PXE netboot installation of Linux/SuSE

1. PXE netboot installation of Linux/SuSE • Objectives • Creating PXE netboot installations • Contents • DHCP server manual setup • TFTP server yast setup • boot files from CD1 • Syslinux package • Net bootloader config • Wake on LAN • Practicals • Perform one PXE installation • Summary

2. DHCP Server for TFTP booting • Beside the regular DHCP settings we need to annonce tvtp server • tftp server IP address next-server • Net boot image filename • Booting client MAC address option domain-name ”net05.se"; option domain-name-servers 192.168.1.1; option routers 192.168.1.1; option ntp-servers 192.168.1.2; default-lease-time 14400; ddns-update-style none; subnet 192.168.1.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 { # Range specify which IP addresses to deliver # range 192.168.1.200 192.168.1.250; default-lease-time 14400; max-lease-time 172800; } group { next-server 192.168.1.60; filename "pxelinux.0"; host Zert120 { hardware ethernet 00:07:E9:64:73:E3; } host Bert120 { hardware ethernet 00:B0:D0:39:63:8C; fixed-address 192.168.1.102; } }

3. Setup of a TFTP Server • Install the tftp package (dependent on xinetd) • TFPT server by H. Peter Anvin • Recommendation is to install & configure tftp with yast and check files afterwards! • TFTP root directory shour be set as: /srv/tftpboot • Create the directory • TFTP is xinetd dependent, check /etc/xinetd.d/tftp: • Restart the DHCP server • Restart the xinetd server # /srv/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg service tftp { socket_type = dgram protocol = udp wait = yes user = root server = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd server_args = -s /tftpboot disable = no } # /rcdhcpd restart # /rcxinetd restart

4. Preparing the tftp-root with boot files • First we need the boot files copied into the tftp-root • Install the syslinux package (with yast) • Syslinux contains the nessesary pxeboot.0 file • Copy alsothe pxebootloader file to tftp-root • The isolinux.cfg is syslinux boot manager options, whcih we need in order to boot over the net, renamed as default: # cd /export/network-install/SuSE/9.3/CD1 # cp -a boot/loader/linux boot/loader/initrd /srv/tftpboot # cp -a boot/loader/message /srv/tftpboot boot/loader/memtest /srv/tftpboot # cp -a /usr/share/syslinux/pxelinux.0 /srv/tftpboot # cd /export/network-install/SuSE/9.3/CD1 # cp -a boot/loader/isolinux.cfg /srv/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

5. Modify the /srv/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default file • Edit the default and disable graphic bootloader, remove these: gfxboot readinfo framebuffer • You then need to add these at proper labels: • insmod=e100 • netdevice=eth0 • install=nfs://ip_instserver/path_instsource/CD1 • For automatic start of installation in end of file • default linux • timeout 100 • A sample label can look like this (linux) # install label linux kernel linux append initrd=initrd ramdisk_size=65536 insmod=e100 netdevice=eth0 \ install=nfs://192.168.1.60/exports/network-install/SuSE/9.3/CD1 \ autoyast=nfs://192.168.1.60/exports/network-install/SuSE/9.3/my-host.xml

6. Preparing client and Wake on LAN • Boot order in client BIOS need to be set 1. NetBoot 2. Disk • Note that there can be problem after the reboot, netboot willeventually start a new installation over and over again! • Installing netdiag allows the wake on LAN • By issuing command • Target host wakes up and can boot on PXE • During client boot • Broadcast for DHCP server • Getting first IP address • Fetching boot image from tftp server and start loading boot manager • Boot manager arrives and after timeoutbootmanager loads the default label kernel linux • Attempt to mount install and autoyast • Installation continues in normal order ether-wake mac_of_target # cp autoinst.xml /media/floppy/autoinst.xml