https://github.com/victordejong/debian-preseed-generator
GitLab mirror
https://github.com/victordejong/debian-preseed-generator
automation debian preseed
Last synced: 2 months ago
JSON representation
GitLab mirror
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/victordejong/debian-preseed-generator
- Owner: victordejong
- License: mit
- Created: 2025-07-01T21:48:39.000Z (12 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-01-08T23:35:42.000Z (6 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-11T20:47:12.310Z (2 months ago)
- Topics: automation, debian, preseed
- Language: Shell
- Homepage: https://gitlab.com/victordejong/debian-preseed-generator
- Size: 31.3 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# debian-preseed-generator
This project exists to provide a miminum configuration for a full Debian installation with sane defaults used where relevant.
The preseed installs to a singe disk with LVM and uses a simple static networking setup or DHCP. The default user/pass is `jan/Welkom123!@#`, with the same password for the root user.
`sudo` and `ssh-server` are installed by default.
## Requirements
- `python3`
- `python3-venv`
- `bash`
- (Optional) `grub` toolset (for generating a grub password with `grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2`)
## Howto
1. Clone this project:
```bash
git clone https://gitlab.com/victordejong/debian-preseed-generator
cd debian-preseed-generator
```
2. (Optional) 2 files can be used to automatically provide answers for the template. `vars` can be used and is the file `deploy.sh` writes to to save answers you provided manually for future use. `vars.custom` fulfills the same function as `vars`, but takes precedence and will never be written to by the `deploy.sh` script. For any missing option the default value will be used, see [Default values](#default-values).
3. To render the preseed file and make it available over HTTP, run this command from this repository:
```bash
./deploy.sh
```
For more options, see `./deploy help`
4. Add the following to the Debian Installer `linux` GRUB entry BEFORE the dashes (`---`):
```text
linux [...] auto=true hostname=[HOSTNAME] domain=[EXAMPLE.COM] url=http://WEBHOST:PORT/preseed.cfg
```
> [!WARNING]
> When starting the installer, the preseed file is configured as such to overwrite all data on the target disk if there is any, without prompting the user!
The domain part is not necessary and may be left empty `domain=`.
## Default values
Currently, the following default values are active.
```bash
# Unset static network configuration enables DHCP in the preseed file
DEBINSTALL_NET_IP=
DEBINSTALL_NET_MASK=
DEBINSTALL_NET_GW=
DEBINSTALL_NET_NS=
DEBINSTALL_MACHINE_HOSTNAME='debian'
DEBINSTALL_DOMAIN='example.org'
DEBINSTALL_EXTRA_PACKAGES='sudo htop build-essential'
DEBINSTALL_BOOTDISK='/dev/sda'
# Timezone and country are for the Netherlands
DEBINSTALL_COUNTRY='nl'
DEBINSTALL_TIMEZONE='Europe/Amsterdam'
DEBINSTALL_FULL_USERNAME='Jan Modaal'
# Both passwords are 'Welkom123!@#'
DEBINSTALL_USER_PASS='$6$KGtfj9Pk5Bf0lXxe$UbreL0Kpk3XymAhXwhlIx0DhS9PqbQWtjcrAq8sTBUi/kf4nyl.WgRzEyaSd7HtSvdqHmXS5JZk0G.zvS1YeF0'
DEBINSTALL_GRUB_PASS='grub.pbkdf2.sha512.10000.D653BB7638769417A9A6A35F5E6ACFEB1DDD6C28321581AB800A02278255AF36CEDDA55919D197992590127DEA20957A9A593E8615CDA1729EC30FB76FB85962.906A00F5C102E490C2D61570390F272E7B450466CE6C71D923C4792FD2CAE25D862E6A7915DD3F90669087CFFF2FC2E72BFF95257E7C741893D4D241F0002DB7'
```
An example static networking configuration:
```bash
DEBINSTALL_NET_IP=10.0.0.2
DEBINSTALL_NET_MASK=255.255.255.0
DEBINSTALL_NET_GW=10.0.0.1
DEBINSTALL_NET_NS=1.1.1.1
```
The `DEBINSTALL_USER_PASS` can be generated as follows:
```bash
openssl passwd -6 [PASSWORD]
```
The `DEBINSTALL_GRUB_PASS` can be generated using the `grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2` tool, which is usually shipped with the relevant `grub2` package for your system.
## Supported OS'
This preseed has been tested on the following OS':
- Debian 11 Bullseye
- Debian 12 Bookworm
- Debian 13 Trixie
Other version might also work, but are not guaranteed.