06-08-2004
Trying to explain it all in a forum post is going to be very difficult but I will try to get you going in the write direction and give you some pointers.
First, understand how kickstart works. Redhat and other sites have plenty of docs on this subject.
Make sure you don't have a competing dhcp/bootp server on that segment of the network. If you do, you will never be able to guarantee your PXE clients get an address and boot from your server.
If you install RedHat, /root/anaconda-ks.cfg is a complete kickstart file based on the system you just installed. It's a helpful starting point
Once you have mastered that stuff, figure out how dhcp and tftp work. Not too difficult. I can't remember off the top of my head but certain tftp programs work better then others. Look at the PXE docs to see what is recommended.
H. Peter Anvin (spelling?) - you know the guy who's name pops up when ever you start linux - has some pretty detailed docs on the vmlinux and initrd stuff. I think there is a link off kernel.org. He also has a home page somewhere with tons of usefull stuff on building boot images (you know, for your PXE clients). Just search for his name.
At this point you should be ready to put all the pieces together. This is the hardest part. You have to build some images and serve them up. Basically you create a conf file that looks at the incoming DHCP/bootp request, decides if it should server out a menu or just grant an address, then "pushes" the image to the client.
I know this is not a step by step procedure but that would be pages and pages of material. Get started and when you hit a roadblock just post it and someone will be able to help you. There is a lot of trial and error in setting up a PXE server, but that is how you learn.
10 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting
1. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers
Hi,
Setting up print queue, using SMIT on AIX
And I have an option saying do I wish to make this a BOOTP/TFTP server. What exactly does this do?
Thanks (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: maverick
3 Replies
2. HP-UX
I have a HP box (PA RISC) rp3440.
The machine does not have a CD-ROM.
I need to re-install the OS.
Basically a network install...
How did I do a network install?
Anybody know of a document for Network Installs for a HPUX 11.23? (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: truejack
1 Replies
3. SCO
I have a Dell 1850 and trying to load OS and my applications using PXE. How can I stage new servers using Network drive.
Want to move away from Tape and go towards network load.
Thx
Sean. (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: smoaref
0 Replies
4. Solaris
Hi all,
I got a Fujitsu P650 server running on Solaris 9 and we are going to re-install Solaris 10 . W have a build server in a different IP segment. So we setup a boot server and /etc/ethers and /etc/bootparams are all updated. When I issue
boot net -install,
I'm getting the following... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: mohzub
3 Replies
5. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers
Hey guys,
Sorry, this question might look stupid but I have no idea how to install a network card.
My server is a Dell PowerEdge T105 with Debian 5.0 Lenny.
My network card is a Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5722 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express.
I've plugged the card innside my server and I can see... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: chebarbudo
2 Replies
6. Ubuntu
Hello,
I have a desktop with ubuntu installed and i want to install ubuntu also to the laptop over network.
I have an iso image of the ubuntu and i want to use this as install source.
So i installed tftpd-hpa apache2 and dhcp3-server.
mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/ubuntu
mount - o loop ... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: @dagio
2 Replies
7. Emergency UNIX and Linux Support
Hi folks,
I really hope someone can help me (soon :) ) as I can't work out what I'm doing wrong and google is not helpful either.
Basically I have to setup 20 Dell servers with RHEL 4.8 (no, not 5, must be 4.8). Of course I have tftp and I'm trying to install them via nfs with kickstart and... (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: columb
4 Replies
8. Red Hat
Hi,
I really hope someone can help me (soon :) ) as I can't work out what I'm doing wrong and google is not helpful either.
Basically I have to setup 20 Dell servers with RHEL 4.8 (no, not 5, must be 4.8). Of course I have tftp and I'm trying to install them via nfs with kickstart and PXE. OS... (0 Replies)
Discussion started by: columb
0 Replies
9. Solaris
i find a solution (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: shady_2005
2 Replies
10. Solaris
If this question has been answered, please provide a link.
We have several Old Solaris stations that don't have a DVD but a CD. We are required to upgrade the OS on these systems from Solaris 8 to Solaris 10, and since Solaris 10 no longer provides CD's we were thinking of doing a network... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: Wrongway
3 Replies
LEARN ABOUT OPENDARWIN
dhcp
dhcp(5) Standards, Environments, and Macros dhcp(5)
NAME
dhcp - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DESCRIPTION
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) enables host systems in a TCP/IP network to be configured automatically for the network as they
boot. DHCP uses a client/server mechanism: servers store configuration information for clients, and provide that information upon a
client's request. The information can include the client's IP address and information about network services available to the client.
This manual page provides a brief summary of the Solaris DHCP implementation.
Solaris DHCP Client
The Solaris DHCP client is implemented as background daemon, dhcpagent(1M). This daemon is started automatically during bootup if there
exists at least one dhcp.interface file in /etc. Only interfaces with a corresponding /etc/dhcp.interface file are automatically configured
during boot. Network parameters needed for system configuration during bootup are extracted from the information recieved by the daemon
through the use of the dhcpinfo(1) command. The daemon's default behavior can be altered by changing the tunables in the /etc/default/dhc-
pagent file. The daemon is controlled by the ifconfig(1M) utility. Check the status of the daemon using the netstat(1M) and ifconfig(1M)
commands.
Solaris DHCP Server
The Solaris DHCP server is implemented as a background daemon, in.dhcpd(1M). This daemon can deliver network configuration information to
either BOOTP or DHCP clients. The Solaris DHCP service can be managed using the dhcpmgr(1M) GUI or the command line utilities dhcpcon-
fig(1M), dhtadm(1M), and pntadm(1M).
DHCP Configuration Tables
The Solaris DHCP server stores client configuration information in the following two types of tables:
dhcptab tables Contain macros and options (also known as symbols), used to construct a package of configuration information to
send to each DHCP client. There exists only one dhcptab for the DHCP service. The dhcptab(4) can be viewed and mod-
ified using the dhtadm(1M) command or dhcpmgr(1M) graphical utility. See dhcptab(4) for more information about the
syntax of dhcptab records. See dhcp_inittab(4) for more information about the DHCP options and symbols.
DHCP network tables DHCP network tables, which contain mappings of client IDs to IP addresses and parameters associated with those
addresses. Network tables are named with the IP address of the network, and can be created, viewed, and modified
using the pntadm command or dhcpmgr graphical utility. See dhcp_network(4) for more information about network
tables.
SEE ALSO
dhcpinfo(1), dhcpagent(1M), dhcpconfig(1M), dhcpmgr(1M), dhtadm(1M), ifconfig(1M), in.dhcpd(1M), netstat(1M), pntadm(1M), syslog(3C),
dhcp_network(4), dhcptab(4), dhcpsvc.conf(4), dhcp_inittab(4), dhcp_modules(5)
Solaris DHCP Service Developer's Guide
Alexander, S., and R. Droms. RFC 2132, DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions. Silicon Graphics, Inc. Bucknell University. March 1997.
Droms, R. RFC 1534, Interoperation Between DHCP and BOOTP. Bucknell University. October 1993.
Droms, R. RFC 2131, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Bucknell University. March 1997.
Wimer, W. RFC 1542, Clarifications and Extensions for the Bootstrap Protocol. Carnegie Mellon University. October 1993.
SunOS 5.10 13 Mar 2001 dhcp(5)