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The network repository must be accessible from the control domain of the XenServer host, normally using the
management interface. The URL must point to the base of the CD/DVD image on the network server, and be of
the form:
• HTTP
http://<server>/<path>
• FTP
ftp://<server>/<path>
• NFS
nfs://<server>/<path>
• NFS
nfs:<server>:/<path>
See your vendor installation instructions for information about how to prepare for a network-based installation,
such as where to unpack the ISO.
Note:
Note that when using the NFS installation method from XenCenter, the nfs:// style of path
should always be used.
When creating VMs from templates, the XenCenter New VM wizard prompts you for the repository URL. When
using the CLI, install the template as normal using vm-install and then set the other-config:install-repository
parameter to the value of the URL. When the VM is subsequently started, it will begin the network installation
process.
Warning:
When installing a new Linux-based VM, it is important to fully finish the installation and
reboot it before performing any other operations on it. This is analogous to not interrupting
a Windows installation — which would leave you with a non-functional VM.
5.4. Advanced Operating System Boot Parameters
When creating a new VM, you can specify advanced operating system boot parameters using XenCenter or the xe
CLI. Specifying advanced parameters may be particularly helpful if you are, for example, configuring automated
installations of paravirtualized guests. For example, you might use a Debian preseed or RHEL kickstart file as
follows.
To install Debian using a preseed file:
1. Create a preseed file. For information on creating preseed files, see the Debian documentation for details.
2. Set the kernel command-line correctly for the VM before starting it. This can be done using the New VM
wizard in XenCenter or by executing an xe CLI command like the following:
xe vm-param-set uuid=<uuid> PV-args=<preseed_arguments>
To install RHEL Using a Kickstart File:
Note:
A Red Hat Kickstart file is an automated installation method, similar to an answer file, you
can use to provide responses to the RHEL installation prompts. To create this file, install RHEL
manually. The kickstart file is located in /root/anaconda-ks.cfg.
1. In XenCenter, choose the appropriate RHEL template
2. Specify the kickstart file to use as a kernel command-line argument in the XenCenter New VM Wizard, exactly
as it would be specified in the PXE config file, for example:
ks=http://server/file ksdevice=eth0
