OS Install Strategy¶
Flash Talos Linux raw disk images to the NVMe of each Dell OptiPlex 3080 Micro. Each image has its machine config embedded, so the node self-configures on first boot with no manual intervention.
How it works¶
- Build the image — Use the Talos imager container to produce a raw disk image with the node's machine config baked in.
- Decompress — The imager outputs a compressed image; decompress it before flashing.
- Flash via
dd— Pull the NVMe from the node, connect it through a USB enclosure, and write the image withdd. - Reinstall and boot — Put the NVMe back in the node and power on. Talos picks up the embedded config and joins the cluster automatically.
BIOS prerequisites (Dell OptiPlex 3080 Micro)¶
Before first boot, set the following in BIOS:
- SATA mode — set to AHCI (not RAID)
- Boot mode — UEFI
- Secure Boot — Disabled
Comparison with the previous Ubuntu approach¶
| Ubuntu (manual/PXE) | Talos (raw image) | |
|---|---|---|
| Install method | USB installer wizard or PXE + autoinstall | dd a raw image to NVMe |
| Post-install config | SSH + Ansible or manual setup | None — config is embedded in the image |
| Reproducibility | Requires automation tooling (Ansible, preseed) | Deterministic by construction |
| Re-image a node | Re-run installer or PXE boot | Flash a new image, boot |
| Time per node | ~10-15 min (installer) | ~2-3 min (dd + reassemble) |
The Ubuntu approach required either walking through the installer on each node or standing up a PXE server with autoinstall configs, followed by Ansible for post-install configuration. Talos eliminates all of that: the image is the entire OS plus config, and no SSH or post-install tooling exists on the node.
Full procedure¶
See the Runbook for the step-by-step instructions (image build, flash, BIOS setup, cluster bootstrap).