[Bug 855921] Re: does not honor netcfg/choose_interface in preseed

[Max Bowsher]

ooshlablu is correct. You cannot preseed network settings in a preseed
file which the installer is loading from a network location, because the
network needs to be configured before the preseed can be fetched.

The solution here is to pass the appropriate options on the kernel
command line.

You can either preseed the interface value directly, or you can pass the
BOOTIF option on the kernel command line, which netcfg will use.

If using pxelinux, the relevant option is "IPAPPEND 2".
http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php/SYSLINUX#SYSAPPEND_bitmask

I'll set this bug to status Invalid now, as it's actually a support
request on how to set up automated PXE, rather than an actual bug.

** Changed in: netcfg (Ubuntu)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

** Changed in: netcfg (Ubuntu Maverick)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

** Changed in: netcfg (Ubuntu Natty)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

** Changed in: netcfg (Ubuntu Oneiric)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/855921

Title:
  does not honor netcfg/choose_interface in preseed

Status in “netcfg” package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in “orchestra” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “netcfg” source package in Maverick:
  Invalid
Status in “orchestra” source package in Maverick:
  Won't Fix
Status in “netcfg” source package in Natty:
  Invalid
Status in “orchestra” source package in Natty:
  Won't Fix
Status in “netcfg” source package in Oneiric:
  Invalid
Status in “orchestra” source package in Oneiric:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  if you pxeboot an image and hand it a preseed file, and in that
  preseed file you have:

    d-i netcfg/choose_interface select eth0

  it doesn't work and it pops up a menu and asks you what interface you
  want as your default interface.

  If, however, you pass netcfg/choose_interface=eth0 to the kernel as a
  boot option - it works as expected and does not display a menu option
  for this value.

  In a room full of headless machines being booted by cobbler,
  displaying menus is bad, as is not having those machines be able to
  find dhcp.

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