Dear All;

I need help in configuring the BOOTP server, I have found something on internet forums regarding the file: bootptab and editing some lines but Im not if they are all correct.

Also, I need help to configure my clients (UNIX) to boot up with this bootp server(UNIX).

I will be thankful if anyone can help.

It's useful to know...

1. the exact platform used for the server

2. the config of the clients, are they diskless or is bootp just a way to manage configuration?

3. Are you using a dynamic or static IP allocation scheme?

4. If static, have you got all the MAC addresses, and are they all on the same subnet as the server?

The first step is normally setting up the "/etc/ethers" file which maps MAC address to hostname.

And make sure the name resolving works, typically by "/etc/hosts".

Then you need additions in "/etc/bootparams" which map hostname to root file, swap file and dump file.

You need NFS started for clients to access shared directories.
You need tftp enabled for clients to load their kernel
You need [rpc.]bootparamd started in order for client to get rest of boot up configuration.

I suggest enabling debugging on TFTP server so you can monitor what clients are doing and what kernels they are requesting.