Adding custom task to Fog Server

[Tom Elliott]

I need a full layout of what it is you’re trying to do.

is the “trusty” supposed to load into the FOS System, or is trusty it’s own environment?

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Here is what I am trying to do.

1. As shown in the menu path. Loaded the trusty ISO contents and created kickstart files. Verified calling via http://fogsrv/OS_IMAGES/ubuntu-14.04.3-DVD/

2. Created a new menu entry, like below

3. Registered a client host and pxe booted. From the boot menu, I was able to see the new menu fog entry that I created. Manually selected “Trusty”

4. My client host got successfully got kickstart trusty installed and rebooted as per my kickstart instructions.

Now the issue that I have is.

a. I don’t want to scroll down and select my custom menu on every client host. I want to make this a custom task and assign to any registered host when I want to install trusty.

b. With the help of plugins, I came to know that I can create custom tasks.

c. Now the question is how can I call my menu or direct code of my trusty install through this custom task.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

@csa So this is going to take a bit more time as you’re trying to adjust the tasking elements themselves. But your tasking is intended NOT to load into the FOG system, correct? You want the tasking to load into a whole different environment?

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Yes I think that is correct.

Thank you
Chakri

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Re-thinking about the question. When I was able to call the kickstart installation via my custom entry. Which is presented by fog menu. Not sure if that is called as a separate environment. Shouldn’t this be like any other “memtest” or diskcleanup task which already there?

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

I know of a way to get this working, it’s just a bit more involved initially.

Because you want it as a tasking, I need to see if there’s a hook available to operate against the tasking functions.

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott
Thank you so much for your time. Please let me know. Again loving this product so much and its a great invention.

Thank you
Chakri

[Sebastian Roth]

@csa For automated installs you might want to check out FAI as well. Does PXE boot as well. I am running FOG and FAI alongside on my dev notebook sharing all the common services (NFS, DHCP, PXE, TFTP, …). I am not saying you shouldn’t do this with FOG. It’s probably doable and you’d have it all together in one solution. Just saying that FOG is made for cloning and FAI is made for automated installs.

Looking forward to see if you can make it work within FOG!

[csa]

@Sebastian-Roth
Yes kickstart works like a champ on fog. I want to use cloning and installation on one server. All I need to do is now to be able to create a task, so i can assign to a host. Tom Elliott is checking on some hooks.

Thank you
Chakri

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott
Just wondering if you have any updates. If not can you give me some guide lines on where and how to create the hooks.

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

@csa Can you provide an exact diagram of what needs to happen?

Using the system you have now, it seems to try to do what you’re wanting to do via the FOS systems, but you really have your own environment.

I can probably help much better if I know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish (and even attempt to replicate so I can test and give a more suitable answer.)

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott
All I wanted to do is to call the custom menu that I created via custom task.

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

@csa But the custom task, is it using fos environment to perform the task? What is the task actually going to do?

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott
The custom menu is doing kickstart installation ( just like the default memory test that comes with fog ). I can see the menu when I pxe boot just like any other menu. ( again same like memory test) but that is a manual process especially when I want to manage large number of hosts.
All I wanted to do now is to create a custom task ( which calls the custom menu ). So I can assign the task to a host that is registered.

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

Did you install the task type plugin?

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Yes I installed task type plugin. Like I shared the snapshots in the initial conversation. I can create a custom task but that isn’t calling the menu. That is where I needed help on how call my custom menu. If you can’t find the snapshot in the beginning of this tickets. I will re-post it.

Thank you
Chakri

[Tom Elliott]

@csa I was right. There is a hook already for this.

The hook to call is:

IPXE_EDIT

The Particular variable will be:

$arguments['Send']['task']

That’s called within the hook.

Can you post what the sequence to that tasking will be to boot it INTO the tasking?

[Tom Elliott]

https://fog.mastacontrola.com/service/ipxe/boot.php?mac=00:0c:29:bd:f2:ba

Does this look right for tasking?

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Sorry I am little confused on following your instructions but here is a screen shot of “Task Type Management” of my custom task. So can you tell me which field gets the “IPXE_EDIT” and which the arguments?

Once again thank you so much for your time and effort.

Thank you
Chakri

[csa]

@Tom-Elliott

Yes that is correct. I use that entries in my custom menu that I call manually. It works like a champ. Now I need to do the same in my tasking or call the menu from tasking.

Thank you
Chakri