Single FAI server, multiple Debian versions?

[Henning Glawe]

Moin,

On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 10:22:42AM +0100, Diego Zuccato wrote:
> Is it possible to use a single FAI server to install multiple Debian
> releases (to different machines, obv)?
> 
> I'm currently installing bullseye, but I'd like to start testing
> bookworm deployments.
> I can't find a howto for setting up multiple NFSROOTs (better if with no
> changes to the current one, to avoid breaking the working setup).

You can install multiple debian (and even ubuntu) releases from the
same nfsroot, if you run ``debootstrap`` at installtime.

All you have to do is to delete the pre-built base tarball after building
the nfsroot and provide the right settings in your fai config.

We use a hook

--- /etc/fai/nfsroot-hooks/50remove-base-tar ---
#!/bin/bash
rm -f $NFSROOT/var/tmp/base.t*
------------------------------------------------

and set, depending on the target host classes ``$FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP`` and
``$FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTS``, e.g.:

--- $FAI/class/BOOKWORM.var --------------------
#!/bin/bash
FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP="bookworm http://mpsd-deb-bookworm.desy.de/debian"
FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTS="--include=aptitude,gnupg"
------------------------------------------------

FAI then runs debootstrap with the given options when installing.

-- 
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Henning Glawe

Dr. Henning Glawe
Max-Planck-Institut für Struktur und Dynamik der Materie
Geb. 99 (CFEL), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
http://www.mpsd.mpg.de/, Email: henning.glawe at mpsd.mpg.de
Building/Room: 99/O2.100, Phone: +49-40-8998-88392