I was able to figure out how to use preseeding in the Ubuntu installer. The trick was to pass the option:
Code:
"automatic-ubiquity"
as part of the kernel command line parameters as part of the installation. Unlike what the documentation states, "auto" alone won't work. I was also able to create a new CD image by using Cubic, which has an easy-to-use wizard to generate a new USB/DVD image, so I can just put the image on a USB key, plug it in, and do the job.
Some other notes to those who may stumble upon this in the future...
1. In the example-preseed.txt file from the documentation, the command to avoid a reboot is:
Code:
d-i finish-install/reboot_in_progress note
But this doesn't work. You have to use:
Code:
d-i ubiquity/reboot boolean true
AND set the "noprompt" option on the command line to avoid the prompt that reboots the PC at the end of the installation.
2. If you're using QEMU like I am to test the automated installation, make sure you have your hard disk interface set to "SATA" or the installer won't be able to partition the disk automatically. The example has the option "d-i partman-auto/disk string /dev/sda" which is expecting to find a SATA or SCSI disk; VirtIO disks won't be detected.
3. On first boot, the installer still asks questions about whether you want to have usage data sent to Canonical, hooking up your cloud accounts, etc. I haven't figured out how to avoid that yet.
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