Applies to SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3

7 Deploying selfinstall images #

The chapter describes deployment of SLE Micro from selfinstall pre-built ISO images.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro provides selfinstall ISO images that enable you to deploy SLE Micro to your machine (either a virtual machine or a bare metal) and configure the system on the first boot.

To prepare the setup, you need the following:

a disk (either a physical or a virtual) where SLE Micro will run
a bootable device with the selfinstall ISO (for example a USB disk)
(optionally) a device that serves as a configuration medium. To prepare the configuration device, follow the steps in Procedure 7.2, “Preparing the configuration device”

If you do not connect the configuration device during the installation, jeos-firstboot is started during the first boot. This tool enables you to perform a minimal configuration of SLE Micro. For the procedure, refer to Section 7.2, “Minimal initial configuration”. If you need a more complex configuration, you need the configuration medium.

To install SLE Micro, proceed as described in Procedure 7.1, “SLE Micro installation”.

Important: The configuration device must be plugged in during the first boot.

Bear in mind that, if used, the configuration device must be plugged in throughout the whole configuration process on the first boot. It is recommended to plug in the device before starting the installation process. However, if your firmware does not support having two or more USB disks attached on boot, you can exchange the USB device before starting the configuration process.

Note: Installation using the selfinstall ISO image does not create a boot EFI entry

During the deployment of the selfinstall ISO, the image of the system is just copied to the selected disk, therefore, an EFI boot entry is not created (like it normally would if the system is deployed using an installer). You might need to manually boot your system using the EFI shell by selecting the SLE Micro boot loader. After the first boot, you can use efibootmgr to create the boot entry. efibootmgr is available by default in the deployed image.

Procedure 7.1: SLE Micro installation #

If needed, prepare the configuration device as described in Procedure 7.2, “Preparing the configuration device”
Boot your machine with the selfinstall ISO attached.
Select Install SLE Micro to start the installation process.
Select the disk where SLE Micro will be installed and confirm that you want to delete data on the disk. A SLE Micro image is then copied to the disk.
Using kexec, your system reboots and is then prepared for the configuration process.
Start the configuration process by selecting SLE Micro. SLE Micro is either configured according to the instructions provided on the configuration device, or jeos-firstboot is started.
(Optional) Configure your system with jeos-firstboot as described in Section 7.2, “Minimal initial configuration”.
After the first boot, you can register your SLE Micro instance by using the transactional-update command. For details, refer to Section 10.1, “Registration”.
SLE Micro has extensions available. To use some of these extensions, you need to add the extension to your subscription from the installed system. For details, refer to Section 10.2, “Managing extensions”.

7.1 Preparing the configuration device #

The following procedure describes how to prepare the configuration device:

Procedure 7.2: Preparing the configuration device #

Format the disk to any file system supported by SLE Micro: Ext3, Ext4, etc.:
```
> sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdY
```
Set the device label to either ignition (when either Ignition or Combustion is used) or combustion (when only Combustion is used). For the Ext4 file system:
```
> sudo e2label /dev/sdY ignition
```
You can use any type of configuration storage media that your virtualization system or your hardware supports: ISO image, a USB flash disk, etc.
Mount the device:
```
> sudo mount /dev/sdY /mnt
```
Create the directory structure as mentioned in Chapter 8, Configuring with Ignition or Chapter 9, Configuring with Combustion, depending on the configuration tool used:
```
> sudo mkdir -p /mnt/ignition/
```
or:
```
> sudo mkdir -p /mnt/combustion/
```
Prior to booting for the first time, prepare all elements of the configuration that will be used by Ignition or Combustion. To log in to your system, you need to provide a password for root or set up passwordless authentication, otherwise the system will not be accessible after the first boot.

7.2 Minimal initial configuration #

If you do not attach any configuration medium, jeos-firstboot is started, and you can perform a minimal configuration of your system as follows:

Procedure 7.3: Configuring the system using jeos-firstboot #

Confirm the configuration.
Select your keyboard layout and confirm your selection.
Read the license agreement and accept it.
Select your time zone.
Enter a password for root.
Confirm the root password.
Accept the statement about SLE Micro registration.