[Gslug-general] Idiot-proof questionless Linux install forrecycled machines

[Eric Butler]

(Sorry about my previous message everyone, seems that spamassassin is
scanning my own mail for spam.)

It looks like there are two poorly documented/supported ways to do an
unattended/automatic Ubuntu install.

https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/installation-guide/hppa/automatic-install.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/KickstartCompatibility

Perhaps improving all of this could be a future GSLUG project. 

 - Eric

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:56:00 -0800, Brian Hatch <bri at ifokr.org> wrote:
> Very close to 2007-12-05 14:43 -0800, Nick Ripley spouted:
> 
>> This is my first post to the list... I must second Eric's suggestion of
>> Ubuntu
> 
> I haven't installed Ubuntu using the defaults.  How many questions do
> you need to answer?
> 
> I'd think an even-more-streamlined install, ala
> 
>   * Do you want to install?
>   * Is X11 looking good?
>   * Ok, it's installed.   No questions about username, etc.
>   
>   
> Would need to tweak the default packages to install s.t. one of them
> can set the root password, ssh keys, local username, etc.  No admin
> for the default user, etc.
> 
> Can you have gdm/xdm on ubuntu set up to automatically log the user in?
> That might be nice too.
> 
>> but I will take one more step and say go with Xubuntu, especially
>> for the older machines. The Xfce manager (i think that's what it's
> called)
>> is very quick. I like it a lot. This can also be added to a default
> Ubuntu
>> install very easily with apt or similar tools.
> 
> Would it be comfortable and intuitive enough for a bunch of windows kids?
> 
> 
> 
>