I always wondered how to use the "Boot from network" option I noticed in my various motherboard BIOS. I though it was some advanced option reserved to professionals. Peanuts! It's so easy and so powerfull !!!
1. Hardware
I own a small network: a Linksys WRT54GS wireless router, a Linksys NSLU2 USB NAS and 2 laptops. To be able to set up the Network Boot we will need:
- a dnsmasq server (DHCP): the Linksys running openWRT will do :)
- a TFTP server: the Linksys NSLU2 will do
2. Hardware configuration
2.1 Linksys WRT54GS wireless router
The router operates OpenWrt. You just need to modify /etc/dnsmasq.conf by adding the following lines to it.
dhcp-vendorclass=pxe,PXECLIENT
dhcp-boot=pxelinux.0,jahstorage,192.168.1.77 #nom du server, ip du server
dhcp-option=pxe,67,pxelinux.0 #bootfile-name
In my case, the tftp server is set up on my Slug (NSLU2) aka jahstorage, so I redirect to it.
2.2 The "Slug" Linksys NSLU2
On the Slug (or any other piece of hardware running *NIX), we just need to set up a TFTP server and then copy the appropriate files into /tftpboot folder.
# ipkg install atftpd
Then we need to download the netboot image:Netboot.tar.gz que l'on veut. For example, to download the Debian Sid Netboot image from the Korean Debian mirror:
http://ftp.kr.debian.org/debian/dists/sid/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz
You can adapt this to almost any distribution, you just need to fnd the netboot image!
2.3 The client PC
You just need to switch the Network Boot option to enabled and then place the Network option in top of your device boot order. Save reboot and enjoy !
3. Conclusion
It's magic! Want to install a new distro ? Get the Netboot and you're done !
Mo) et lancez une net install sans le moindre medium!