Online.net custom iso

plumberg

Hi, how can I install a custom iso with online.net ? They provide some type of serial console, which I am not sure how to use to install the custom iso.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

donli

https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/start

plumberg

@donli said:
https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/install-from-hp-ilo

Sorry. I should have mentioned it's a cheap dedicated server, without any kvm. Just a serial console

levnode

@plumberg said:

@donli said:
https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/install-from-hp-ilo

Sorry. I should have mentioned it's a cheap dedicated server, without any kvm. Just a serial console

So it’s impossible. The atom line is running their customized BIOS, customized boot loader and you won’t be able to install a standard iso.

plumberg

@levnode said:

@plumberg said:

@donli said:
https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/install-from-hp-ilo

Sorry. I should have mentioned it's a cheap dedicated server, without any kvm. Just a serial console

So it’s impossible. The atom line is running their customized BIOS, customized boot loader and you won’t be able to install a standard iso.

Ohhh. Ok. I thought this was similar to kimsufi rescue mode which allows custom iso after some tweaks

rinaldohack

@plumberg said:

@levnode said:

@plumberg said:

@donli said:
https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/install-from-hp-ilo

Sorry. I should have mentioned it's a cheap dedicated server, without any kvm. Just a serial console

So it’s impossible. The atom line is running their customized BIOS, customized boot loader and you won’t be able to install a standard iso.

Ohhh. Ok. I thought this was similar to kimsufi rescue mode which allows custom iso after some tweaks

I think it's the same. Just give it a try.
Basically, enter rescue, get an ISO, boot a QEMU using physical disk.

https://rinaldojonathan.com/en/cara-buat-virtual-kvm-di-server-ovh-kimsufi-soyoustart/

plumberg

@rinaldohack said:

@plumberg said:

@levnode said:

@plumberg said:

@donli said:
https://documentation.online.net/en/dedicated-server/operating-system/custom-install/install-from-hp-ilo

Sorry. I should have mentioned it's a cheap dedicated server, without any kvm. Just a serial console

So it’s impossible. The atom line is running their customized BIOS, customized boot loader and you won’t be able to install a standard iso.

Ohhh. Ok. I thought this was similar to kimsufi rescue mode which allows custom iso after some tweaks

I think it's the same. Just give it a try.
Basically, enter rescue, get an ISO, boot a QEMU using physical disk.

https://rinaldojonathan.com/en/cara-buat-virtual-kvm-di-server-ovh-kimsufi-soyoustart/

I saw that. But I can't figure out how to access the rescue mode type from the serial console. Thnx

Shot2

1. Install some OS. (e.g. Debian 9, thx). Wait long minutes.
2. Install the grub-imageboot package
3. Download your iso inside /boot/images/ (create the folder)
4. Make sure your /etc/default/grub allows terminal output (see lines below)
5. Run update-grub
6. Enable and launch the Serial Console from Online's panel.
7. Reboot the server
8. On the grub boot menu, act fast, select your iso to launch the install
9. Done, the installer runs in text mode, it's slow but better than nothing.

No need to fiddle with qemu or whatever.

In /etc/default/grub to allow Online's Serial Console ("Suchard"):

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="console=ttyS1,9600"
GRUB_TERMINAL=serial
GRUB_SERIAL_COMMAND="serial --unit=1 --speed=9600 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1"

Tips:

Depending on the OS/iso you install, you may have to edit the installer command line to enable ttyS1 console output here too, e.g. edit to 'vga=normal console=ttyS1,9600'.
Be careful when editing the installer command line, the serial console inserts extra characters...
Double check what you type, or else you'll get no display, and have to force a hard reboot to try again...
Better not destroy/overwrite the partition with /boot where your install iso is. Or use e.g. some tiny netboot iso, in which case it runs entirely from RAM so you can wipe the disk as you like.

Consider yourself lucky you have some Serial Console access - not all Online cheap dedis have one...