Installing Linux/ESX OS using Deployment Solution

HOWTO99983
Last Updated June 12, 2014

Installing Linux/ESX OS using Deployment Solution

Deployment Solution lets you install the Linux or ESX operating system on the client computer.You must ensure to execute the Install Linux/ESX OS task on the client computers in the Linux preboot environment.

For this task, the OS packages are fetched and retrieved from the anonymous HTTP server or the FTP server. You must ensure that the anonymous HTTP server or FTP server is accessible and is set up with the OS packages to fetch them for the client computers that are in the Linux preboot environment.

After performing the OS installation task, if the package server is configured on HTTPS, you must download and install the package server certificate on the client computer by running the aex-getsscert <IP> yes command.

Linux OS installation supports SCSI and SATA devices as Linux preboot recognizes SCSI and SATA devices only.

Note:

If you are installing ESXi 5.1 version, ensure that you add the respective drivers in the OS source that you are installing before running the Install Linux/ESX OS task

If you use IDE disks and try to install old kernel versions of Linux OS on the client computer then do either of the following to successfully install the OS:

  • Replace %DISK% token by actual device name in the configuration or answer file.

    The Linux configuration file is located in, <instaldir>\Program Files\Altiris\Notification Server\NSCap\bin\UNIX\Deployment\Linux\x86\SOI\AnswerFile path.

  • Remove %DISK% token

After performing the OS installation if due to network issues or any other reason the client computer is not able to connect to Symantec Management Platform, the Symantec Management Agent is not installed

By default, the password of the client computer on which you have installed the Linux OS is set to altiris.

To perform a Linux/ESX OS installation

  1. In the Symantec Management Console, select Manage > Jobs and Tasks.

  2. In the left pane, do either of the following:

    • Right-click System Jobs and Tasks folder and select New > Task.

    • Expand the System Jobs and Tasks folder and right-click Deployment and Migration folder to select New > Task.

  3. In the Create new task dialog box, under the Deployment and Migration folder select the Install Linux/ESX OStask.

  4. Enter the values for the following fields:

    Task name icon

    Displays the default task name as Install Linux/ESX OS . You can edit the default task name to specify a relevant task name. For example, Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

    OS Flavor

    Lets you select the OS versions for the operating system from the drop-down list.

    OS File location

    Lets you specify the location where the OS file is stored.

    You can choose from FTP or HTTP location and enter the path. without the protocol in it. For example, 10.209.xxx.xxx/FolderName . If you provide an HTTP location, ensure that Anonymous access is enabled else the task fails.

    Configuration File

    Lets you browse for the configuration file that you want to use for the installation.

    Installation code

    Lets you specify the code required for the installation.

    Disk number

    Lets you select the disk number to be used for installation from the drop-down list.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Schedule the task.

    See Scheduling a deployment job or task.

See Installing a Windows OS using Deployment Solution

Imported Document ID: HOWTO99983
Legacy ID: v51020210_v99830789

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