FAI is a non-interactive system to install, customize and manage Linux systems and software configurations on computers as well as virtual machines and chroot environments, from small networks to large-scale infrastructures and clusters.

It's a tool for unattended mass deployment of Linux. You can take one or more virgin PC's, turn on the power, and after a few minutes, the systems are installed, and completely configured to your exact needs, without any interaction necessary.

Motto: Plan your installation, and FAI installs your plan.

NEWS

  • [25 November 2011] Using Linux kernel 3.1 with FAI more ...
  • [15 September 2011] CentOS and Scientific Linux Cern support more ...
  • [25 May 2011] New Images for FAI CD are available. Get CD
  • [10 May 2011] FAI 3.4.8 packages are available. more ...
  • [21 Dec 2009] The FAI project celebrates its 10th anniversary. (article in German)

Features

  • Installs and updates Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, SuSe, ...
  • Centralized deployment and configuration management
  • Installs XEN domains, VirtualBox and Vserver
  • Easy set up of software RAID and LVM
  • Full remote control via ssh during installation
  • Integrated disaster recovery system
  • Every stage can be customized via hooks

Workshop

  • The last FAI workshop was held from 21-23 of october 2011 at Linuxhotel Essen (announement)
  • Thanks to these companies and organisations for supporting the workshop:
  • Thomas-Krenn AG, Netways, Department of Computer Science, University of Cologne

FAI is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version.