Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part II

/* Note : It’s the second article regarding PXE Boot Setting. Please refer to Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part I for beginning configuration and Description about PXE Boot. */

PREPARING DHCP SERVICE

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) needed for supply the correct information for PXE Boot client.

Install DHCP Service
```
zypper in -t pattern dhcp_dns_server
```
Move the default DHCP configuration. We will used the custom configuration
```
mv /etc/dhcpd.conf /etc/dhcpd.conf.original
```

Create a new /etc/dhcpd.conf with text editor and copy-paste the configuration below

# dhcpd.conf
#
# Sample configuration file for ISC dhcpd
## option definitions common to all supported networks...
#
# All of this happens behind the firewall, and the whole domain
# is made-up anwyay, so this is mostly fluff.
#
option domain-name "vavai.net";

# We don't have Nameservers... so let's just forget this item
#option domain-name-servers ns1.networkboot.org, ns2.networkboot.org;

default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;

# if you do not use dynamical DNS updates:
#
# this statement is needed by dhcpd-3 needs at least this statement.
# you have to delete it for dhcpd-2, because it does not know it.
#
# if you want to use dynamical DNS updates, you should first read
# read /usr/share/doc/packages/dhcp-server/DDNS-howto.txt
ddns-update-style none; ddns-updates off;

# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
#authoritative;

# Use this to send dhcp log messages to a different log file (you also
# have to hack syslog.conf to complete the redirection).
log-facility local7;

#  We only want to respond to PXE DHCP requests

allow booting;

# define rules to identify DHCP Requests from PXE and Etherboot clients.

class "pxe" {
match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 9) = "PXEClient";
}
class "etherboot" {
match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 9) = "Etherboot";
}

# This is our subnet for PXE boot/installation.

subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
option broadcast-address 192.168.0.255;
pool {
range 192.168.0.101 192.168.0.150; # only need a few addresses
default-lease-time 180; # no long lease time required for booting
max-lease-time 360;     # booted system does its own dhcp request
server-name "192.168.0.8"; # This happens to be the IP of this server too
next-server 192.168.0.8; # Address of the TFTP server
filename "pxelinux.0";
allow members of "pxe"; # only respond to PXE requests
allow members of "etherboot"; # allow etherboot, too
}
}

Make a proper change to /etc/dhcpd.conf, especially the IP Address of DHCP Server. In this scenario, I’m using address 192.168.0.8. If you used another subnet, change the subnet, broadcast and range address.
Edit /etc/sysconfig/dhcpd and activate the ethernet used for listen DHCP request. If you confused which ethernet will be used, try with ANY as suggested on the configuration. I’m using eth0 so part of my configuration look like this :
```
# Examples: DHCPD_INTERFACE="eth0"
#           DHCPD_INTERFACE="eth0 eth1 eth2 tr0 wlan0"
#           DHCPD_INTERFACE="internal0 internal1"
#           DHCPD_INTERFACE="ANY"
#
DHCPD_INTERFACE="eth0"
```
Start/Restart DHCP Service
```
service dhcpd restart
```

PXE BOOT CONFIGURATION

Copy all of these file from [PATH-OF-DVD-CONTENTS]/boot/i386/loader into /srv/tftpboot : message, initrd and linux
Copy file : [PATH-OF-DVD-CONTENTS]/boot/i386/loader/isolinux.cfg into /srv/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/. Rename it into default
Restart the DHCP Service
```
service dhcpd restart
```

USING PXE BOOT FOR INSTALLATION

Prepare a PC with attached Network card. This computer will be used as client for PXE Boot Installation
Change BIOS Setting, activating Boot from LAN and switch the Boot Default Priority to boot from LAN
Restart the computer. It will boot from LAN and display the installation option.
`

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3 Responses for “Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part II”

Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part I | Spirit of Change says:

January 17, 2009 at 10:31 am

[...] to : Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part II January 17, 2009 — Tutorial : openSUSE Network Install over PXE-Boot Part II (0)January 13, 2009 [...]

Rick Eshbach says:

February 1, 2009 at 3:03 am

I’m a newbie on openSuse and linux, but this project is teaching me a lot. At this point I seem to be stuck. DHCP starts right away on the client (Toshiba 3500 Tablet PC) and the correct server address is shown but the TFTP dies. I get a message PXE-E32 TFTP timeout. Is there a firewall blocking me on the server machine? (Server is a Dell with openSuse 11.1) Can you get me unstuck?
Thanks! Rick