On Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 2:17 PM Peter Boy <pboy(a)uni-bremen.de> wrote:
Folks,
We distribute a distribution medium called „Everything“ at
https://alt.fedoraproject.org/ and various subpages. This provides
several (mutually exclusive) installation options, in addition to all
desktop spins and labs also a "Fedora Server Edition". There are several
problems with this:
1.
The installation falsely claims to install "Fedora Server Edition" and
reports accordingly when booting. However, the default values install a
desktop environment, so that our Fedora Server Edition comes with btrfs and
a large /home subvolume, among other things.
The default values don't install a desktop environment. The default package
set is "Fedora Custom Operating System", which is very similar to a minimal
installation.
You probably meant that the default filesystem layout is the same as when
installing a desktop environment. That's true. But that's just because
btrfs is the default Fedora layout. Fedora Server images override it to
lvm+xfs. But Everything netinst image doesn't (understandably, it's the
most generic image), and selecting the Server package set has no effect on
it, which means btrfs is used.
You can make Everything netinst image behave as if it was a Server image by
adding "inst.profile=fedora-server" to kernel params when booting it. I
just tested that, it has Server branding, the correct Server layout and
package set. Perhaps this is worth documenting?
2.
There are always users who download the "Everything" medium
instead of the
various edition-specific media. They rely on the "Fedora Server Edition"
label and then complain that nothing works as it should and as it is
described in our documentation.
On one hand, if somebody is experienced enough to find alternative download
images, they should kinda know what they're doing. On the other hand, it
would be nice if anaconda provided more clarity about this. Either by
allowing to pick one of available profiles right after selecting language
(including a "generic" profile, which is the current behavior), or by
asking the user whether to apply the profile values when they pick e.g.
Server package set (acknowledging that e.g. partitioning might need to be
re-done). File an RFE against anaconda?