Just the OS - Automating a minimal linux install

A kickstart script that does a bare bones install.  Works fine with Scientific Linux but it should work with CentOS or Redhat.  Linux installs in less than 5 min on a ESXi 4gig vm.  Put the ks.cfg script on the Scientific Linux install CD.  It only requires the 1st CD of the install set.  Create a VM, point the CD at the ISO, then type “linux ks=cdrom” at the install prompt.  Get a cup of coffee.  Come back and your VM is ready to upgrade and add additional packages with yum.

Or heres an idea…

Install a CFengine agent and let the rest of the configuration take place from a Configuration Management Database