Kickstart Configurator (GUI) crashes while loading packages.

Hi all,

I was configuring a kickstart file to be able to install RHEL5 on another machine, I am using VMWARE workstation to accomplish that.

So I have configured the base.repo file and the dhcp server is working fine.

But when I gave the command to launch the Kickstart Configurator, it crashes while loading packages.

When it crashes an error was generated, the error is:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/system-config-kickstart", line 82, in ?
kickstartGui.kickstartGui(file)
File "/usr/share/system-config-kickstart/kickstartGui.py", line 158, in __init__
self.packages_class = packages.Packages(xml, self.kickstartData)
File "/usr/share/system-config-kickstart/packages.py", line 167, in __init__
self.y = sckYumBase(pbar)
File "/usr/share/system-config-kickstart/packages.py", line 142, in __init__
self.doGroupSetup()
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/yum/__init__.py", line 415, in doGroupSetup
raise Errors.GroupsError, 'No Groups Available in any repository'
yum.Errors.GroupsError: No Groups Available in any repository

Can anyone suggest why it is crashing, it however loads perfectly when I modify the base.repo file [base] to [server] but then it doesn't loads the packages.

Please help. thanks in advance.

Naman

There are some more bugs in this tool.

I would recommend doing a manual install, selecting the packages you want and use the generated anaconda-ks.cfg file in your /root directory generated.
You can copy paste stuff from there.

Thanks Deadeyes

But since I am new to Linux, can you suggest me how to do a manual install of the kickstart file, or which command to run to execute the manual install.

I tried the system-config-kickstart command, but it was bringing up the GUI and thats when it was crashing again and again.

currently my base.repo file looks like this:

[base]
name=base
baseurl=ftp://172.24.0.2/pub/Server
gpgcheck=0

[server]
name=server
baseurl=ftp://172.24.0.2/pub/Server
gpgcheck=0

[VT]
name=VT
baseurl=ftp://172.24.0.2/pub/VT
gpgcheck=0

[Cluster]
name=Cluster
baseurl=ftp://172.24.0.2/pub/Cluster
gpgcheck=0

[ClusterStorage]
name=ClusterStorage
baseurl=ftp://172.24.0.2/pub/ClusterStorage
gpgcheck=0

httpd, vsftpd and dhcp services are installed and working.
portmap and nfs services are started and are on.

Thanks

I meant that you can do just a normal install (without thinking about kickstart) using the normal installation media.
Give all the details to Anaconda (the setup program).

After the installation you will find a file in /root directory.
I think it is called kickstart-ks.cfg.
You can use that to make the same install.

When you have that there are different ways to do the automated install.
You can use on the first screen of the install cd:
linux ks=floppy
linux ks=nfs:ip:/ks.cfg
...
This depends on where you can put the file.

Got it, will try it and will post back
Thanks again

Ok, I tried that what you suggested
and copied the kickstart-ks.cfg as first.cfg and placed it under /var/ftp/pub (which is shared)
I then launched the installer in the new mchine and at boot prompt I stated:
but then it reads unable to download the kickstart file please specify the location.

However, I would like to make a point here, that my nfs is not properly setup yet as mountd and statd are taking random ports despite the fact that I have provided them static ports in /etc/sysconfig/nfs file. -- could this be the problem. Is here any way to fix this.

just tried: but still the same, cannot download kickstart file.

Thanks again

You should check your exports of the nfs share.
on the nfs server itself.

What is in your /etc/exports file?

You can use
for that.
It shows you the ports used.
Providing the ports in /etc/sysconfig/nfs as you said should fix this issue. Be sure you restart the necessary services:
Check again if the ports are ok now. There might be some others too to restart.
These should be allowed by your firewall.
If unsure you can flush the iptables rules:
Do note that if your chain policy is not ACCEPT you probably will lock yourself out. In RHEL or CentOS this is not the case by default.

Also access rights on the /var/ftp/pub and kickstart file should be correct.

I will try these and will post back with more results,

Thanks

Hello Deadeyes

I performed the steps that you mentioned and got some postive results.

1.) showmount -e displays the mont point as /var/ftp/pub

2.) I performed and it indeed locked the ports where I wanted and were being displayed in the rpcinfo -P

3.) Additionally I created ser.repo and eneterd the server entries as:
and base.repo as
4.) Tried to launch a new machine it picked the ip from the already configured dhcp srver, yet its still nnot picking up the kickstart file at the start, the command that I am providing is linux ks=nfs:172.24.0.2:/var/ftp/pub/first.cfg

currently the following the services are running and are on:

i) vsftpd
ii) dhcpd
iii) portmap
iv) nfs
v) nfslock

don't know where I am missing.

Thanks for your help again.

linux ks=nfs:172.24.0.2:/var/ftp/pub/first.cfg
Is indeed the thing you need.
Are your access rights ok to this nfs share?
Can you access it from another host?
Is your firewall blocking anything?
Anything in the log files?
Alt+f1,alt+f2, ... on these screens you can also see more information about the installation process.

Will try these, thanks again.
Haven't checked the firewall yet, will check, will try to flush the IPtables.
How can I check the mount point or nfs share of the server from another machine, do you think the following command will work:

Thanks.

mount ip:/path /mnt
should work.
Go to /var/ftp/pub and do
ls -l
and
ls -ld .

Thanks again. Will try and post back with more results.

Hi

I did flush the iptables : and I was able to mount the nfs share on the other machine as and I ould see the contents of the same.
but the kickstart still failed. Cannot download the file.

You should search for some clues... use alt-f1, alt-f2, ... on the machine where you are trying to install.
You are very close

You can also make your kickstart file available through http.
Then you use: linux ks=http://ip/path/ks.cfg
If both machines are in another network... is the gateway correctly given through dhcp (normally this shouldn't be a problem if your other hosts are also using dhcp, that would prove it is working)?
At the moment I can't help you further... I need some more info from you now.
Do you have different ethernet devices for that host where you want to install?