RHEL 8 Linux kickstart syntax changes (error: "reached basic target")

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Significant RHEL 8 kickstart syntax changes for starting a kickstart

Environment

  • RHEL 8.6 at minimum, probably other versions of RHEL 8
  • Have not yet tested on RHEL 9 but will do so

Issue

  • RHEL 8 kickstart fails to complete using "traditional" kickstart methods employed in RHEL 7, and not just merely because of the difference of initiating the kickstart from an ISO with linux ks= ("linux ks" is the RHEL 7 method) versus linux inst.ks= (the RHEL 8 method)
  • At minimum with VMware, the kickstart often hangs at "Reached target Basic System." and will not continue.

Resolution

  • There are significant syntax changes with RHEL 8 kickstarts. Namely when booting from an ISO file and starting a kickstart, this syntax for "ip=" is used: ip::gateway:netmask:hostname:interface:none for static and ip::gateway:netmask:hostname:interface:method:mtu
  • Another Red Hat Accelerator member has a guide at this link https://www.silvermills.net/build-kickstart-server-3/ which has this specific resolution
  • The most important point of this resolution are the changes mentioned at table 16.3 (table 16.3 is under paragraph 16.4) in the Red Hat Kickstart documentation
linux inst.ks=http://192.168.0.37/kickstart_file_name nameserver=192.168.0.66 ip=192.168.0.38::192.168.0.1:255.255.255.0:hostname:eth0:none
  • IMPORTANT the "eth0" will probably need to be obviously updated with your proper IP address/gateway/interface ID etc. Please see the link provided above.
  • ALSO IMPORTANT: note the use of inst.ks above, this is new with RHEL 8 and kickstarts must have this. See the other syntax change listed above

This is the previous method used with RHEL 7.x, do not use for RHEL 8

#this is an example of starting a kickstart using traditional RHEL7
linux ks=http://192.168.0.37/pub/ks/valid_kickstart_file.cfg ip=192.168.0.37 netmask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.0.1 nameserver=IP_OF_DNS_SERVER_GOES_HERE

USE THE BELOW EXAMPLE FOR RHEL 8

  • Boot from RHEL 8.6 ISO file in VMware
  • Use this syntax below
# this is the form of syntax to use with RHEL 8 when starting a RHEL 8 kickstart booting from an ISO
#### the below IS JUST ONE CONTINGOUS LINE even if it appears as more than one line
linux inst.ks=http://192.168.0.37/kickstart_file  nameserver=192.168.0.66 ip=192.168.0.38::192.168.0.1:255.255.255.0:hostname:eth0:none

Request relevant feedback

  • Please let us know in this discussion your own results
  • The context of this is a kickstart started from a RHEL ISO and in our case we used a recent (2022) edition of VMware

This is a discussion, not a Red Hat Solution provided by a Red Hat Accelerator group member (me) citing another Accelerator group member - and neither of us are Red Hat Employees.

Additional information

  • Oddly, the traditional method of kickstart (not the example above) did work in another virtual lab that was not VMware, however this worked fine for the issue mentioned above.

Kind Regards,
RJ

RJ Hinton's picture

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