Cobbler is a Linux installation server that allows for rapid deployment of network-based install images. This tutorial will take you through the process of installing Cobbler on Kali Linux.
Before we begin, ensure that you have the following:
First, update the system by running the following command:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
To install Cobbler on Kali Linux, run the following command:
sudo apt-get install cobbler cobbler-web
During the installation process, you will be prompted to configure Cobbler. Enter "OK" to proceed.
Once Cobbler is installed, you need to configure it. To do this, run the following command:
sudo cobbler check
This will check for any errors in the configuration. If there are no errors, you can proceed to the next step.
Next, you need to add a distribution to Cobbler. You can do this by running the following command:
sudo cobbler distro add --name=<distro_name> --kernel=<kernel_path> --initrd=<initrd_path> --ks=<ks_path>
Replace <distro_name> with the name of your distribution, <kernel_path> with the path to the kernel file, <initrd_path> with the path to the initrd file, and <ks_path> with the path to your kickstart file.
For example:
sudo cobbler distro add --name=ubuntu-18.04 --kernel=/mnt/ubuntu-18.04/linux --initrd=/mnt/ubuntu-18.04/initrd.gz --ks=/var/lib/cobbler/kickstarts/ubuntu-18.04.seed
After adding a distribution, you need to add a profile. Run the following command to add a profile:
sudo cobbler profile add --name=<profile_name> --distro=<distro_name>
Replace <profile_name> with the name of your profile and <distro_name> with the name of your distribution.
For example:
sudo cobbler profile add --name=ubuntu-18.04-x86_64 --distro=ubuntu-18.04
After adding a distribution and profile, you need to restart the Cobbler services. Run the following command:
sudo systemctl restart cobblerd && sudo systemctl restart httpd
Finally, you can access the Cobbler web interface by opening your web browser and navigating to http://localhost/cobbler_web. Login with your credentials (default is cobbler/cobbler) and you will be taken to the Cobbler web interface dashboard.
Cobbler allows for easy and rapid deployment of network-based install images. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can install and configure Cobbler on Kali Linux and begin using it to deploy Linux installations on your network.
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