this might be partly a "genera" -like thread, but I guess it belongs here because networking plays a big scene in here...anyway, here's the thing:

I have a rather old pc, used as a firewall at the moment, with a Linux installed in it. it's just the plain box, without screen, keyboard or mouse or anything like that..there is no cd-rom drive, but a floppy is, and a network card (of course). so it's just the box, and I use/configure/update it with the aid of ssh through a network connection..

now what I'd like to know is how would I install another linux distro in it? I'm not intending to do this right now, but if I at some point do, it would be nice to know how...as I said, there is no cd-rom and using the floppy drive would take two or three lifetimes, and because of the lack of usb etc. the only option I can see is a network install...I haven't done this before, and especially not to a pc without screen or any other input devices..

so...I can access the box via ssh. I guess I could transfer the installation files to the HD of it, but what about then (I don't have a fast internet connection so that one is out of count)? I mean, installing from a cd-rom is normally "boot from cd" -thing, but what about this..I need to have the network/ssh-connection up all the time when I install and the intallation has to be text-based, because otherwise it wouldn't work would it?

I thought it this way: if I some day want, I grab the distribution installation files from somewhere...then I transfer them to the HD of the machine, and start the installation through ssh. now the question is this: this way I guess I can get as far as installing the whole thing, but whatabout after it? I have to reboot to start the distribution...and when I start, how do I make sure I can access the box? it should automatically start up networking (which is possible) and set it's ip, hostname etc. (which is also possible), but an ssh-server too...how does this work on linux distributions by default? RH does it I guess but whatabout the others?

thanks for opinions..I tried to search for this kind of thread but couldn't see any...might be I missed but still. if you have done a remote network-install, please share your knowledge and thoughts..

Juho