How can I force Anaconda to use the text install option ?
Finally found a distribution I’m happy with – stable and with all the apps I need for my daily work. But I’m having a problem getting Rocky 9.5 installed remotely on kvm/libvirt. I’m looking for the best parameters to use for installation using virt-install.
Minimal with no graphics installs fine.
WITHOUT GRAPHICS
virt-install --name=test002 --virt-type=kvm --vcpus=2 --memory=2048 --location=/var/lib/libvirt/boot/Rocky-9.5-x86_64-minimal.iso --network=network=net82,model=virtio --os-variant=centos7.0 --disk path=/home/qemu/store2/images/test002-001.qcow2,size=20,bus=virtio,format=qcow2 --console pty,target_type=serial --extra-args 'inst.text console=ttyS0,115200n8 ’ --graphics=none
I can get the text installation running if I specify graphics=none, but as soon as I add graphics, the installation refuses to run the text installer.
This command works fine, install is fine, I can view using virsh console or ssh in and manage the machine after it boots up.
WITH GRAPHICS
virt-install --name=test002 --virt-type=kvm --vcpus=2 --memory=2048 --location=/var/lib/libvirt/boot/Rocky-9.5-x86_64-minimal.iso --network=network=net82,model=virtio --os-variant=centos7.0 --disk path=/home/qemu/store2/images/test002-001.qcow2,size=20,bus=virtio,format=qcow2 --console pty,target_type=serial --extra-args 'inst.text console=ttyS0,115200n8 ’ --graphics=vnc,listen=127.0.0.1,port=5901
This command starts in graphics mode not text. If I look at the VNC console, the machine has not commenced install, but is hung on a screen probing my edd ( 
). or Booting from Rom. I’m a database programmer so this is confusing. I’m not sure what the machine is doing at this point – is it trying to do a PXE boot because it can’t find the CD but it can when running in text mode ?
The text console has the message
Domain installation still in progress. Waiting for installation to complete.
Desired Outcome
I want to standardise on a base install I can use for graphical or text client machines.
Rocky 9.5 Workstation XFCE meets my requirements, but I can’t install it on KVM . I want to specify the machine characteristics at creation. Long term, I’d like to use qemu directly so I can move machines between hardware.
Generally my graphics requirements are limited so I don’t need high resolution or performance. What I need is stability and portability and KVM/QEMU with a vnc console are a good fit.
Is there a way to force the text install and yet install drivers for the graphics ?
I’ve seen a few posts approaching this subject, but no real pointers or links to Anaconda docs listing options and interaction with kvm / qemu / libvirt – any pointers to structured documentation appreciated.
Background
My Windows 8 machine finally gave me too much hassle and would not boot so I decided to listen to the security advice and get current. I installed a windows 11 machine for may banking but thought I might give Linux another go as my main machine.
So installed Rocky Workstation 9.5 with XFCE and liked the interface for my daily drive. I was really happy. I’m still using it. No driver issues, able to get my HP printer and scanner running. Compiled wxWidgets and Codeblocks and installed them. Libre office works out of the box with sftp access to file storage on my NAS (Something I’ve been unable to make happen on any other os).
SO I thought I’d tackle a project I’ve put off for 20 years and finally get subversion and gitrunning. I set up a local repository, tested my current projects, checked them in,out, and all about – all working great.
Ok so next thing is to put the SVN on a machine I can access from anywhere. I’m running a hosted centos server on the other side of the world with kvm, libvirt with the client machines sitting cosily on their own lan with a centos 7 router handling vpn and routing. There is a windows 2k client, a Rocky 8 server running Nagios, a centos 7 server doing something and an alma 8 machine just for fun. These have been running fine for the last few years, sitting on encrypted partitions with aggessive fail2ban in place and I’m happy with the setup.
So I thought I’d set up a Rocky 9.5 Workstation up and put the svn in my secure remote server.
So I use the commands
rm /home/qemu/store2/images/test002* ;virsh destroy test002;virsh undefine test002 ;
virt-install --name=test002 --virt-type=kvm --vcpus=2 --memory=2048 --location=/var/lib/libvirt/boot/Rocky-9.5-x86_64-minimal.iso --network=network=net82,model=virtio --os-variant=centos7.0 --disk path=/home/qemu/store2/images/test002-001.qcow2,size=20,bus=virtio,format=qcow2 --console pty,target_type=serial --extra-args 'inst.text console=ttyS0,115200n8 ’ --graphics=none
The installer starts, pauses for a while and then decides to run the text installer
Starting installer, one moment…
anaconda 34.25.5.9-1.el9.rocky.0.3 for Rocky Linux 9.5 started.
- installation log files are stored in /tmp during the installation
- shell is available on TTY2
- if the graphical installation interface fails to start, try again with the
inst.text bootoption to start text installation - when reporting a bug add logs from /tmp as separate text/plain attachments
================================================================================
================================================================================
Text mode provides a limited set of installation options. It does not offer
custom partitioning for full control over the disk layout. Would you like to use
VNC mode instead?
- Start VNC
- Use text mode
Please make a selection from the above [‘c’ to continue, ‘q’ to quit, ‘r’ to
refresh]:
[anaconda]1:main* 2:shell 3:log 4:storage-log >Switch tab: Alt+Tab | Help: F1
If I use the command
virt-install --name=test002 --virt-type=kvm --vcpus=2 --memory=2048 --location=/var/lib/libvirt/boot/Rocky-9.5-x86_64-minimal.iso --network=network=net82,model=virtio --os-variant=centos7.0 --disk path=/home/qemu/store2/images/test002-001.qcow2,size=20,bus=virtio,format=qcow2 --console pty,target_type=serial --extra-args 'inst.text console=ttyS0,115200n8 ’ --graphics=vnc,listen=127.0.0.1,port=5901
I get the following
WARNING Unable to connect to graphical console: virt-viewer not installed. Please install the ‘virt-viewer’ package.
WARNING No console to launch for the guest, defaulting to --wait -1
Starting install…
Retrieving file .treeinfo… | 1.5 kB 00:00:00
Retrieving file vmlinuz… | 14 MB 00:00:00
Retrieving file initrd.img… | 142 MB 00:00:00
Allocating ‘test002-001.qcow2’ | 20 GB 00:00:00
Domain installation still in progress. Waiting for installation to complete.
Logging into the VNC I can see the machine hung