About cobbler
Cobbler is a Linux server installation service. It can quickly install and reinstall physical servers and virtual machines through network boot (PXE). At the same time, it can also manage DHCP, DNS, etc.
Cobbler can be managed in the command line mode, and also provides a Web-based interface management tool (cobbler Web), as well as an API interface, which is convenient for secondary development.
Cobbler is an upgraded version of earlier kickstart. It has the advantages of easy configuration and easy management with its own web interface.
Cobbler has a built-in lightweight configuration management system, but it also supports integration with other configuration management systems, such as Puppet, and does not support SaltStack for the time being.
Cobbler official website: http://cobbler.github.io/
cobbler integrated services
- PXE service support
- DHCP service management
- DNS Service Management (optional bind,dnsmasq)
- Power management
- Kickstart service support
- YUM warehouse management
- TFTP (required for PXE startup) Apache (provides kickstart installation source and customized kickstart configuration) is used for lightweight file transfer
Detailed explanation of cobbler configuration file
The cobbler configuration file directory is in / etc/cobbler
| configuration file | effect |
|---|---|
| /etc/cobbler/settings | cobbler master profile |
| /etc/cobbler/iso/ | iso template profile |
| /etc/cobbler/pxe | pxe template profile |
| /etc/cobbler/power | Power profile |
| /etc/cobbler/user.conf | web service authorization profile |
| /etc/cobbler/users.digest | User name password profile for web access |
| /etc/cobbler/dhcp.template | Configuration template of dhcp server |
| /etc/cobbler/dnsmasq.template | Configuration template for dns server |
| /etc/cobbler/tftpd.template | Configuration template of tftp service |
| /etc/cobbler/modules.conf | Configuration files for modules |
cobbler data directory
| catalogue | effect |
|---|---|
| /var/lib/cobbler/config/ | Used to store distros, system, profiles and other information configuration files |
| /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/ | Used to store user-defined cobbler commands |
| /var/lib/cobbler/kickstart/ | The kickstart file is stored by default |
| /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/ | Store various boot programs and image directories |
| /var/www/cobbler/ks_mirror/ | All data of the imported distribution system |
| /var/www/cobbler/images/ | Import the kernel and initrd images of the distribution for remote network startup |
| /var/www/cobbler/repo_mirror/ | yum warehouse storage directory |
cobbler log file
| log file path | explain |
|---|---|
| /var/log/cobbler/installing | Client installation log |
| /var/log/cobbler/cobbler.log | cobbler log |
Detailed explanation of cobbler command
cobbler check //Check whether there is a problem with the current setting cobbler list //Lists all cobbler elements cobbler report //Lists the details of the element cobbler sync //Synchronize the configuration to the data directory. It is best to change the configuration cobbler reposync //Synchronize yum warehouse cobbler distro //View imported release system information cobbler system //View added system information cobbler profile //View configuration information
cobbler server deployment
// Turn off firewall and selinux
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl disable --now firewalld.service
Removed /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/firewalld.service.
Removed /etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.fedoraproject.FirewallD1.service.
[root@localhost ~]# getenforce
Enforcing
[root@localhost ~]# dnf install epel-release
CentOS Stream 8 - AppStream 2.0 MB/s | 15 MB 00:07
CentOS Stream 8 - BaseOS 7.9 MB/s | 12 MB 00:01
CentOS Stream 8 - Extras 9.2 kB/s | 15 kB 00:01
Dependency resolution.
=========================================================================================
software package framework edition Warehouse size
=========================================================================================
install:
epel-release noarch 8-11.el8 extras twenty-four k
Install weak dependencies:
epel-next-release noarch 8-11.el8 extras 11 k
Transaction summary
=========================================================================================
Install 2 software package
Total downloads: 35 k
Installation size: 38 k
Are you sure?[y/N]: y
Download package:
(1/2): epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch.rpm 189 kB/s | 11 kB 00:00
(2/2): epel-release-8-11.el8.noarch.rpm 36 kB/s | 24 kB 00:00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
total 24 kB/s | 35 kB 00:01
Warning:/var/cache/dnf/extras-9705a089504ff150/packages/epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch.rpm: head V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, secret key ID 8483c65d: NOKEY
CentOS Stream 8 - Extras 1.6 MB/s | 1.6 kB 00:00
Import GPG Public key 0 x8483C65D:
Userid: "CentOS (CentOS Official Signing Key) <security@centos.org>"
fingerprint: 99DB 70FA E1D7 CE22 7FB6 4882 05B5 55B3 8483 C65D
come from: /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-centosofficial
Are you sure?[y/N]: y
Import public key succeeded
Run transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Run transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Run transaction
In preparation : 1/1
install : epel-release-8-11.el8.noarch 1/2
install : epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch 2/2
Run script: epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch 2/2
verification : epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch 1/2
verification : epel-release-8-11.el8.noarch 2/2
Installed products updated.
already installed:
epel-next-release-8-11.el8.noarch epel-release-8-11.el8.noarch
complete!
//Install cobbler and related software
[root@localhost ~]# yum -y install httpd dhcp-* tftp xinetd pykickstart
[root@localhost ~]# dnf module enable cobbler
Extra Packages for Enterprise Linu 430 kB/s | 955 kB 00:02
Extra Packages for Enterprise Linu 477 kB/s | 1.3 MB 00:02
Extra Packages for Enterprise Linu 675 kB/s | 10 MB 00:15
[root@localhost ~]# dnf list all|grep cobbler
cobbler.noarch 3.2.2-3.module_el8+13166+f291d70c epel-modular
cobbler-tests.noarch 3.2.2-3.module_el8+13166+f291d70c epel-modular
cobbler-web.noarch 3.2.2-3.module_el8+13166+f291d70c epel-modular
[root@localhost ~]# dnf -y install cobbler cobbler-web
//Start the service and set the startup self startup
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl enable --now httpd
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl enable --now cobblerd
[root@localhost ~]# ss -antl
State Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address:Port Peer Address:Port Process
LISTEN 0 128 0.0.0.0:22 0.0.0.0:*
LISTEN 0 5 127.0.0.1:25151 0.0.0.0:*
LISTEN 0 128 *:80 *:*
LISTEN 0 128 [::]:22 [::]:*
LISTEN 0 128 *:443 *:*
//Set the ip address of tftp to local ip, and modify the ip address of server to local ip
[root@localhost ~]# cd /etc/cobbler/
[root@localhost cobbler]# vim settings.yaml
255 next_server: 192.168.126.155
353 server: 192.168.126.155
// Download missing files
[root@localhost ~]# dnf -y install syslinux
[root@localhost ~]# cp /usr/share/syslinux/pxelinux.0 /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/
[root@localhost ~]# cp /usr/share/syslinux/menu.c32 /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl restart cobblerd
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler get-loaders
task started: 2021-10-12_205048_get_loaders
task started (id=Download Bootloader Content, time=Tue Oct 12 20:50:48 2021)
running python triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/get_loaders/pre/*
running shell triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/get_loaders/pre/*
shell triggers finished successfully
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/README already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/COPYING.yaboot already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/COPYING.syslinux already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/yaboot already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/pxelinux.0 already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
path /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/menu.c32 already exists, not overwriting existing content, use --force if you wish to update
downloading https://cobbler.github.io/loaders/grub-0.97-x86.efi to /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/grub-x86.efi
downloading https://cobbler.github.io/loaders/grub-0.97-x86_64.efi to /var/lib/cobbler/loaders/grub-x86_64.efi
*** TASK COMPLETE ***
//Generate an encrypted password, and then turn on the DHCP function
[root@localhost cobbler]# openssl passwd -1
Password:
Verifying - Password:
$1$rvfzLlrV$Ovo3qJObV6uMnh7YH4e8q/
[root@localhost cobbler]# vim settings.yaml
103 default_password_crypted: "$1$rvfzLlrV$Ovo3qJObV6uMnh7YH4e8q/"
// DHCP management and DHCP server templates
[root@localhost cobbler]# vim settings.yaml
220 manage_dhcp: true
[root@localhost ~]# vim /etc/cobbler/dhcp.template
23 subnet 192.168.126.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 { // The front is the same network segment as the local IP
24 option routers 192.168.126.155; // Fill in local IP
25 option domain-name-servers 192.168.126.1; // Default gateway
26 option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
27 range dynamic-bootp 192.168.126.100 192.168.126.254; // Assigned IP address range
28 default-lease-time 21600;
29 max-lease-time 43200;
30 next-server $next_server;
// Start and enable the Cobbler service and synchronize the configuration. After changing dhcp, you must synchronize the configuration
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl start cobblerd
[root@localhost ~]# systemctl status cobblerd
● cobblerd.service - Cobbler Helper Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/cobblerd.service; enabl>
Active: active (running) since Tue 2021-10-12 19:26:49 CST; 1h >
Process: 28890 ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/touch /usr/share/cobbler/w>
Main PID: 28889 (cobblerd)
Tasks: 1 (limit: 17652)
Memory: 29.6M
CGroup: /system.slice/cobblerd.service
└─28889 /usr/bin/python3.6 -s /usr/bin/cobblerd -F
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler sync
task started: 2021-10-12_210128_sync
task started (id=Sync, time=Tue Oct 12 21:01:28 2021)
running python triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/sync/pre/*
running shell triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/sync/pre/*
shell triggers finished successfully
running pre-sync triggers
cleaning trees
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/images
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/system
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/system_link
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/grub.cfg
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/local_efi.cfg
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/local_legacy.cfg
removing: /var/lib/tftpboot/grub/local_powerpc-ieee1275.cfg
copying bootloaders
running: ['rsync', '-rpt', '--copy-links', '--exclude=.cobbler_postun_cleanup', '/var/lib/cobbler/loaders/', '/var/lib/tftpboot']
received on stdout:
received on stderr:
running: ['rsync', '-rpt', '--copy-links', '--exclude=README.grubconfig', '/var/lib/cobbler/grub_config/', '/var/lib/tftpboot']
received on stdout:
received on stderr:
copying distros to tftpboot
copying images
generating PXE configuration files
generating PXE menu structure
rendering DHCP files
generating /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
cleaning link caches
running post-sync triggers
running python triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/sync/post/*
running python trigger cobbler.modules.sync_post_restart_services
running: dhcpd -t -q
received on stdout:
received on stderr:
running: service dhcpd restart
received on stdout:
received on stderr: Redirecting to /bin/systemctl restart dhcpd.service
running shell triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/sync/post/*
shell triggers finished successfully
running python triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/change/*
running python trigger cobbler.modules.scm_track
running python trigger cobbler.modules.managers.genders
running shell triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/change/*
shell triggers finished successfully
*** TASK COMPLETE ***
//Check whether there is a problem with the current settings through cobbler check
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler check
The following are potential configuration items that you may want to fix:
1: reposync is not installed, install yum-utils or dnf-plugins-core
2: yumdownloader is not installed, install yum-utils or dnf-plugins-core
3: debmirror package is not installed, it will be required to manage debian deployments and repositories
4: fencing tools were not found, and are required to use the (optional) power management features. install cman or fence-agents to use them
Restart cobblerd and then run 'cobbler sync' to apply changes.
//Check whether dhcp is normal
[root@localhost ~]# ss -anulp|grep dhcp
UNCONN 0 0 0.0.0.0:67 0.0.0.0:* users:(("dhcpd",pid=153755,fd=10))
UNCONN 0 0 0.0.0.0:33400 0.0.0.0:* users:(("dhcpd",pid=153755,fd=20))
UNCONN 0 0 [::]:36222 [::]:* users:(("dhcpd",pid=153755,fd=21))
[root@localhost ~]# reboot
//Import redhat7 image
[root@localhost ~]# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler import --path=/mnt --name=centos-8 --arch=x86_64 / / Description: - path, image path-- Name, define a name for the installation source-- Arch, specify the installation source platform. The unique identifier of the installation source is defined according to the name parameter. After successful import of this example, the unique identifier of the installation source is CentOS-7-x86_64. If it is repeated, the system will prompt that the import fails
task started: 2021-10-12_214904_import
task started (id=Media import, time=Tue Oct 12 21:49:04 2021)
running python triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/import/pre/*
running shell triggers from /var/lib/cobbler/triggers/task/import/pre/*
shell triggers finished successfully
Found a candidate signature: breed=redhat, version=rhel8
Found a matching signature: breed=redhat, version=rhel8
Adding distros from path /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64:
creating new distro: centos-8-x86_64
trying symlink: /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64 -> /var/www/cobbler/links/centos-8-x86_64
creating new profile: centos-8-x86_64
associating repos
checking for rsync repo(s)
checking for rhn repo(s)
checking for yum repo(s)
starting descent into /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64 for centos-8-x86_64
processing repo at : /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/AppStream
need to process repo/comps: /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/AppStream
looking for /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/AppStream/repodata/*comps*.xml
Keeping repodata as-is :/var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/AppStream/repodata
processing repo at : /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/BaseOS
need to process repo/comps: /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/BaseOS
looking for /var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/BaseOS/repodata/*comps*.xml
Keeping repodata as-is :/var/www/cobbler/distro_mirror/centos-8-x86_64/BaseOS/repodata
*** TASK COMPLETE ***
//View the cobbler image list
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler list
distros:
centos-8-x86_64
profiles:
centos-8-x86_64
systems:
repos:
images:
mgmtclasses:
packages:
files:
//Create kickstarts auto install script
[root@localhost ~]# cd /var/lib/cobbler/
[root@localhost cobbler]# mkdir kickstarts
[root@localhost cobbler]# cd kickstarts/
[root@localhost kickstarts]# cat centos-8-x86_64.ks
auth --enableshadow --passalgo=sha512
bootloader --location=mbr
clearpart --all --initlabel
part /boot --asprimary --fstype="ext4" --size=500
part swap --fstype="swap" --size=4096
part / --fstype="ext4" --grow --size=15000
text
firewall --disabled
firstboot --disable
keyboard us
lang en_US
url --url=http://192.168.47.160/cobbler/ks_mirror/centos-8-x86_64 //
$yum_repo_stanza
reboot
rootpw --iscrypted $6$2WTFvfNvAMgCUPuC$MJgWGzhakgxrRObcEbAwSe8vkz0s//xyiTllGwxRsHHruQhcskO69u2LVTU9u0eemHXH2pzcGawyAJ54R2E/x0
selinux --disabled
skipx
timezone Asia/Shanghai --isUtc --nontp
install
zerombr
%packages
@^minimal
@core
kexec-tools
%end
%addon com_redhat_kdump --enable --reserve-mb='auto'
%end
%anaconda
pwpolicy root --minlen=6 --minquality=1 --notstrict --nochanges --notempty
pwpolicy user --minlen=6 --minquality=1 --notstrict --nochanges --emptyok
pwpolicy luks --minlen=6 --minquality=1 --notstrict --nochanges --notempty
%end
//Check ks file syntax for errors
[root@localhost ~]# cobbler validateks
No such command: validateks