Installing RHEL over HTTP from Windows on local network

[lazyrunner50]

I'm trying to install RHEL AS4 on a machine on my network. I am currently running a website from my Vista machine using IIS6. I have my website set up as follows:

C:\inetpub\[URL unfurl="true"]wwwroot\inst\RedHat[/URL]
C:\inetpub\[URL unfurl="true"]wwwroot\inst\RedHat\base[/URL]
C:\inetpub\[URL unfurl="true"]wwwroot\inst\RedHat\RPMS[/URL]
C:\inetpub\[URL unfurl="true"]wwwroot\inst\RedHat\TRANS.TBL[/URL]

I am able to access my website from a Windows XP machine on the same network by going to

http://192.168.0.2/inst.

I am trying to install Linux by using "text askmethod" at the initial install prompt. The machine goes through the regular steps of acquiring an IP, and then it asks for the location of the server which contains the files. I put in

Website Name:                       192.168.0.2
Red Hat Enterprise Linux directory: /inst

It then asks if I want to scan the cdrom which I use to start off the installation. I decline, and it then searches for the website. I am greeted with the following error:

Unable to retrieve [URL unfurl="true"]http://192.168.0.2//inst/RedH[/URL]
at/base/hdlist.

The disc I'm using to start off the installation is the first disc of the 4-5 disc set of the RHEL AS 4 installation, and it has errors (doesn't pass the integrity scan), but I believe I've used it to install before. Unfortunately I don't have the a Red Hat subscription, so I can't just download it again (I downloaded it during a 30 day trial which has now expired). I do, however, have all the RPMS and I know they work because I have installed the same ones previously. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong??

 

[thedaver]

The disc I'm using to start off the installation is the first disc of the 4-5 disc set of the RHEL AS 4 installation, and it has errors (doesn't pass the integrity scan), but I believe I've used it to install before.

You should not attempt the installation until you resolve the disk problems through replacement with media that pass integrity scan.

Since you seem to be working around a lapsed subscription, perhaps you should take a strong look at the FREE CentOS project. It is built 99% on the RHEL AS platform.

http://www.centos.org

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[lazyrunner50]

thedaver,
I would be more worried about the failure if I were installing the software included on the disc. Instead, I am simply using the disc as a way to start off the installation process. I'm actually using the rpms on my Vista machine to do the installation.

 

[RhythmAce]

Try using the full path up to but not including the RedHat directory.

Here is a link to more help if you need it but it sounds like you already know what you're doing.

http://www.centos.org/docs/4/html/rhel-ig-x8664-multi-en-4/s1-steps-network-installs.html

I hope you get it going. If you have the time, you may want to take a look at CentOS as thedaver suggested. It is RHEL with all the RedHat branding and artwork removed. It is 100% legal. However, it is not supported by RedHat but then again, neither is your copy. The current version is RHEL 5.

 

[lazyrunner50]

I'll see how CentOS works out...Not sure why, but it seems like a good 75% of the time I burn the ISOs, they fail the integrity check. Anyway, I'll try again to see if it works this time!

 

[sillyVM]

sometimes it's a bad cd-rom can cause the cd to fail integrity check, especially if you are working with older machines. strong laser.

 

[itsp1965]

actually I had a similar situation myself. Tried the CD and it would fail the integrity check. Tried copying to an FTP server for installation in that way .. same result. I was told to try the following during install;

Add linux ide=nodma as an at the boot prompt when performing your install.

Hope this helps.

 

[lazyrunner50]

Ok, so I've gotten CentOS installed on my computer (did it locally from the CDs). I wanted to get it installed successfully first and then worry about the problems later. Anyway, I'm trying to set up the necessary directories for sharing via http. Only thing is, I've copied all the files as stated in the book I'm reading "Mastering Enterprise Linux 3", but it assumes you have Red Hat, and not some rebuild. In any case, I can't find the "base" folder. It is supposed to be on the first disk, but I can't find it anywhere. This is all I have on the first cd:

[root@localhost cdrom]# find . -type d
.
./CentOS
./images
./images/pxeboot
./images/xen
./isolinux
./NOTES
./repodata

 

[RhythmAce]

To share files via http, you would use the apache web server. By default, the web space (DocumentRoot) is in /var/

http://www/html.

This is equivalent to the htdocs directory in IIS. The configuration files (ServerRoot) are in /etc/httpd/. From there you will see /conf and /conf.d directories. The first id where you will find apache's main configuration file (httpd.conf). In the second, you will see all the files that get read along with httpd.conf when apache starts. If you want to change the directories for your web pages, then open /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf and change the DocumentRoot. You will notice that there is a directory container for for you DocumentRoot. It starts with <Directory "/var/

http://www/html">.

Edit this to the new directories you have created and should be the same as DocumentRoot. These directory containers are very important because they say who can do what in each directory. You can get more specific help in the apache forum. Here is the link:

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=65

 

[lazyrunner50]

Thanks Rhythm...but that wasn't really my question. I was just wondering where the "base" folder was on the CD. I have done an install from HTTP before, but that was with a RHEL installation. On the first disk of that set, it has a folder called "base" under the RedHat directory. When I look under the CentOS directory on the first disk of that installation, there is no "base" directory. Do I need the directory, and if so, where do I get the files?

 

[RhythmAce]

You really lost me now. You said that you installed CentOS. So I assumed all is well. Then you said you want to share files via http which whould require an http server. You are losing me on the /base directory question. Why to you need it? And what are the directories for that you want to create?.

 

[lazyrunner50]

Sorry...guess it does require a little more explanation. I started studying for the RHCT exam a while back, so I started reading through a study book. When I initially started working on it, I had a dual boot set up on my main computer with Red Hat Linux and Vista. I was able to set up an apache server under my Red Hat Linux instance, and install over my network onto a spare computer I had lying around. I was not able to complete my studying because I got busy at work, so I had to put it on hold for a while. In the interim, I upgraded my main computer. Move forward to now...I've started studying again, and after trying to install Red Hat Linux on my current main computer, I found that for some reason Linux doesn't like my new chipset (AMD 580X CrossFire - ECS KA3 MVP motherboard). Anyway, that's a whole other story. Ok, so instead of messing with my main computer, I decided I would just use my main computer (I only have Vista on it since my upgrade) as a repository for the RPMS. So I set up IIS on my main computer, and am using it to make the RPMs accessiable to the spare computer. Why? - Well, the start of the book I'm reading goes through several installation methods: local (with cds)/http/ftp/nfs.. So, I'm trying to install it several different ways. The way I have been currently trying is http.

 

[RhythmAce]

Oh. Well why didn't you say so? ;-) If you want a versiomn of RHEL 3 Then you can get an older version from thew same place you got the version you have now. Back in version three they used a different directory structure. You will find that disc 1 is the same as what you expect to find from the book. Just to make sure, I down loaded the first disc for CentOS 3 and behold! There was your missing /base directory. Mystery solved.

 

[lazyrunner50]

Thanks! Think I'm going to try with CentOS 5 though since the test will probably use RHEL 5. I guess if the base directory isn't there, it's not needed...