How to get HTTP preseed to work correctly on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid)?

Ok... I've found the answer with experiments.

1. Use the server or alternate ISO instead of the desktop ISO! Preseed does not work with the desktop ISO. Use the linux-generic kernel and tasksel ubuntu-desktop to get a desktop installation.

2. The auto boot parameter does not work (at least for i386). Use auto=true priority=critical instead.

3. In contrast to the official documentation, which states that "if the URL is missing a protocol, http is assumed", http:// is required or the installer will not be able to fetch the preseed file.

4. If you have multiple network cards, add interface=auto or the installer will ask you which interface to use.

Therefore, the minimum boot parameters needed are auto=true priority=critical url=http://mydomain.com/path/preseed initrd=/install/initrd.gz

If I have time, I'll definitely post a documentation-improvement request to launchpad.

The following default file worked for me

    kernel linux

    append auto=true priority=critical preseed/locale=en_US kbd-chooser/method=us preseed/url=http://192.168.13.184/preseed-files/preseed.cfg ramdisk_size=14984 root=/dev/rd/0 initrd=initrd.gz

If you do not give the locale and kbd-chooser the auto installation will not work and you will be presented with the screens for answering