Stacki Documentation

Installing backend nodes

After the frontend is up and running, backend nodes can be installed.

Requirements

A backend has the following hardware requirements.

Resource	Minimum	Recommended
System Memory	3 GB	8 GB
Network Interfaces	1 (PXE-Capable)	1 or more (PXE-Capable)
Disk Capacity	40 GB	100 GB

BIOS boot order

1. PXE (Network Boot)
2. CD/DVD Device (Optional - Only if device is present)
3. Hard Disk

Discovery or Spreadsheet

You have a frontend. It’s useless if it’s not managing backend nodes.

To install a new backend node, Stacki needs to add information about the server (IP address, MAC address, appliance type, etc) to the configuration database.

You can add backend hosts either with a spreadsheet or discovery.

When using discovery, the frontend acts as a promiscuous DHCP server. This is not always acceptable on enterprise networks.

The frontend will attempt to install any machine making a successful pxe/dhcp request. Afer the initial installation of backends, the frontend no longer acts as a promiscuous DHCP server. This is acceptable on most networks.

Do Discovery if:

• You have full control of the network.
• Your security/network teams aren’t freaked about promiscuous DHCP, no matter how short-lived.
• You’re lazy and don’t want to create a spreadsheet detailing the hostname/mac/ip pairings.

Do Spreadsheet if:

• You don’t control the network.
• Your security and/or network teams consider this the start of The Apocalypse
• You love spreadsheets. (If you put your calendar in a spreadsheet, you love spreadsheets.)

ALL backend nodes have to have PXE set first in the BIOS boot order. A must. An absolute requirement. A categorical imperative (Yeaaah, you know your Kant). You’re not installing anything automated or at scale if you’re not doing this. Don’t argue. I have 15 years of arguments waiting to be used.

If the vendor does not set PXE first on your machines, you have to go do it.

• Boot the machine.
• Select BIOS Setup.
• Enable PXE on the NIC wired to the installation network.
• In the boot order set that NIC to the first boot device.
• Save settings and exit.

Please note: Installing laptops as backends is not supported. Ever. Evvvvvverrrrrrr. Don’t write. Don’t call. Don’t text if you’re trying to install a laptop as a backend server. Our most acidic mockery is reserved for you. (pH level = 0 = battery acid) If you’re successful, great, don’t tell us, we don’t care.

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