How to install OpenBSD on a SSDNodes VPS
SSDNODES is a VPS provider that, in exchange for a long term commitment, proposes really (really) low prices. Officially, only Linux OSes are available but the prices are so low that I decided to give it a try and install OpenBSD on one of their VPS.
Step 1
Once in possession of a VPS, the first step is to activate the console. I won't explain here how since it is obvious from the interface. One thing to keep in mind is that activating or deactivating the console restart the server. Don't do it in the middle of a sysupgrade.
An other thing is that you should not access your VPS using ssh and the console at the same time with OpenBSD. It has been reported to freeze (and then you have to open a ticket).
Once the console is activated the VPS console can be accessed with a vnc client. This will be only useful for the install process.
Step 2
The network will not auto configuring during the OpenBDD. Therefore the network
settings need to be gathered while still on Linux. The three information needed
are the IP address (also visible on the web interface), the network mask and
the gateway.
For the IP and netmask can be found with ip a. For the gateway, it is a two
steps process. The first line of route will give you the gateway hostname
(here _gateway):
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
default _gateway 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 enp3s0
With this hostname, the gateway IPs (v4, v6) can be retrieved with host.
Step 3
You need to grab the install image of OpenBSD (the name should be
installXX.img). Then you just have to dd it into the hard drive:
# dd if=installXX.img of=/dev/sda
I only had one experience of the system panicking while doing it. In that case, I just did a reinstall using the SSDNODES interface.
Step 4
Install OpenBSD as usual through the vnc client except for the network setting that needs to be set manually using the information gathered previously.
Step 5
Deactivate the console. Be careful, it will restart the VM. I usually turn it off before.