit 1;
fi
exit 0
]]>
        </source>
        <debug config:type="boolean">false</debug>
        <feedback config:type="boolean">true</feedback>
      </script>
      <dialog config:type="integer">0</dialog>
      <element config:type="integer">0</element>
      <pathlist config:type="list">
        <path>networking,dns,hostname</path>
      </pathlist>
      <question>Enter Hostname</question>
      <default>enter your hostname here</default>
    </ask>
  </ask-list>
</general>

4.20 Kernel Dumps

Note
Note: Availability

This feature is not available on the IBM System z (s390x) architecture.

With Kdump the system can create crashdump files if the whole kernel crashes. Crash dump files contain the memory contents while the system crashed. Such core files can be analyzed later by support or a (kernel) developer to find the reason for the system crash. Kdump is mostly useful for servers where you cannot easily reproduce such crashes but it is important to get the problem fixed.

The only downside: enabling Kdump costs you between 64 MB and 128 MB of system RAM (on normal sized systems), reserved for Kdump in case the system crashes and the dump needs to be generated.

This section only describes how to set up Kdump with AutoYaST. It does not describe how Kdump works. For details, refer to the kdump(7) manual page.

The following example shows a general Kdump configuration.

Example 4.32: Kdump configuration
<kdump>
  <!-- memory reservation -->
  <add_crash_kernel config:type="boolean">true</add_crash_kernel>
  <crash_kernel>256M-:64M</crash_kernel>
  <general>

    <!-- dump target settings -->
    <KDUMP_SAVEDIR>ftp://stravinsky.suse.de/incoming/dumps</KDUMP_SAVEDIR>
    <KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL>true</KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL>
    <KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE>64</KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE>
    <KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS>5</KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS>

    <!-- filtering and compression -->
    <KDUMP_DUMPFORMAT>compressed</KDUMP_DUMPFORMAT>
    <KDUMP_DUMPLEVEL>1</KDUMP_DUMPLEVEL>

    <!-- notification -->
    <KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO>tux@example.com</KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO>
    <KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC>spam@example.com devnull@example.com</KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC>
    <KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER>mail.example.com</KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER>
    <KDUMP_SMTP_USER></KDUMP_SMTP_USER>
    <KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD></KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD>

    <!-- kdump kernel -->
    <KDUMP_KERNELVER></KDUMP_KERNELVER>
    <KDUMP_COMMANDLINE></KDUMP_COMMANDLINE>
    <KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND></KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND>

    <!-- expert settings -->
    <KDUMP_IMMEDIATE_REBOOT>yes</KDUMP_IMMEDIATE_REBOOT>
    <KDUMP_VERBOSE>15</KDUMP_VERBOSE>
    <KEXEC_OPTIONS></KEXEC_OPTIONS>
  </general>
</kdump> 

4.20.1 Memory Reservation

The first step is to reserve memory for Kdump at boot-up. Because the memory must be reserved very early during the boot process, the configuration is done via a kernel command line parameter called crashkernel. The reserved memory will be used to load a second kernel which will be executed without rebooting if the first kernel crashes. This second kernel has a special initrd, which contains all programs necessary to save the dump over the network or to disk, send a notification e-mail, and finally reboot.

To reserve memory for Kdump, specify the amount (such as 64M to reserve 64 MB of memory from the RAM) and the offset. The syntax is crashkernel=AMOUNT@OFFSET. The kernel can auto-detect the right offset (except for the Xen hypervisor, where you need to specify 16M as offset). The amount of memory that needs to be reserved depends on architecture and main memory—refer to Section “Manual Kdump Configuration”, Chapter 17, Kexec and Kdump, System Analysis and Tuning Guide for recommendations on the amount of memory to reserve for Kdump.

You can also use the extended command line syntax to specify the amount of reserved memory depending on the System RAM. That is useful if you share one AutoYaST control file for multiple installations or if you often remove or install memory on one machine. The syntax is:

BEGIN_RANGE_1-END_RANGE_1:AMOUNT_1,BEGIN_RANGE_2-END_RANGE_2:AMOUNT_2@OFFSET

BEGIN_RANGE_1 is the start of the first memory range (for example: 0M) and END_RANGE_1 is the end of the first memory range (can be empty in case infinity should be assumed) and so on. For example 256M-2G:64M,2G-:128M means to reserve 64 MB of crashkernel memory if the system has between 256 MB and 2 GB RAM and to reserve 128 MB of crashkernel memory if the system has more than 2 GB RAM.

On the other hand, it is possible to specify multiple values for crashkernel parameter, for example, when wanting to reserve different segments of low and high memory. In this case use values like 72M,low and 256M,high:

Example 4.33: Kdump memory reservation with multiple values
<kdump>
  <!-- memory reservation (high and low) -->
  <add_crash_kernel config:type="boolean">true</add_crash_kernel>
  <crash_kernel>
    <listentry>72M,low</listentry>
    <listentry>256M,high</listentry>
  </crash_kernel>
</kdump> 

The following table shows the settings necessary to reserve memory:

Table 4.7: Kdump Memory Reservation Settings:XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

add_crash_Kernel

Set to true if memory should be reserved and Kdump enabled.

<add_crash_kernel config:type="boolean">true</add_crash_kernel>

required

crash_Kernel

Use the syntax of the crashkernel command line as discussed above.

<crash_kernel>256M:64M</crash_kernel>

A list of values is also supported.

<crash_kernel>
  <listentry>72M,low</listentry>
  <listentry>256M,high</listentry>
</crash_kernel>

required

4.20.2 Dump Saving

4.20.2.1 Target

The element KDUMP_SAVEDIR specifies the URL to where the dump is saved. The following methods are possible:

  • file to save to the local disk,

  • ftp to save to an FTP server (without encryption),

  • sftp to save to an SSH2 SFTP server,

  • nfs to save to an NFS location and

  • cifs to save the dump to a CIFS/SMP export from Samba or Microsoft Windows.

For details see the kdump(5) manual page. Two examples are: file:///var/crash (which is the default location according to FHS) and ftp://user:password@host:port/incoming/dumps. A subdirectory, with the time stamp contained in the name, will be created and the dumps saved there.

When the dump is saved to the local disk, KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS can be used to delete old dumps automatically. Set it to the number of old dumps that should be kept. If the target partition would end up with less free disk space than specified in KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE, the dump is not saved.

If you want to save the whole kernel and the debug information (if installed) to the same directory, set KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL to true. You will have everything you need to analyze the dump in one directory (except kernel modules and their debugging information).

4.20.2.2 Filtering and Compression

The kernel dump is uncompressed and unfiltered. It can get as large as your system RAM. To get smaller files, compress the dump file afterwards. The dump needs to be decompressed before opening.

To use page compression, which compresses every page and allows dynamic decompression with the crash(8) debugging tool, set KDUMP_DUMPFORMAT to compressed (default).

You may not want to save all memory pages, for example those filled with zeroes. To filter the dump, set the KDUMP_DUMPLEVEL. 0 produces a full dump and 31 is the smallest dump. The manual pages kdump(5) and makedumpfile(8) list for each value which pages will be saved.

4.20.2.3 Summary

Table 4.8: Dump Target Settings: XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

KDUMP_SAVEDIR

A URL that specifies the target to which the dump and related files will be saved.

<KDUMP_SAVEDIR>file:///var/crash/</KDUMP_SAVEDIR>

required

KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL

Set to true, if not only the dump should be saved to KDUMP_SAVEDIR but also the kernel and its debugging information (if installed).

<KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL>false</KDUMP_COPY_KERNEL>

optional

KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE

Disk space in megabytes that must remain free after saving the dump. If not enough space is available, the dump will not be saved.

<KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE>64</KDUMP_FREE_DISK_SIZE>

optional

KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS

The number of dumps that are kept (not deleted) if KDUMP_SAVEDIR points to a local directory. Specify 0 if you do not want any dumps to be automatically deleted, specify -1 if all dumps except the current one should be deleted.

<KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS>4</KDUMP_KEEP_OLD_DUMPS>

optional

4.20.3 E-Mail Notification

Configure e-mail notification if you want to be informed when a machine crashes and a dump is saved.

Because Kdump runs in the initrd, a local mail server cannot send the notification e-mail. An SMTP server needs to be specified (see below).

You need to provide exactly one address in KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO. More addresses can be specified in KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC. Only use e-mail addresses in both cases, not a real name.

Specify KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER and (if the server needs authentication) KDUMP_SMTP_USER and KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD. Support for TSL or SSL is not available but may be added in the future.

Table 4.9: E-Mail Notification Settings: XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO

Exactly one e-mail address to which the e-mail should be sent. Additional recipients can be specified in KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC.

<KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO
>tux@example.com</KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_TO>

optional (notification disabled if empty)

KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC

Zero, one or more recipients that are in the cc line of the notification e-mail.

<KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC
>wilber@example.com geeko@example.com</KDUMP_NOTIFICATION_CC>

optional

KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER

Host name of the SMTP server used for mail delivery. SMTP authentication is supported (see KDUMP_SMTP_USER and KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD) but TSL and SSL are not>.

<KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER>email.suse.de</KDUMP_SMTP_SERVER>

optional (notification disabled if empty)

KDUMP_SMTP_USER

User name used together with KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD for SMTP authentication.

<KDUMP_SMTP_USER>bwalle</KDUMP_SMTP_USER>

optional

KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD

Password used together with KDUMP_SMTP_USER for SMTP authentication.

<KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD>geheim</KDUMP_SMTP_PASSWORD>

optional

4.20.4 Kdump Kernel Settings

As already mentioned, a special kernel is booted to save the dump. If you do not want to use the auto-detection mechanism to find out which kernel is used (see the kdump(5) manual page that describes the algorithm which is used to find the kernel), you can specify the version of a custom kernel in KDUMP_KERNELVER. If you set it to foo, then the kernel located in /boot/vmlinuz-foo or /boot/vmlinux-foo (in that order on platforms that have a vmlinuz file) will be used.

You can specify the command line used to boot the Kdump kernel. Normally the boot command line is used minus some settings that make no sense with Kdump (like the crashkernel parameter) plus some settings needed by Kdump (see the manual page kdump(5)). If you want some additional parameters like an overwritten console setting then use KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND. If you know what you are doing and you want to specify the whole command line, set KDUMP_COMMANDLINE.

Table 4.10: Kernel Settings: XML Representation

Element

Description

Comment

KDUMP_KERNELVER

Version string for the kernel used for Kdump. Leave it empty to use the auto-detection mechanism (strongly recommended).

<KDUMP_KERNELVER
>2.6.27-default</KDUMP_KERNELVER>

optional (auto-detection if empty)

KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND

Additional command line parameters for the Kdump kernel.

<KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND
>console=ttyS0,57600</KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND>

optional

KDUMP_Command Line

Overwrite the automatically generated Kdump command line. Use with care. Usually, KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND should suffice.

<KDUMP_COMMANDLINE_APPEND
>root=/dev/sda5 maxcpus=1 irqpoll</KDUMP_COMMANDLINE>

optional

4.20.5 Expert Settings

Table 4.11: Expert Settings: XML Representations

Element

Description

Comment

KDUMP_IMMEDIATE_REBOOT

true if the system should be rebooted automatically after the dump has been saved, false otherwise. The default is to reboot the system automatically.

<KDUMP_IMMEDIATE_REBOOT
>true</KDUMP_IMMEDIATE_REBOOT>

optional

KDUMP_VERBOSE

Bitmask that specifies how verbose the Kdump process should be. Read kdump(5) for details.

<KDUMP_VERBOSE>3</KDUMP_VERBOSE>

optional

KEXEC_OPTIONS

Additional options that are passed to kexec when loading the Kdump kernel. Normally empty.

<KEXEC_OPTIONS>--noio</KEXEC_OPTIONS>

optional

4.21 Miscellaneous Hardware and System Components

In addition to the core component configuration, like network authentication and security, AutoYaST offers a wide range of hardware and system configuration options, the same as available by default on any system installed manually and in an interactive way. For example, it is possible to configure printers, sound devices, TV cards and any other hardware components which have a module within YaST.

Any new configuration options added to YaST will be automatically available in AutoYaST.

4.21.1 Printer

AutoYaST support for printing is limited to basic settings defining how CUPS is used on a client for printing via the network.

There is no AutoYaST support for setting up local print queues. Modern printers are usually connected via USB. CUPS accesses USB printers by a model-specific device URI like usb://ACME/FunPrinter?serial=1a2b3c. Usually it is not possible to predict the correct USB device URI in advance, because it is determined by the CUPS back-end usb during runtime. Therefore it is not possible to set up local print queues with AutoYaST.

Basics on how CUPS is used on a client workstation to print via network:

On client workstations application programs submit print jobs to the CUPS daemon process (cupsd). cupsd forwards the print jobs to a CUPS print server in the network where the print jobs are processed. The server sends the printer specific data to the printer device.

If there is only a single CUPS print server in the network, there is no need to have a CUPS daemon running on each client workstation. Instead it is simpler to specify the CUPS server in /etc/cups/client.conf and access it directly (only one CUPS server entry can be set). In this case application programs that run on client workstations submit print jobs directly to the specified CUPS print server.

Example 4.34, “Printer configuration” shows a printer configuration section. The cupsd_conf_content entry contains the whole verbatim content of the cupsd configuration file /etc/cups/cupsd.conf. The client_conf_content entry contains the whole verbatim content of /etc/cups/client.conf. The printer section contains the cupsd configuration but it does not specify whether the cupsd should run.

Example 4.34: Printer configuration
  <printer>
    <client_conf_content>
      <file_contents><![CDATA[
... verbatim content of /etc/cups/client.conf ...
]]></file_contents>
    </client_conf_content>
    <cupsd_conf_content>
      <file_contents><![CDATA[
... verbatim content of /etc/cups/cupsd.conf ...
]]></file_contents>
    </cupsd_conf_content>
  </printer>
Note
Note: /etc/cups/cups-files.conf

With release 1.6 the CUPS configuration file has been split into two files: cupsd.conf and cups-files.conf. As of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, AutoYaST only supports modifying cupsd.conf since the default settings in cups-files.conf are sufficient for usual printing setups.

4.21.2 Sound devices

An example of the sound configuration created using the configuration system is shown below.

Example 4.35: Sound configuration
<sound>
  <autoinstall config:type="boolean">true</autoinstall>
  <modules_conf config:type="list">
    <module_conf>
      <alias>snd-card-0</alias>
      <model>M5451, ALI</model>
      <module>snd-ali5451</module>
      <options>
        <snd_enable>1</snd_enable>
        <snd_index>0</snd_index>
        <snd_pcm_channels>32</snd_pcm_channels>
      </options>         
    </module_conf>
  </modules_conf>
  <volume_settings config:type="list">
    <listentry>
      <Master config:type="integer">75</Master>
    </listentry>
  </volume_settings>
</sound>
Print this page