Chapter 7. Building and provisioning a minimal raw image

1. Install and register a RHEL system
2. Install RHEL image builder
3. Using RHEL image builder, create a blueprint with customizations for RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image
4. Import the RHEL for Edge blueprint in RHEL image builder
5. Create a RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image
6. Decompress the RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image
7. Deploy the RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image

Procedure

1. Create a plain text file in the Tom’s Obvious, Minimal Language (TOML) format, with the following content:

   name = "minimal-raw-blueprint"
   description = "blueprint for the Minimal Raw image"
   version = "0.0.1"
   packages = []
   modules = []
   groups = []
   distro = ""
   
   [[customizations.user]]
   name = "admin"
   password = "admin"
   groups = ["users", "wheel"]

   • name is the name and description is the description for your blueprint.
   • 0.0.1 is the version number according to the Semantic Versioning scheme.
   • Modules describe the package name and matching version glob to be installed into the image, for example, the package name = "tmux" and the matching version glob is version = "2.9a". Notice that currently there are no differences between packages and modules.
   • Groups are packages groups to be installed into the image, for example the anaconda-tools group package. If you do not know the modules and groups, leave them empty.
   • name is the username to login to the image.
   • password is a password of your choice.
   • groups are any user groups, such as "widget".

2. Import the blueprint to the RHEL image builder server:

   # composer-cli blueprints push <blueprint_name>.toml

3. Check if the blueprint is available on the system:

   # composer-cli blueprints list

4. Check the validity of components, versions, and their dependencies in the blueprint:

   # composer-cli blueprints depsolve <blueprint_name>

Procedure

1. Create the bootable image.

   # composer-cli compose start <_blueprint_name_> minimal-raw

   where:

   • <blueprint_name> is the RHEL for Edge blueprint name.

   • minimal-raw- is the image type .

     A confirmation that the composer process has been added to the queue appears. It also shows a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) number for the image created. Use the UUID number to track your build. Also keep the UUID number handy for further tasks.

2. Check the image compose status.

   # composer-cli compose status

   The output displays the status in the following format:

   # <UUID> RUNNING date <blueprint_name> blueprint-version minimal-raw

Procedure

1. Review the RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image compose status.

   # composer-cli compose status

   The output must display the following details:

   $ <UUID>_ FINISHED date <blueprint_name> <blueprint_version> minimal-raw

2. Download the image:

   # composer-cli compose image <_UUID_>

   Image builder downloads the image as an .raw.xz into your working directory. The UUID number and the image size is displayed alongside.

   $ <UUID> minimal_raw.img.xz: size MB

3. Decompress the image:

   $ xz -d <UUID>_minimal-raw.img.xz

   After decompressing the image, use the bootable RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image to install a RHEL for Edge system.

Procedure

1. Copy the RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image file to a USB flash drive.
2. Connect the USB flash drive to the port of the computer you want to boot.

3. Boot the RHEL for Edge Minimal Raw image from the USB flash drive. The boot menu shows you the following options:

   Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
   Test this media & install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

4. Choose Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. This starts the system installation.

Verification

1. Boot into the image by using the username and password you configured in the blueprint.

   1. Check the release:

      $ cat /etc/os-release

   2. List the block devices in the system:

      $ lsblk