FAI (Fully Automatic Installation)
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation): A free, open-source choice for unattended Linux deployment across hardware, VMs, and cloud. Ranked #11 of 29 in OS Deployment Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Open source; best for linux administrators automating full installations.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forLinux administrators automating full installations
- Paid fromFree
- Bare-metal deploymentYes
- Founded1999
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free, open-source deployment under the GNU GPL
- Unattended PXE, custom-media, bare-metal, VM, and cloud deployment
- Profiles, partitioning, RAID/LVM, and centralized configuration
Where it doesn't
- Core operating-system coverage is limited to Linux
- Class-based configuration can require administrator expertise
- Deployment depends on network or custom installation media
Our verdict on FAI (Fully Automatic Installation)
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) is a free, open-source tool for unattended deployment and configuration of Linux systems. It is designed for system administrators managing physical computers, virtual machines, clusters, and cloud environments, from small labs to larger Linux infrastructures. Centralized, class-based configuration supports operating-system and software installation, while profiles help apply different configurations across systems. Deployments can use PXE-based network installation or customized CD, DVD, USB, and ISO media.
Its strongest advantage is breadth across Linux deployment targets without a commercial license. FAI supports bare-metal provisioning, virtual-machine deployment, cloud image creation, and remote installation control. The published integrations include KVM, VirtualBox, VMware, OpenStack, Azure, EC2, and GCE, alongside HTTP, NFS, SVN, and Git. For storage and system lifecycle work, it includes disk partitioning, software RAID, LVM, chroot environments, custom disk images, and online maintenance through softupdates. That combination suits administrators who want one configuration approach across physical, virtual, and cloud environments.
FAI is focused rather than cross-platform: its core operating-system coverage is Linux, so organizations standardizing on other operating systems should choose a different deployment tool. Its class-based model, storage configuration, PXE workflows, and custom media options also favor administrators comfortable designing centralized installation processes. Teams looking for a focused Linux deployment system should consider FAI when unattended installation, repeatable profiles, and infrastructure flexibility matter more than a commercial interface or broader operating-system coverage.
Your product? Our editors can test FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) pricing
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Bare-metal deployment | Yes |
| Operating-system support | Linux |
| Deployment methods | Network_media |
| Multicast deployment | Not verified |
| Unattended deployment | Yes |
| Driver injection | Not verified |
| Deployment limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 11 integrations: HTTP, NFS, SVN, Git, KVM, VirtualBox … |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | fai-project.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) integrations
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) lists 11 integrations on its own site.
- HTTP
- NFS
- SVN
- Git
- KVM
- VirtualBox
- VMware
- OpenStack
- Azure
- EC2
- GCE
Alternatives to FAI (Fully Automatic Installation)
- ManageEngine OS DeployerA broad Windows deployment toolkit with free coverage and LAN-to-WAN paid tiers.9.1
- KACE Systems Deployment ApplianceA centralized appliance for multi-site OS imaging, provisioning, migration, and recovery.9.0
- Acronis Snap DeployA deep imaging toolkit for centralized, unattended, and hardware-flexible Windows deployment.8.9
See all FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) alternatives →
Also Ranked In
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) is ranked in 3 of our directories.
Used FAI (Fully Automatic Installation)? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
FAI (Fully Automatic Installation) is listed in our OS Deployment Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/fai-fully-automatic-installation/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/fai-fully-automatic-installation.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update