Linux Networking Cookbook

16.14. Automating Debian Installations with Preseed Files

Problem

You want a fairly simple way to automate network installation of new Debian PCs, and to create custom installations for different roles, such as web servers, workstations, file servers, and so forth.

Solution

Create a preseed, or preconfiguration file, that answers the installer questions, and does your package selections for you. First, study the example preseed file at http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/example-preseed.txt Then, create one from your own Debian system by running these two commands:

	# debconf-get-selections --installer > preseed.txt
	# debconf-get-selections >> file preseed.txt

Your own preseed.txt is going to look different from the example-preseed.txt; it's messier and has a lot more entries. You can't use your own preseed.txt as-is, but you can see exactly what was done on your system, and you can copy anything you want to duplicate to example-preseed.txt.

The tasksel command selects package groups. You can see a list of these:

	$ tasksel --list-tasks 
	u desktop  Desktop environment
	i web-server  Web server
	u print-server  Print server
	u dns-server  DNS server
	[...]

u means uninstalled, and i means installed. Display individual packages with this command:

	$ tasksel --task-packages desktop
	twm
	gimp-print
	xresprobe
	openoffice.org
	[...]

Use tasksel to select package groups in your preseed file like this:

 #tasksel tasksel/desktop multiselect kde-desktop, xfce-desktop #tasksel tasksel/first multiselect standard, ...