Specifying an environment

Specify an entire environment to be installed as a line starting with the @^ symbols:

%packages
@^Infrastructure Server
%end

This installs all packages which are part of the Infrastructure Server environment. All available environments are described in the repository/repodata/*-comps-repository.architecture.xml file on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Installation DVD.

Only a single environment should be specified in the Kickstart file. If more environments are specified, only the last specified environment is used.

Specifying groups

Specify groups, one entry to a line, starting with an @ symbol, and then the full group name or group id as given in the *-comps-repository.architecture.xml file. For example:

%packages
@X Window System
@Desktop
@Sound and Video
%end

The Core group is always selected - it is not necessary to specify it in the %packages section.

Specifying individual packages

Specify individual packages by name, one entry to a line. You can use the asterisk character (*) as a wildcard in package names. For example:

%packages
sqlite
curl
aspell
docbook*
%end

The docbook* entry includes the packages docbook-dtds and docbook-style that match the pattern represented with the wildcard.

Specifying profiles of module streams

Specify profiles for module streams, one entry to a line, using the syntax for profiles:

%packages
@module:stream/profile
%end

This installs all packages listed in the specified profile of the module stream.

• When a module has a default stream specified, you can leave it out. When the default stream is not specified, you must specify it.
• When a module stream has a default profile specified, you can leave it out. When the default profile is not specified, you must specify it.
• Installing a module multiple times with different streams is not possible.
• Installing multiple profiles of the same module and stream is possible.

Modules and groups use the same syntax starting with the @ symbol. When a module and a package group exist with the same name, the module takes precedence.

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, modules are present only in the AppStream repository. To list available modules, use the dnf module list command on an installed Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 system.

It is also possible to enable module streams using the module Kickstart command and then install packages contained in the module stream by naming them directly.

Excluding environments, groups, or packages

Use a leading dash (-) to specify packages or groups to exclude from the installation. For example:

%packages
-@Graphical Administration Tools
-autofs
-ipa*compat
%end

You can change the default behavior of the %packages section by using several options. Some options work for the entire package selection, others are used with only specific groups.