On Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 15:13:52 -0700, Bob Proulx wrote: > Brian wrote: > > > Here is what I focussed on when I started looking at the > > auto-install process: > > > > > The auto parameter is an alias for auto-install/enable and > > > setting it to true delays the locale and keyboard questions > > > until after there has been a chance to preseed them, . . . > > I think that is the critical point concerning "auto". It simply > delays the asking of the question until later, after the network is > up, after a network preseed might be available to preseed it. Except > I am not convinced that it actually works. I recall previously (might > have been a bug that is fixed now) that I could not get the question > preseeded unless I put it in the initrd or on the command line. > Again, this might behave differently now.
The preseed file needn't be on the network, Being present in an ISO and with url= pointing to it is sufficient. Or it could be on a USB stick. > > The correct way to supply a preseed file with auto=true is (I think) to > > only use preseed/url= or url=. Now, is that glaringly obvious to you or > > anyone else from section B.2.3. or elsewhere in the Manual? > > The manual is a little vague. But that is what they show in the > examples. Not glaringly obvious, then. :) > > I've never looked at initrd preseeding and wonder what happens when > > auto=true is used with it. > > Nothing exciting. It is basically a noop for me. I tested it and I > can either leave it there or remove it. As we have determined it is > only an indication that the installation is being attempted > automatically in batch mode so delay the asking of the keyboard > question until after a preseed has had an opportunity to ask it. But > since in my case I am putting it on the command line it doesn't matter > for my particular case. It might matter in other cases. Thanks. This is something to go on if and when I have a go. > > My provisional understanding is that d-i gets uppity if url= is not > > given alongside auto=true. > > I think it is fine without. Now that I understand auto better I think > it is fine to have it without a url preseed. But a url preseed is so > convenient that I pretty much always want it. Ever tried the installer's auto install option? Or seen the result of booting with only auto=true added to the coomand line. > > I think "auto" is a typo. It should be "auto=true". > > It is documented that "auto" is an alias for "auto-install/enable=true > priority=critical". I don't think it is a typo. At http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/apbs02.html.en#preseed-auto the Guide says The auto parameter is an alias for auto-install/enable . . . which is not the same as your statement. It is followed by . . .and setting it to true delays the locale and keyboard questions . . . Priority critical has no effect on how auto=true performs. > > When auto url= is used only preseed/url appears in d-i's > > /var/lib/preseed/log. > > What file? I don't have that file. Typo? Boot any ISO with keymap=, or locale=. or anything else. Then ALT F2 and cat /var/lib/preseed/log. > > If you move either of your kernel command lines to the preseed file, > > leaving everything else unchanged, the two questions are asked. > > Hmm... Well. Are they? (I did mean move only the language and keymap options). -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20121218225801.GB6940@desktop
