ubuntu-server-auto-install

Creates an Ubuntu Server unattended installation ISO

Tested with Ubuntu Server 14.04, 16.04, 17.10, 18.04 and 18.10

Prerequisites

• Need the isohdpfx.bin from isolinux. To get it, use sudo apt install isolinux
• Need 'xorriso' installed. To get it, use sudo apt install xorriso -y

Features

• Minimal interaction
• Downloads available Ubuntu server release from releases.ubuntu.com
• Stores and used downloaded images in ~/Downloads
• By default uses the latest release
• Creates kickstart configuration for automatic (unattended) installation
• Alters grub configuration
• Creates default (sudoer) user as current user with password as username
• Copies ssh public key of current user
• Short - about 100 lines of code, easy modifiable
• Helps to run installation with qemu
• Suitable for batch installation
• Works with both UEFI & MBR Boot Options
  • Works great with Hyper-V Gen1 and Gen2 VMs! (If using Gen2, set Secure Boot Template to "Microsoft UEFI Certificate Authority"

Interface

• No arguments - interactive mode. The program requestes desired version XX.YY.
• Argument - XX.YY of Ubuntu server version. The program finds the third release digit automatically. For example "16.04.4".
• Argument - word "latest" - the latest release will be selected automatically, for example 17.04.
• Argument - URL of iso image to download (if need).
• Argument - name for iso image. Program will search for the file in directory ~/Downloads
• Output - file ubuntu-XX.YY.ZZ-server-amd64-auto-install.iso

Limitations

• Doesn't work with Ubuntu desktop ISOs
• May or may not work with other versions of Ubuntu Server
  • Does not work with Ubuntu Server 12.04