Ubiquity Proposal - Add "minimal" setup with kernel parameter

[Carl Richell]

System76 would like to use GNOME Initial Setup for user configuration. Currently, there is duplication with Ubiquity.
We propose changing Ubiquity to add a “minimal” mode, triggered by a kernel parameter (a flag similar to how OEM install is triggered now). This enables flavors to use whichever version makes sense for them. System76’s Pop!_OS and the elementary OS team are interested in using “minimal”. Minimal might be attractive to Ubuntu w/ GNOME as well.
“Minimal” will contain the least amount necessary to install the OS. We also prefer off-line installs with minimal which would remove options to download updates or install 3rd party software during install. This requires adding language packs to the iso when using minimal.
Minimal screens:


Welcome/Language Select - change: add KB Layout [1]


Installation Type - change: move hostname here [2]


If full disk encryption is chosen, Choose Security Key screen.


--Timezone: we’d like to remove timezone but Ubiquity is crashing when we do so. More investigation is necessary.
[1] KB layout currently comes after “Installation Type”. Users can’t set their layout before typing a full-disk encryption password. Moving KB layout forward would fix this. However, Ubuntu uses the first Welcome Screen to display both language and “Try Ubuntu” or “Install Ubuntu”. A couple of ideas:
 1. Boot to a live environment with a “Install Ubuntu” icon on
    the desktop.


 2. For a “complete” Ubiquity install, move KB layout after the
    Welcome Screen.
[2] Hostname is currently on the “Who are you?” screen. It uses the username and DMI information to populate the hostname. We propose using the same DMI information, adding 4 hexadecimals to the end (a checksum of the MAC address “Galag-Pro-A8F3”), and moving the hostname up to the “Installation Type” screen. This enables “minimal” installs to set the hostname and business customers can install the OS on multiple machines, with automatic or custom hostnames, then give the computer to their user for account setup.
Current Ubiquity “Complete” Screens


Welcome w/ Language Select and “Try Ubuntu” or “Install Ubuntu”


Preparing to Install Ubuntu w/ Download Updates and Install 3rd Party checkboxesInstallation Type w/ drive setup and full disk encryption


If full disk is chosen, Choose Security Key


Timezone


Keyboard Layout


Who Are You? w/ user account setup and hostname



Proposed Ubiquity “Complete” Screen


Welcome w/ Language Select and “Try Ubuntu” or “Install Ubuntu”


Keyboard Layout


Preparing to Install Ubuntu w/ Download Updates and Install 3rd Party checkboxesInstallation Type w/ drive setup and full disk encryption ADD hostnameIf full disk is chosen, Choose Security Key


Timezone


Who Are You? w/ user account setup REMOVE hostname



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