Add Ubuntu Server autoinstall for Iron Legion G9 — headless, zero-touch, replaces MAAS for small batches

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Artemis (Iron Legion)
2026-05-23 16:20:21 -04:00
parent 89e518612a
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# Ubuntu Server Autoinstall — Iron Legion G9
Headless, zero-touch Ubuntu 24.04 LTS deployment for GMKtec G9 mini-PCs.
Replaces MAAS for small batches. Fully autonomous after USB boot.
## Files
| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `autoinstall.yaml` | Main config — save as `user-data` on USB |
| `meta-data` | Empty companion file (required by nocloud) |
## Quick Start
### 1. Create the USB stick
1. Download **Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS ISO** (not Desktop)
2. Flash to USB with **Rufus** (Windows) or `dd` (Linux)
- Partition scheme: GPT
- Target system: UEFI (non-CSM)
3. Mount the USB's writable partition
### 2. Add autoinstall files
Create these two files in the **root of the USB's writable partition**:
**`user-data`**
```
[paste entire contents of autoinstall.yaml here]
```
**`meta-data`** (can be empty)
```yaml
instance-id: iid-ironlegion01
local-hostname: ubuntu
```
### 3. Configure GRUB for headless boot
Edit `boot/grub/grub.cfg` on the USB. Find the first menuentry and add kernel params:
```grub
set timeout=5
menuentry "Try or Install Ubuntu Server" {
linux /casper/vmlinuz autoinstall ds=nocloud\;s=/cdrom/ quiet ---
initrd /casper/initrd
}
```
**`timeout=5`** means 5-second countdown then auto-boots. Fully headless.
### 4. Boot the G9
1. Plug USB into G9
2. Power on
3. Walk away — 5 minutes later it's done
4. SSH in as `jarvis` / `ubuntu`
## What Happens
| Stage | Action |
|-------|--------|
| Boot | Ubuntu Server installer loads from USB |
| Storage | GPT on `/dev/nvme0n1` — 1GB boot + rest root (ext4) |
| Identity | Creates `jarvis` user with fleet SSH key |
| Hostname | Sets from MAC → `mk-33`, `mk-34`, `mk-39`, `mk-42`, or `g9-<last4>` |
| Packages | Installs Docker, Tailscale, git, curl, ufw, nfs-common |
| Docker | Adds `jarvis` to `docker` group |
| Tailscale | Installed, ready for `tailscale up` |
| Ansible | Clones `ansible-pull-deploy` repo to `~/.ansible-repo` |
| Network | Wildcard DHCP on all `en*` interfaces |
| SSH | Open on port 22, password auth enabled (fleet standard) |
| Firewall | UFW enabled — allows SSH only |
| Final | Reboots into fresh system |
## Post-Install (one command per node)
After the node is up:
```bash
# Join Tailscale (interactive — generates auth URL)
sudo tailscale up
# Or with pre-generated auth key:
sudo tailscale up --auth-key=tskey-auth-xxxxxxxx
# Run ansible-pull for remaining fleet config
cd ~/.ansible-repo && ansible-pull -U https://gitea.nb.bobbysh.me/Iron-Legion/ansible-pull-deploy.git -d .
```
## MAC-to-Hostname Mapping
| MAC | Hostname |
|-----|----------|
| `e0:51:d8:1c:5d:56` | `mk-33` |
| `e0:51:d8:1c:5c:75` | `mk-34` |
| `e0:51:d8:1c:5d:ca` | `mk-39` |
| `e0:51:d8:1c:5d:5c` | `mk-42` |
| other | `g9-<last4mac>` |
## Tailscale Auth Key
To auto-join without interaction, generate a reusable auth key:
```bash
tailscale login # on Artemis or any node
tailscale web
tailscale authkeys create --reusable --preauthorized --tags=tag:g9
```
Add the key to `late-commands` in `autoinstall.yaml`:
```yaml
- sudo tailscale up --auth-key=tskey-auth-xxxxxxxx
```
## Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| Stops at boot menu | Check GRUB `timeout` is set, not `#` commented |
| Can't find `user-data` | Verify files are on writable partition root, not inside a folder |
| Wrong disk | Confirm G9 has 1TB NVMe in first slot (`/dev/nvme0n1`) |
| Hostname is `ubuntu` | Check MAC is correct; check `/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled` exists |
| No SSH | Verify `openssh-server` installed; check `ufw status` |
## Differences from MAAS
| | MAAS | Autoinstall |
|--|------|-------------|
| PXE server | Required (Shield) | Not needed |
| Subnet | Isolated `/27` required | Any network with DHCP |
| Internet during install | Not available | Available via your LAN |
| Time per node | 15-30 min | ~5 min |
| Touch required | Power on + rename in UI | Zero (headless) |
| Scale | Excellent for 10+ nodes | Ideal for 1-10 nodes |
| Phase 2 bootstrap | Required manually | Included in late-commands |
## Notes
- Password is fleet standard: `ubuntu`
- SSH key is the same fleet-wide key used on all nodes
- Cloud-init is disabled post-install to prevent hostname stomping
- If you get more G9s, just update the MAC→hostname mapping and re-flash
## Version
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)
- Docker CE latest
- Tailscale stable
- Ansible 2.x (pulled from repo)

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# Ubuntu Server Autoinstall — Iron Legion G9 Headless Deploy
# Usage: Place as 'user-data' on nocloud USB alongside empty 'meta-data' file
# See README.md for USB creation instructions
version: 1
autoinstall:
# ── Identity ──
identity:
hostname: ubuntu
username: jarvis
password: "$6$iypA63f5vLDzTGQ2$eOrvsyhnM6c4istoy65GUConWL4St.rzy28wFt8QxUWk7F3fSx7mHytwnjHosvIj7JAMBPeC4jkUctAZJeKDx/"
ssh:
install-server: true
allow-pw: true
authorized-keys:
- ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIPSBrRCROUHOiZX9IB3teEK89VFfghbdu7OF5NoJ1Y6g
# ── Storage ──
storage:
config:
- type: disk
id: disk0
ptable: gpt
wipe: superblock-recursive
path: /dev/nvme0n1
- type: partition
id: boot-part
number: 1
size: 1GB
device: disk0
flag: boot
grub_device: true
- type: format
id: boot-format
fstype: ext4
volume: boot-part
- type: mount
id: boot-mount
device: boot-format
path: /boot
- type: partition
id: root-part
number: 2
size: -1
device: disk0
- type: format
id: root-format
fstype: ext4
volume: root-part
- type: mount
id: root-mount
device: root-format
path: /
# ── Networking ──
network:
version: 2
ethernets:
en0:
match:
name: "en*"
dhcp4: true
dhcp6: true
# ── Packages ──
packages:
- openssh-server
- curl
- git
- ca-certificates
- gnupg
- net-tools
- iputils-ping
- htop
- ufw
- nfs-common
# ── First boot scripts ──
late-commands:
# Hostname from MAC address
- |
MAC=$(cat /sys/class/net/en*/address 2>/dev/null | head -1 | tr -d ':')
case "$MAC" in
e051d81c5d56) HOST="mk-33" ;;
e051d81c5c75) HOST="mk-34" ;;
e051d81c5dca) HOST="mk-39" ;;
e051d81c5d5c) HOST="mk-42" ;;
*) HOST="g9-$(echo $MAC | tail -c 5)" ;;
esac
hostnamectl set-hostname "$HOST"
echo "$HOST" > /etc/hostname
printf "127.0.1.1\t%s\n" "$HOST" >> /etc/hosts
# Disable cloud-init re-run
- |
mkdir -p /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d
echo "preserve_hostname: true" > /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.d/99_preserve_hostname.cfg
touch /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled
# Install Docker
- |
install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu noble stable" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list
apt-get update
apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin
usermod -aG docker jarvis
# Install Tailscale
- |
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/ubuntu/noble.noarmor.gpg | tee /usr/share/keyrings/tailscale-archive-keyring.gpg >/dev/null
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/ubuntu/noble.tailscale-keyring.list | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tailscale.list
apt-get update
apt-get install -y tailscale
# Clone ansible-pull repo
- |
sudo -u jarvis bash -c 'mkdir -p ~/.ansible-repo && cd ~/.ansible-repo && git clone https://gitea.nb.bobbysh.me/Iron-Legion/ansible-pull-deploy.git . 2>/dev/null || true'
# SSH hardening (keep PW auth enabled for fleet standard)
- |
sed -i 's/^#*PermitRootLogin.*/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sed -i 's/^#*PasswordAuthentication.*/PasswordAuthentication yes/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
systemctl restart ssh
# Enable UFW basic rules
- |
ufw default deny incoming
ufw default allow outgoing
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw --force enable
# Reboot to finalize
- reboot