3 ms·

When you say VMware & Kickstart do you mean you're using the VMware scripted installer? I did the design for that and was the lead engineer for a long time.

jlawer 13y ago
I'm not familiar with the scripted installer or if it would have fit our needs. No, the script is a python one using PySphere to interface with the vSphere server. It creates a new vm with appropriate disk, ram, vcpu and networking to the right networks. The script also creates a PXELinux config file so when the system boots it gets a custom PXE configuration with directs it to boot the CentOS installer with a kickstart file that has been created for it. This kickstart file specifies the hostname, network configuration, default packages, system password and Salt configuration. The system does an unattended install. Once the system boots it binds to the Salt Master and pulls down its configuration which configures the server to its role (App server, database, redis, etc). It was done this way mostly because I was familiar with it from my days as a red hatter, but there also was a bit of a desire to not get too tied into VMWare. We are relatively small (though run ~ 50 servers), and only afforded VMware through the Essentials Plus package. We are not a VMware shop by any measure, and will be looking for the best option (be it physical systems, virtual infrastructure or cloud providers) when our hardware support & software licenses expire.
- rglauser 13y ago
  Very compelling. I am filling in some of the content gaps for SaltConf (SLC, Jan. 28-30, 2014, www.saltconf.com) and would love to have you talk at the conference. This topic is a really good fit for content I am looking for. Speakers get a free conference pass. If you would be interested, please send a note to saltconf at saltstack dot com and I'll be in touch with next steps.

jlawer 13y ago

I'm not familiar with the scripted installer or if it would have fit our needs. No, the script is a python one using PySphere to interface with the vSphere server. It creates a new vm with appropriate disk, ram, vcpu and networking to the right networks. The script also creates a PXELinux config file so when the system boots it gets a custom PXE configuration with directs it to boot the CentOS installer with a kickstart file that has been created for it. This kickstart file specifies the hostname, network configuration, default packages, system password and Salt configuration. The system does an unattended install. Once the system boots it binds to the Salt Master and pulls down its configuration which configures the server to its role (App server, database, redis, etc). It was done this way mostly because I was familiar with it from my days as a red hatter, but there also was a bit of a desire to not get too tied into VMWare. We are relatively small (though run ~ 50 servers), and only afforded VMware through the Essentials Plus package. We are not a VMware shop by any measure, and will be looking for the best option (be it physical systems, virtual infrastructure or cloud providers) when our hardware support & software licenses expire.

rglauser 13y ago
Very compelling. I am filling in some of the content gaps for SaltConf (SLC, Jan. 28-30, 2014, www.saltconf.com) and would love to have you talk at the conference. This topic is a really good fit for content I am looking for. Speakers get a free conference pass. If you would be interested, please send a note to saltconf at saltstack dot com and I'll be in touch with next steps.