Install Linux via FTP or NFS Server Step by Step Guide Example and Implementation

During the first phase of RHCE exam you are asked to install Linux via nfs or ftp or apache server. you will be provided a Linux boot disk and IP address and necessary directory name for installation. You need not to prepare server side on exam but here in this article we will configure both server and client side . In this practical we will show you How to prepare nfs or ftp server for network installation and further we will installation linux via nfs as well as ftp server. We will take apache server in our next article.

RHCE Exam Questions

Install the Redhat Linux RHEL 5 through NFS. Where your Server is server.example.com having IP 192.168.0.254 and shared /var/ftp/pub. The size of the partitions are listed below:

 / - 1048 /home - 1028 /boot - 512 /var - 1028 /usr - 2048 swap 2X256 (RAM SIZE) 

There is a NFS server 192.168.0.254 and all required packages are dumped in /var/ftp/pub of that server and the /var/ftp/pub directory is shared. Install the Redhat Enterprise Linux 5 .

There is a FTP server 192.168.0.254 and all required packages are dumped in /var/ftp/pub of that server and anonymous login is enabled. Install the Redhat Enterprise Linux 5.

Prepare Linux Server for Network Installation

For this practical we need two systems one linux server and one client system. These pre quests should be completed on Linux server.

• Dump of RHEL disk must be taken on /var/ftp/pub.
  How Dump of RHEL disk
• 
  
  

•  Linux server should be configured with hostname Server.example.com and IP address 192.168.0.254

• DHCP, FTP, NFS server should be configured and dhcpd, nfs, vftpd services must be running. If you feel difficulties in configuration of dhcp, ftp and nfs server then check our articles

Once you have completed these pre quests remaining configuration is very easy. Follow this guide.

Prepare FTP server for network installation

By default pub directory is shared with anonymous user account login enable in ftp server. So you need no additional configuration just create dump and restart the services.
create dump of RHEL disk to /var/ftp/pub and restart vsftpd service

Prepare NFS server for network installation

As dump is already taken on /var/ftp/pub so sharing of /var/ftp/pub directory will do the task.
open /etc/exportfs with vi editor



Share /var/ftp/pub for our network



Now restart nfs service



We have prepared both FTP and NFS server for network installation.

Configure Client for network installation via ftp server

Boot system with Linux boot CD, [ disk will be provided by examiner] Give linux askmethod command on boot prompt



Select language to English



Select Keyboard layout to US



Select install method ftp to install via ftp server



At this point you can remove Linux boot disk form CDROM as we installing linux from ftp server.
Select Enable IPv4 supports and select dynamic ip configuration [ we have configured dhcp server on linux server so ip will be automatically retrieve ]



Give to ip address of FTP server in ftp site name and pub in directory name



After few second you will retrieve anaconda linux boot loader form server



Now you can install linux as you have installed it from local CD ROM . All remaining steps are same.

Configure Client for network installation via nfs server

Boot system with Linux boot CD, [ disk will be provided by examiner] Give linux askmethod command on boot prompt



Select language to English



Select Keyboard layout to US



Select install method nfs to install via nfs image



At this point you can remove Linux boot disk form CDROM as we installing linux from nfs server.
Select Enable IPv4 supports and select dynamic ip configuration [ we have configured dhcp server on linux server so ip will be automatically retrieve ]



Give to ip address of nfs server in nfs server name and /var/ftp/pub in directory path



After few second you will retrieve anaconda linux boot loader form server



Now you can install linux as you have installed it from local CD ROM . All remaining steps are same.

Two time saving technique

During RHCE exam most concern thing is time. So we suggest to create the partition According to the Question because Size and what-what partition should you create at installation time is specified in your question. Do not create any extra partition to save time because any additional partition will take time in formatting.

Due to the time limit, you should care about the installation packages. At Exam time these packages are enough.

• X-Window System
• GNOME Desktop
• (these two packages are generally not required)
• Administration Tools.
• System Tools
• Windows File Server
• FTP Servers
• Mail Servers
• Web Servers
• Network Servers
• Editors
• Text Based Internet
• Server Configuration Tools
• Base
• Printing Supports

When installation will complete, your system will reboot. Jump for another Question.