我要和大家分享的是其中提到的最后一种方法：the Ubuntu Installer itself，也就是Preseeding——预置的方法。
下面这个链接是Ubuntu官方关于Preseeding的介绍：https://help.ubuntu.com/7.10/installati ... eseed.html
如果英文阅读起来不方便，也可以参考阅读Debian关于Preseeding的中文介绍，二者的内容基本是一样的：http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/spa ... html.zh_CN
注意：对于希望尝试自动安装的读者，千万要小心自己的硬盘数据，建议在虚拟机或者没有重要数据的硬盘上尝试。我自己是用公司的闲置电脑实验的。
Preseeding将安装过程中需要回答的问题的答案放到预置文件中，这样在安装系统的过程中就无需手动输入问题的答案，这是Preseeding实现的原理。preseeding是针对Debian的系统来说的。作为在Debian基础上开发的Ubuntu，同样支持Preseeding，我们可以像编写Debian下的预置文件一样编写Ubuntu的预置文件。Preseeding和预置文件的其他信息我就不再详细介绍了，感兴趣的读者可以参考我上面给出的链接。
我们没有必要重新创建一个新的预置文件，通过对现有预置文件的修改可以帮我们更方便的得到我们自己所需要的预置文件。Debian预置文件的范例可以通过以下链接得到：http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/example-preseed.txt。Ubuntu预置文件的范例在上面Ubuntu官方关于Preseeding的介绍中有一个链接，不过这个链接已经失效了。我是通过比较另类的方法得到ubuntu的预置文件范例的，通过Wubi安装Ubuntu，但是并不重启电脑真正安装，在wubi创建的Ubuntu文件夹下就有个预置文件，具体的路径是：ubuntu\install\custom-installation\preseed.cfg。这里的preseed.cfg就是我们需要的预置文件了。
在讲解如何配置预置文件之前，还有一点需要指出：Ubuntu在安装过程中需要回答7个问题，分别是：1.语言环境；2.地区；3.键盘布局；4.硬盘分区；5.用户名和密码；6.文件迁移；7.最终确认(GRUB安装位置)，事实上，Ubuntu在安装过程中不止需要配置这7个方面的环境，还有很多其他方面也需要配置，比如网络，镜像，套件，APT等等，那么为什么我们没有看到关于这些设置的问题呢？其实是Ubuntu的安装器Ubiquity自己回答了这些问题。下面这段代码是Ubuntu-8.04.0-i386-desktop中isolinux.cfg文件关于live-install的相关代码，我们执行Ubuntu的Live CD安装时都是执行的这段代码：
代码： 全选
LABEL live-install
menu label ^Install Ubuntu
kernel /casper/vmlinuz
append file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity initrd=/casper/initrd.gz quiet splash --
下面我以Live USB实现自动安装的方法为例来讲解如何实现Ubuntu的自动安装。制作Live USB的方法有很多种，我是使用UltraISO来制作的，具体的实现过程见如下网页：viewtopic.php?f=77&t=139966，事实上，只要是通过syslinux方法实现Live USB的，下面的操作都是大同小异的，比如UNetBootin，或者Ubuntu8.10自带的工具Live USB Creator。我们需要完成以下两个步骤：
1.配置preseed.cfg文件，将安装过程中需要回答的问题全部回答好并且回答正确；
2.在syslinux.cfg文件中添加对preseed.cfg的指引；
其中，对7个问题的回答分别如下所示：
1.中文（简体）
2.中国（上海）
3.USA-USA
4.向导-使用整个硬盘
5.账号：abc，密码：123
6.无用户文件导入
7.GRUB默认安装在第一个硬盘
其他的问题采用自动配置。这样，我修改完成后的preseed.cfg文件如下所示：
注意：preseed.cfg与Ubuntu具体的版本也有关系，千万不可混用，我这里使用的版本是ubuntu-8.04.1-i386-desktop版本。
代码： 全选
## LOCALE
# Locale sets language and country.
d-i debian-installer/locale string zh_CN
## KEYBOARD
# Keyboard selection.
# d-i console-setup/modelcode string pc104
d-i console-setup/layoutcode string us
# To select a variant of the selected layout (if you leave this out, the
# basic form of the layout will be used):
#d-i console-setup/variantcode string dvorak
#d-i console-tools/archs select at
#d-i console-keymaps-at/keymap select us
## NETWORKING
# netcfg will choose an interface that has link if possible. This makes it
# skip displaying a list if there is more than one interface.
d-i netcfg/choose_interface select auto
# To pick a particular interface instead:
#d-i netcfg/choose_interface select eth1
# If you have a slow dhcp server and the installer times out waiting for
# it, this might be useful.
#d-i netcfg/dhcp_timeout string 60
# If you prefer to configure the network manually, uncomment this line and
# the static network configuration below.
#d-i netcfg/disable_dhcp boolean true
# If you want the preconfiguration file to work on systems both with and
# without a dhcp server, uncomment these lines and the static network
# configuration below.
d-i netcfg/dhcp_failed note
d-i netcfg/dhcp_options select Do not configure the network at this time
# Static network configuration.
# d-i netcfg/get_nameservers string 192.168.1.1
# d-i netcfg/get_ipaddress string 192.168.1.42
# d-i netcfg/get_netmask string 255.255.255.0
# d-i netcfg/get_gateway string 192.168.1.1
# d-i netcfg/confirm_static boolean true
# Any hostname and domain names assigned from dhcp take precedence over
# values set here. However, setting the values still prevents the questions
# from being shown, even if values come from dhcp.
d-i netcfg/get_hostname string ubuntu
d-i netcfg/get_domain string ubuntu-domain
# Disable that annoying WEP key dialog.
d-i netcfg/wireless_essid string essid
d-i netcfg/wireless_wep string
# The wacky dhcp hostname that some ISPs use as a password of sorts.
#d-i netcfg/dhcp_hostname string radish
## UBIQUITY
ubiquity ubiquity/summary note
ubiquity ubiquity/reboot boolean true
ubiquity ubiquity/success_command string [ -x /custom-installation/hooks/success-command.sh ] && /custom-installation/hooks/success-command.sh
ubiquity ubiquity/failure_command string [ -x /custom-installation/hooks/failure-command.sh ] && /custom-installation/hooks/failure-command.sh
#ubiquity ubiquity/automation_failure_command [ -x /custom-installation/hooks/failure-command.sh ] && /custom-installation/hooks/failure-command.sh
## SKIP Security-Update-Error
d-i apt-setup/security-updates-failed note
## MIRRORS
#~ d-i mirror/country string enter information manually
#~ d-i mirror/http/hostname string archive.ubuntu.com
#~ d-i mirror/http/directory string /ubuntu
d-i mirror/http/proxy string
## SUITE
# Suite to install.
d-i mirror/suite string hardy
# Suite to use for loading installer components (optional).
#d-i mirror/udeb/suite string edgy
## PARTITIONING
# If the system has free space you can choose to only partition that space.
# Note: this must be preseeded with a localized (translated) value.
#d-i partman-auto/init_automatically_partition \
# select Use the largest continuous free space
# Alternatively, you can specify a disk to partition. The device name can
# be given in either devfs or traditional non-devfs format.
# For example, to use the first SCSI hard disk:
d-i partman-auto/disk string /dev/sda
d-i partman-auto/method string regular
# Or, if you want to use LVM:
#d-i partman-auto-lvm/disk string /dev/sda
# You can choose from any of the predefined partitioning recipes.
# Note: this must be preseeded with a localized (translated) value.
##
d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe \
select All files in one partition (recommended for new users)
#d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe \
# select Separate /home partition
#d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe \
# select Separate /home, /usr, /var, and /tmp partitions
# Or provide a recipe of your own...
# The recipe format is documented in the file devel/partman-auto-recipe.txt.
# If you have a way to get a recipe file into the d-i environment, you can
# just point at it.
#d-i partman-auto/expert_recipe_file string /hd-media/recipe
# If not, you can put an entire recipe the preconfiguration file in one
# (logical) line. This example creates a small /boot partition, suitable
# swap, and uses the rest of the space for the root partition:
#LoopInstallFolder=/ubuntu/disks
#d-i partman-auto/disk string LIDISK
#d-i partman-auto/method string loop
#d-i partman-auto-loop/partition string LIPARTITION
#d-i partman-auto-loop/recipe string \
# /ubuntu/disks/root.disk 3000 9000 9000 ext3 method{ format } format{ } use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } mountpoint{ / } . \
# /ubuntu/disks/swap.disk 100 1000 1000 linux-swap method{ swap } format{ } . \
# \
# \
#d-i partman-auto/expert_recipe string \
# boot-root :: \
# 40 50 100 ext3 \
# $primary{ } $bootable{ } \
# method{ format } format{ } \
# use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } \
# mountpoint{ /boot } \
# . \
# 500 10000 1000000000 ext3 \
# method{ format } format{ } \
# use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } \
# mountpoint{ / } \
# . \
# 64 512 300% linux-swap \
# method{ swap } format{ } \
# .
# This makes partman automatically partition without confirmation.
d-i partman/confirm_write_new_label boolean true
#
d-i partman/choose_partition \
select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk
d-i partman/confirm boolean true
## CLOCK AND TIME ZONE
# Controls whether or not the hardware clock is set to UTC.
d-i clock-setup/utc boolean false
# You may set this to any valid setting for $TZ; see the contents of
# /usr/share/zoneinfo/ for valid values.
d-i time/zone string Asia/Shanghai
## APT
# You can choose to install restricted and universe software, or to install
# software from the backports repository.
#d-i apt-setup/restricted boolean true
#d-i apt-setup/universe boolean true
#d-i apt-setup/backports boolean true
# Uncomment this to avoid adding security sources, or
# add a hostname to use a different server than security.ubuntu.com.
#d-i apt-setup/security_host string
# Additional repositories, local[0-9] available
#d-i apt-setup/local0/repository string \
# deb http://local.server/ubuntu edgy main
#d-i apt-setup/local0/comment string local server
# Enable deb-src lines
#d-i apt-setup/local0/source boolean true
# URL to the public key of the local repository
#d-i apt-setup/local0/key string http://local.server/key
## USER ACCOUNT
# Skip creation of a root account (normal user account will be able to
# use sudo). The default is false; preseed this to true if you want to set
# a root password.
d-i passwd/root-login boolean false
# Alternatively, to skip creation of a normal user account.
#d-i passwd/make-user boolean false
# Root password, either in clear text
#d-i passwd/root-password password r00tme
#d-i passwd/root-password-again password r00tme
# or encrypted using an MD5 hash.
#d-i passwd/root-password-crypted password [MD5 hash]
# To create a normal user account.
d-i passwd/user-fullname string abc User
d-i passwd/username string abc
# Normal user's password, either in clear text
#d-i passwd/user-password password 123
#d-i passwd/user-password-again password 123
# or encrypted using an MD5 hash.
#d-i passwd/user-password-crypted password $1$2SGVV3Ue$mI3IzQ08IArdeVnTctxaK/
#An MD5 hash for a password can be generated using the following command.
#$ echo "r00tme" | mkpasswd -s -H MD5
## BASE SYSTEM INSTALLATION
# Select the initramfs generator used to generate the initrd for 2.6 kernels.
#d-i base-installer/kernel/linux/initramfs-generators string yaird
## BOOT LOADER
# Grub is the default boot loader (for x86). If you want lilo installed
# instead, uncomment this:
#d-i grub-installer/skip boolean true
d-i lilo-installer/skip boolean true
# This is fairly safe to set, it makes grub install automatically to the MBR
# if no other operating system is detected on the machine.
#d-i grub-installer/only_debian boolean true
# This one makes grub-installer install to the MBR if if finds some other OS
# too, which is less safe as it might not be able to boot that other OS.
#d-i grub-installer/with_other_os boolean true
# Alternatively, if you want to install to a location other than the mbr,
# uncomment and edit these lines:
# d-i grub-installer/bootdev string (hd0,0)
#d-i grub-installer/bootdev_directory string /ubuntu/disks
d-i grub-installer/only_debian boolean true
#d-i grub-installer/with_other_os boolean true
## PACKAGE SELECTION
tasksel tasksel/first multiselect ubuntu-desktop
#tasksel tasksel/first multiselect ubuntu-standard
#tasksel tasksel/first multiselect ubuntu-standard, lamp-server
#tasksel tasksel/first multiselect ubuntu-standard, kubuntu-desktop
#d-i pkgsel/include string openssh-server build-essential
# Some versions of the installer can report back on what software you have
# installed, and what software you use. The default is not to report back,
# but sending reports helps the project determine what software is most
# popular and include it on CDs.
#popularity-contest popularity-contest/participate boolean false
## FINISH FIRST STAGE
# Avoid that last message about the install being complete.
d-i finish-install/reboot_in_progress note
# This will prevent the installer from ejecting the CD during the reboot,
# which is useful in some situations.
d-i cdrom-detect/eject boolean false
## X CONFIGURATION
# X can detect the right driver for some cards, but if you're preseeding,
# you override whatever it chooses. Still, vesa will work most places.
#xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/config/device/driver select vesa
# A caveat with mouse autodetection is that if it fails, X will retry it
# over and over. So if it's preseeded to be done, there is a possibility of
# an infinite loop if the mouse is not autodetected.
#xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/autodetect_mouse boolean true
# Monitor autodetection is recommended.
xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/autodetect_monitor boolean true
# Uncomment if you have an LCD display.
#xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/config/monitor/lcd boolean true
# X has three configuration paths for the monitor. Here's how to preseed
# the "medium" path, which is always available. The "simple" path may not
# be available, and the "advanced" path asks too many questions.
##
#xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/config/monitor/selection-method \
# select medium
##
#xserver-xorg xserver-xorg/config/monitor/mode-list \
# select 1024x768 @ 60 Hz
## PRESEEDING OTHER PACKAGES
# Depending on what software you choose to install, or if things go wrong
# during the installation process, it's possible that other questions may
# be asked. You can preseed those too, of course. To get a list of every
# possible question that could be asked during an install, do an
# installation, and then run these commands:
# debconf-get-selections --installer > file
# debconf-get-selections >> file
## MIGRATION-ASSISTANT
#UserFolder=/Users/yanchen
#d-i anna/choose_modules multiselect migration-assistant
#d-i migration-assistant/partitions multiselect Windows XP Professional (/dev/MADEVICE)
#d-i migration-assistant/MADEVICE/users multiselect yanchen
#d-i migration-assistant/MADEVICE/yanchen/items multiselect AIM Triton, Internet Explorer, Yahoo, MSN, Opera, Firefox, Wallpaper, User Picture, Outlook Express, Gaim
# d-i migration-assistant/MADEVICE/hostuser/items multiselect My Documents, Internet Explorer
#d-i migration-assistant/MADEVICE/yanchen/user string ubuntu
# d-i migration-assistant/new-user/linuser/password password xyz
# d-i migration-assistant/new-user/linuser/password-again password xyz
# d-i migration-assistant/new-user/linuser/fullname string fullusername
# d-i migration-assistant/new-user/linuser/administrator boolean true
## SHELL COMMANDS.
# d-i preseeding is inherently not secure. Nothing in the installer checks
# for attempts at buffer overflows or other exploits of the values of a
# preseed file like this one. Only use preseed files from trusted
# locations! To drive that home, and because it's generally useful, here's
# a way to run any shell command you'd like inside the installer,
# automatically.
# This first command is run as early as possible, just after
# preseeding is read.
d-i preseed/early_command string [ -x /custom-installation/hooks/early-command.sh ] && /custom-installation/hooks/early-command.sh
# This command is run just before the install finishes, but when there is
# still a usable /target directory.
#d-i preseed/late_command string echo foo > /target/etc/bar
# d-i preseed/late_command string rm /target/usr/lib/base-config/menu/apt-setup; rm /target/usr/lib/base-config/menu/apt-setup.mnu
#~ d-i preseed/late_command string /sbin/late_command
接下来，我们需要在syslinux.cfg文件中添加对custom-installation这个预置文件夹的指引。syslinux.cfg在Live USB的syslinux文件夹下，如果是CD的话，对应的文件是isolinux文件夹下的isolinux.cfg。
在syslinux.cfg文件里，在live-install的那段代码后增加如下这段代码：
代码： 全选
LABEL auto-install
menu label ^Install Ubuntu Automatically
kernel /casper/vmlinuz
append boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.gz ro debian-installer/custom-installation=/custom-installation automatic-ubiquity noprompt quiet splash --
代码： 全选
DEFAULT auto-install
……
timeout 1
如果是Live CD，则前面修改syslinux.cfg的地方全部换做isolinux.cfg就可以了。同时Live CD还需要将这些安装文件整合成ISO镜像，在Ubuntu的终端下，输入如下命令可以帮我们做到：
代码： 全选
sudo mkisofs -r -cache-inodes \
-J -l -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -c isolinux/boot.cat \
-no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
-o ubuntu.iso path-of-install-file
将预置文件放到server上，然后自动安装，还在学习中。
另外：我自己还有不懂的地方，请高人指点一二。
1.我通过以上预置文件制作的Live USB，在实现自动安装的过程中，其他问题都能自动回答，只有在配置apt的时候，会弹出一个警告的消息，提示从光盘上读取apt信息错误，点击“确定”后，安装也能顺利进行下去。而通过Live CD安装过程中，则没有这个错误出现。两种方法使用的预置文件相同，我不知道我是什么地方配置错误了，请高人指点。
2.预置文件的分区信息中，关于自定义分区，有下面这段代码：
代码： 全选
#d-i partman-auto/expert_recipe string \
# boot-root :: \
# 40 50 100 ext3 \
# $primary{ } $bootable{ } \
# method{ format } format{ } \
# use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } \
# mountpoint{ /boot } \
# . \
# 500 10000 1000000000 ext3 \
# method{ format } format{ } \
# use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } \
# mountpoint{ / } \
# . \
# 64 512 300% linux-swap \
# method{ swap } format{ } \
