Chapter 4. Creating Kickstart files

You can create a Kickstart file using the following methods:

  • Use the online Kickstart configuration tool.
  • Copy the Kickstart file created as a result of a manual installation.
  • Write the entire Kickstart file manually.

  • Convert the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Kickstart file for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 installation.

    For more information about the conversion tool, see Kickstart generator lab.

  • In case of virtual and cloud environment, create a custom system image, using Image Builder.

Note that some highly specific installation options can be configured only by manual editing of the Kickstart file.

4.1. Creating a Kickstart file with the Kickstart configuration tool

Users with a Red Hat Customer Portal account can use the Kickstart Generator tool in the Customer Portal Labs to generate Kickstart files online. This tool will walk you through the basic configuration and enables you to download the resulting Kickstart file.

Prerequisites

  • You have a Red Hat Customer Portal account and an active Red Hat subscription.

Procedure

  1. Open the Kickstart generator lab information page at https://access.redhat.com/labsinfo/kickstartconfig.
  2. Click the Go to Application button to the left of heading and wait for the next page to load.
  3. Select Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 in the drop-down menu and wait for the page to update.

  4. Describe the system to be installed using the fields in the form.

    You can use the links on the left side of the form to quickly navigate between sections of the form.

  5. To download the generated Kickstart file, click the red Download button at the top of the page.

    Your web browser saves the file.

4.2. Creating a Kickstart file by performing a manual installation

The recommended approach to creating Kickstart files is to use the file created by a manual installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. After an installation completes, all choices made during the installation are saved into a Kickstart file named anaconda-ks.cfg, located in the /root/ directory on the installed system. You can use this file to reproduce the installation in the same way as before. Alternatively, copy this file, make any changes you need, and use the resulting configuration file for further installations.

Procedure

  1. Install RHEL. For more details, see Performing a standard RHEL 8 installation.

    During the installation, create a user with administrator privileges.

  2. Finish the installation and reboot into the installed system.
  3. Log into the system with the administrator account.

  4. Copy the file /root/anaconda-ks.cfg to a location of your choice.

    Important

    The file contains information about users and passwords.

    • To display the file contents in terminal: 

      # cat /root/anaconda-ks.cfg

      You can copy the output and save to another file of your choice.

    • To copy the file to another location, use the file manager. Remember to change permissions on the copy, so that the file can be read by non-root users.

Additional resources

4.3. Converting a Kickstart file from previous RHEL installation

You can use the Kickstart Converter tool to convert a RHEL 7 Kickstart file for use in a RHEL 8 or 9 installation or convert a RHEL 8 Kickstart file for use it in RHEL 9. For more information about the tool and how to use it to convert a RHEL Kickstart file, see https://access.redhat.com/labs/kickstartconvert/.

4.4. Creating a custom image using Image Builder

You can use Red Hat Image Builder to create a customized system image for virtual and cloud deployments.

For more information about creating customized images, using Image Builder, see the Composing a customized RHEL system image document.