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.
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ATFTP(1) General Commands Manual ATFTP(1)
NAME
atftp - TFTP client (RFC1350).
SYNOPSIS
atftp [options] [host [port]]
DESCRIPTION
atftp can be used interactively or in batch mode to retrieve files from TFTP servers. When used interactively, a summary of the commands
can be printed by typing 'help'. This TFTP client support all basic feature from RFC1350, RFC2347, RFC2348 and RFC2349. It also support
multicast implementation of RFC2090 and mtftp as defined in the PXE specification.
OPTIONS
This program supports both the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with two dashes (`-') as well as short options.
Some options are usable in batch mode only, they have no meaning when atftp is use interactively. A description of the options is included
below.
-g, --get
Non interactive invocation only. Instruct atftp to get file.
--mget Non interactive invocation only. Used to get file from a mtftp capable server.
-p, --put
Non interactive invocation only. Instruct atftp to put file.
-l, --local-file
Non interactive invocation only. The client side file name to read or write. Must be used in conjunction with --get or --put.
-r, --remote-file
Non interactive invocation only. The server side file name to get or put. Must be used in conjunction with --get or --put.
--tftp-timeout <value>
Number of seconds for timeout, client side. Default is 5 seconds.
--option <"name value">
Set option "name" to "value". This command support exactly the same arguments as the interactive one. For example, use: --option
blksize 1428 to configure block size.
--mtftp <"name value">
Set mtftp possible options. Accept the same options as the interactive mtftp command. For example, use: --mtftp client-port 76 to
configure client side port to use.
--no-source-port-checking
See atftpd's man page.
--verbose
Instruct atftp to be verbose. It will print more information about what's going on.
--trace
This is useful for debugging purpose to display all packet going to and from the network.
-V, --version
Print version.
-h, --help
Print a summary of command line arguments.
AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Remi Lefebvre <remi@debian.org> and Jean-Pierre Lefebvre <helix@step.polymtl.ca>.
December 27, 2000 ATFTP(1)