Install Talos Linux: Simple Guide for Any Machine

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Breaking: Install Talos Linux on Virtually Any System – here’s How

In a groundbreaking advancement for Kubernetes enthusiasts and system administrators, a new method has emerged to install
Talos Linux on almost any system, regardless of the limitations imposed by cloud providers or hardware configurations.
This innovative approach leverages the kexec utility and the Talm configuration manager to bypass traditional installation barriers,
providing unprecedented flexibility in deploying Talos Linux, the secure, Kubernetes-centric operating system.

The Challenge: Limited Installation Options

Many users face challenges when dealing with cloud providers or pre-configured servers that restrict custom image uploads or
ISO-based installations. In these scenarios, the available operating system choices are limited, hindering the deployment of specialized
systems like Talos linux, which is optimized for running Kubernetes.

The Solution: Kexec to the Rescue

The kexec utility offers a global method to overcome these restrictions. It allows booting into a new kernel from the
existing system without a physical reboot. This process involves downloading the necessary vmlinuz and
initramfs files for Talos Linux and then using kexec to switch to the new system.

essentially, any Linux distribution can act as a temporary bootloader.

Step-by-Step guide to Booting Talos Linux with Kexec

1. Log into Your Existing Linux System: Access your server or virtual machine via SSH. Ensure you have administrative privileges.
2. Install Kexec Tools: Use your distribution’s package manager to install kexec-tools. Such as, on Ubuntu, run:
   apt install kexec-tools -y.
3. Download Talos Linux Images: Download the vmlinuz and initramfs.xz files from the official Talos Linux
   GitHub repository. Replace latest with the specific version you need.

   wget -O /tmp/vmlinuz https://github.com/siderolabs/talos/releases/latest/download/vmlinuz-amd64
   wget -O /tmp/initramfs.xz https://github.com/siderolabs/talos/releases/latest/download/initramfs-amd64.xz

4. Gather Network Details: Use the following script to automatically detect and set your network settings:

   IP=$(ip -o -4 route get 8.8.8.8 | awk -F"src " '{sub(" .*", "", $2); print $2}')
   GATEWAY=$(ip -o -4 route get 8.8.8.8 | awk -F"via " '{sub(" .*", "", $2); print $2}')
   ETH=$(ip -o -4 route get 8.8.8.8 | awk -F"dev " '{sub(" .*", "", $2); print $2}')
   CIDR=$(ip -o -4 addr show "$ETH" | awk -F"inet $IP/" '{sub(".*", "", $2); print $2; exit}')
   NETMASK=$(echo "$CIDR" | awk '{p=$1;for(i=1;i<=4;i++){o=255;if(p<=8){o=256-2^(8-p);p=0}else{p-=8}}printf("%s%s",o,(i==4)?"":".")}'; echo "")
   DEV=$(udevadm info -q property "/sys/class/net/$ETH" | awk -F= '$1~/ID_NET_NAME_ONBOARD/{print $2; exit} $1~/ID_NET_NAME_PATH/{v=$2} END{if(v) print v}')

5. Prepare the Kernel Command line: Construct the CMDLINE variable with the necessary network parameters:

   CMDLINE="init_on_alloc=1 slab_nomerge pti=on console=tty0 console=ttyS0 printk.devkmsg=on talos.platform=metal ip=${IP}::${GATEWAY}:${NETMASK}::${DEV}:::::"
   echo $CMDLINE

6. Load the new Kernel: Use kexec to load the Talos Linux kernel into RAM:

   kexec -l /tmp/vmlinuz --initrd=/tmp/initramfs.xz --command-line="$CMDLINE"
   kexec -e

This will boot Talos Linux, but it will run entirely in RAM. A reboot will revert the system to its original state.

Persistent Installation: Applying Machine-Config and Installing Talos linux on Disk

to permanently install Talos Linux, you need to apply a machine-config that specifies the disk for installation. This can be done using
either the official talosctl utility or the Talm utility.

Configuration via Talosctl

Before applying the configuration, ensure it includes network settings for your node to avoid connectivity issues after reboot.

1. Generate Secrets and Configuration: Use talosctl to generate secrets and configuration files: