Installing Linux over the network is an efficient method for deploying an operating system across multiple devices or in situations where access to external installation media such as USB flash drives or DVDs is not available. This process requires a network infrastructure and a server that will serve as the source of installation files. In this article, we'll walk through the steps on how to do it.

Setting Up the Environment

Before you begin, make sure you have:

1. Functional network connection: Installing over the network requires a stable network connection between the installation server and the target computer.
2. Installation server: It can be configured on Linux or Windows. It will host installation images and distribute them over the network.
3. PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) support on the target computer: Most modern computers support this. PXE allows the computer to boot over the network.

Setting Up the Installation Server

1. Installing and configuring DHCP server: A DHCP server assigns IP addresses to devices in your network. For PXE boot, you need to add parameters for PXE boot into the DHCP server configuration, such as the path to the network boot program.

2. Installing TFTP server: The TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) server is used to transfer the network boot program and other necessary files to the target computer.

3. Configuring NFS or HTTP server for distributing installation images: NFS (Network File System) or HTTP server allows target computers to access installation images and other files needed for installation.

4. Preparing installation images: Download the official installation image of your preferred Linux distribution and place it on the NFS or HTTP server.

Configuring the Target Computer

1. Changing the boot order: Enter the BIOS or UEFI of the target computer and set network boot (PXE) as the primary boot method.

2. Boot and install: After restarting the computer, the PXE boot process should automatically start. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Linux installation.

Tips and Tricks

• Security: Ensure that your network and server are securely configured to prevent unauthorized access.
• Debugging: If you encounter issues during PXE boot, check the DHCP, TFTP, and NFS/HTTP server logs for troubleshooting.
• Automation: To automate installation, you can create pre-defined configuration files for various Linux distributions.

Installing Linux over the network may seem daunting at first, but with thorough preparation and configuration, it is a highly efficient way to deploy an operating system on one or multiple devices. This method offers flexibility and scalability for network administrators and IT professionals.