How to remotely install Linux via SSH?

Posted by netvope on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by netvope
Published on 2010-12-02T00:32:07Z Indexed on 2012/07/07 9:18 UTC
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linux

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ubuntu

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ssh

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remote

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install

I need to remotely install Ubuntu Server 10.04 (x86) on a server currently running RHEL 3.4 (x86). I'll have to be very careful because no one can press the restart button for me if anything goes wrong.

Have you ever remotely installed Linux? Which way would you recommend? Any advice for things to watch out?

Update:

Thanks for your help. I managed to "change the tires while driving"!

The main components of my method are drawn from HOWTO - Install Debian Onto a Remote Linux System, grub legacy: Booting once-only, grub single boot and kernel panic reboot , and Ubuntu Community Documentation: InstallationFromKnoppix

Here is the outline of what I did:

Run debootstrap on an existing Ubuntu server
Transfer the files to the swap partition of the RHEL 3.4 server
Boot into tha swap partition (the debootstrap system)
Transfer the files to the original root partition
Boot into the new Ubuntu system and finish up the installation with tasksel, apt-get, etc

I tested the method in a VM and then applied to the server. I was lucky enough that everything went smoothly :)

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