Remote debian installation - clean HD

Hey everybody. I was wondering if anybody knows of a good tutorial on how to install debian on a remote server (no OS currently installed). I have physical access to the server BUT I don't have a keyboard and I would prefer not to buy one if I could installed from my laptop.

Any ideas will be appreciate it.

Thanks

Solution 1:

I can think of a couple basic approaches.

• Find or build a livecd that boots up and starts an SSH server. Then connect to the SSH server and use debootstrap to install the system.
• If the server has a working serial port, and your computer has a serial port, then get a null-modem cable and remaster a install cd to redirect the console over to the serial port.
• If you really know the hardware well and understand what is going on, you could completely automate the installation of the system. It is possible on Debian systems to provide a preseed file and automate the entire install.

Solution 2:

To tell you the truth, it's completely doable with some imagination, resourcefulness, and time... almost like a good challenge. If that's fine with you, I'm sure you'll find some good answers here (I have to take a look at my bookmarks and find some tutorials on how to do a remote or automated install).

HOWEVER, if you don't want to spend the time or don't really care about the challenge, then buy a keyboard (shouldn't cost too much, check craigslist - example $1 keyboard: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/sys/1335089360.html). It might serve you well, as there could be some future troubleshooting requiring you to have a keyboard.