h1. Provision KVM VM without DHCP

This method is similar to the [[gPXE]] provisioning method, but the parameters are passed as kernel boot options.

h2. Prerequisites

In order to use direct kernel booting, the *vmlinuz* and *initrd.img* files need to exist in a storage pool.

I downloaded the two available for CentOS 6.0.

<pre>

cd /var/lib/libvirt/images

wget http://mirror.centos.org/centos/6/os/x86_64/isolinux/vmlinuz

wget http://mirror.centos.org/centos/6/os/x86_64/isolinux/initrd.img

</pre>

h2. Using virt-manager

From within the virtual machine's details, select the *Boot Options*.  Expand *Direct kernel boot* and enter the following information.  Replace the IP addresses with those specific to your setup

*Kernel path*: /var/lib/libvirt/images/vmlinuz

*Initrd path*: /var/lib/libvirt/images/initrd.img

*Kernel arguments*: ks=http://foremanserver.tld/unattended/provision?static=yes ksdevice=bootif network kssendmac ip=192.168.1.2 netmask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.1 dns=192.168.1.1

h2. command line using virsh

To make these changes edit the virtual machine's XML file through virsh

<pre>

virsh edit domain

</pre>

Below are the relevant lines, replace the IPs with those of your setup

<pre>

  <os>

    <type arch='x86_64' machine='rhel6.0.0'>hvm</type>

    <kernel>/var/lib/libvirt/images/vmlinuz</kernel>

    <initrd>/var/lib/libvirt/images/initrd.img</initrd>

    <cmdline>ks=http://foremanserver.tld/unattended/provision?static=yes ksdevice=bootif network kssendmac ip=192.168.1.2 netmask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.1 dns=192.168.1.1</cmdline>

    <boot dev='hd'/>

  </os>

</pre>