Zorin autoinstall

General Help
1

Does Zorin supports preseed? (How to automate installation of zorin core 17 with any preseed).

2

i don't even know what preseed it , and since no1 replied yet , i gave your question to AI...
hope it helps ?

Zorin OS, being based on Ubuntu, should technically support preseed files for automating installations, as Ubuntu does. However, Zorin might have some unique customizations that could require extra adjustments to a preseed configuration. Here's a step-by-step guide to automating the installation of Zorin Core 17 using a preseed file:

1. Verify Zorin's Compatibility with Preseed

Since Zorin is based on Ubuntu, the Debian Installer used in its setup process should be able to parse preseed files. However, this isn't guaranteed for Zorin-specific changes, so some trial and error might be needed.

2. Obtain the Zorin ISO

Download the ISO for Zorin OS Core 17 from the official website.

3. Mount and Extract the ISO

Extract the contents of the Zorin ISO to a folder for modification:

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mkdir zorin_iso
sudo mount -o loop zorin-core-17.iso zorin_iso
cp -r zorin_iso extracted_iso
sudo umount zorin_iso

4. Prepare the Preseed File

Create or modify a preseed file to suit your requirements. You can base it on a generic Ubuntu preseed file.

Example of a minimal preseed configuration:

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# Localization
d-i debian-installer/locale string en_US
d-i console-setup/layoutcode string us

# Networking
d-i netcfg/get_hostname string zorin
d-i netcfg/get_domain string local

# Disk Partitioning
d-i partman-auto/disk string /dev/sda
d-i partman-auto/method string regular
d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe select atomic
d-i partman/confirm boolean true
d-i partman/confirm_nooverwrite boolean true

# User setup
d-i passwd/user-fullname string User
d-i passwd/username string user
d-i passwd/user-password password password123
d-i passwd/user-password-again password password123

# Package Selection
tasksel tasksel/first multiselect standard
d-i pkgsel/include string zorin-core-desktop

# GRUB Installation
d-i grub-installer/only_debian boolean true
d-i grub-installer/bootdev string default

# Final Confirmation
d-i finish-install/reboot_in_progress note

Save this file as preseed.cfg.

5. Modify Boot Parameters

Edit the bootloader configuration (usually isolinux/txt.cfg or boot/grub/grub.cfg in the ISO) to point to your preseed file.

For example, append the following to the kernel boot parameters:

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file=/cdrom/preseed.cfg auto=true priority=critical

6. Add the Preseed File to the ISO

Place the preseed.cfg file in the root directory or preseed/ folder of the extracted ISO.

7. Rebuild the ISO

Rebuild the ISO with the modified contents:

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sudo apt install xorriso
cd extracted_iso
xorriso -as mkisofs \
  -iso-level 3 \
  -o ../zorin-core-17-preseed.iso \
  -V "Zorin Core 17" \
  -J -l -r -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 \
  -boot-info-table -b isolinux/isolinux.bin \
  -c isolinux/boot.cat \
  extracted_iso/

8. Test the Automated Installation

Use a virtual machine like VirtualBox or QEMU to test your preseeded ISO. If the installation completes as expected, it is ready for deployment.

Additional Notes

  • If Zorin OS doesn't work seamlessly with preseeding, consider using alternative methods like Cloud-Init or Packer for automation.
  • Document issues during testing, such as packages not being installed or partitions not being set up correctly, to adjust the preseed file accordingly.
1 Like
3

Than you very much .

4

Using your template preseed.cfg, and with some modification I did, I able to automate the installation without extraction and rebuild of the ISO file.

1 Like