55 replies to this topic

[nameless_one]

Hi, is it possible to do something like this with tftpd32?

Place all my bootable .iso files (for example, win xp, 2000, vista, osx86, linux distros, etc) in some folder on the tftp server and then have tftpd32 point to the particular .iso file depending on what OS I want to install, so that when the client boots off of PXE (or something similar) it would immediately boot this ISO file as if it was locally booted off a cd-rom?

I understand this can be done if you want to install Windows in particular, but I'm wondering if it's possible for any random bootable ISO file?

Thanks.

[was_jaclaz]

Maybe "random" is a "large" term.

As far as I know it is possible to PXE boot / RIS install with:
DOS and Windows 9x/Me
Windows NT/2K/XP/2003
Linux
OS/2

Of course each OS has slightly different ways, so it is not just a matter of "tossing any .ISO" into a directory on server and choose one at boot, there is some work and troubleshoot to be done for each of them.

jaclaz

[nameless_one]

Maybe "random" is a "large" term.

As far as I know it is possible to PXE boot / RIS install with:
DOS and Windows 9x/Me
Windows NT/2K/XP/2003
Linux
OS/2

Of course each OS has slightly different ways, so it is not just a matter of "tossing any .ISO" into a directory on server and choose one at boot, there is some work and troubleshoot to be done for each of them.

jaclaz

When I mentioned random, I meant things like Acronis or some diagnostic software rescue discs, etc.. (i.e not just iso files that contain only OSes).

I understand we can use the programs like UDA to boot the major OS iso files like the ones you mentioned.


I'm a newbie when it comes to this, but when I said 'placing your iso files on the tftp server and booting them through tftpd32', I was thinking more along the lines of..

Why isn't it possible to emulate a "bios booting a pc" scenario through the network. I mean the iso file could be mounted on a virtual cd rom drive and the emulation program could make this (simulated) bios think it's booting from an actual cd rom drive.. or something like that?

[was_jaclaz]

Again, since different OS use different drivers, rely in different ways on information supplied by BIOS, access hardware in different ways there is NO "one-size-fits-all" solution, but several different "families" of solutions (one for each OS), that in most cases need to be individually adapted to the particular .ISO.

jaclaz

[n0rm4l]

Is it possible to boot any (bootable) .iso file off the network?
maybe iSCSI or AoE ?
iSCSI boot os over network.
it is simulate SCSI disk or ATA disk. why not able to simulate a ATA cdrom or scsi cdrom.
just simulate int13. It is the same bios int13.

[was_jaclaz]

Is it possible to boot any (bootable) .iso file off the network?
maybe iSCSI or AoE ?
iSCSI boot os over network.
it is simulate SCSI disk or ATA disk. why not able to simulate a ATA cdrom or scsi cdrom.
just simulate int13. It is the same bios int13.

Are those questions or statements?

If the latter, this won't work for NT based systems, as the int13h supplied by BIOS is only used in first part of booting, in later stage, if the device is not positively detected or a NT driver is missing, you will get a 0x0000007b error - inaccessible boot device.

As far as I know, as said, there is NO "one-size-fits-all" solution.

jaclaz

[marley75]

Hi,

i´m new in this forum, but this thread sounds pretty interesting as i am actually looking for such a solution too. What i mean is, booting different ISO-images via PXE and pxelinux. I got Windows PE booting from PXE running, but now i also want to boot other different ISO-images (like BIOS-Updates, HP Firmware CD etc) via PXE (no Operating Systems, but all bootable ISO-images).

Any help or links to fitting tutorial is appreciated.

Regards, marley

[Computer Angel]

hi i am myself in search for how to boot windows 98 bootable iso file through tftp.. jaclaz can u post a how-to regarding this?

[sanbarrow]

Setting up a server that allows easy switching of pxe-booting variants is quite easy with the UDA-appliance.
http://www.ultimated....org/index.html

You can run the UDA-appliance as a VM somewhere in your network or set it up as a real Linux machine

[Computer Angel]

Setting up a server that allows easy switching of pxe-booting variants is quite easy with the UDA-appliance.
http://www.ultimated....org/index.html

You can run the UDA-appliance as a VM somewhere in your network or set it up as a real Linux machine

well that explains the purpose y i need that software.. but how to use this? theres no how-to in the website regarding network boot install..
also i am now familiar with the tftp setup.. i downloaded a bootable cd image of windows 98 and tried to load it but my laptop restarts after the file transfer reaches to 83%. y is this happening?

[tinybit]

OK, it is possible. http://grub4dos.nufans.net/

Use grldr as the pxe boot file, and you can map an ISO to memory and boot from it:

map --mem (pd)/mybootable.iso (0xff)

map --hook

chainloader (0xff)

boot

[j_olkowski]

OK, it is possible. http://grub4dos.nufans.net/

Use grldr as the pxe boot file, and you can map an ISO to memory and boot from it:

map --mem (pd)/mybootable.iso (0xff)

map --hook

chainloader (0xff)

boot

ok, but how add menu.lst when booting from mem ?

[was_jaclaz]

ok, but how add menu.lst when booting from mem ?

FYI, some infos's on PXE booting are also here:
http://www.boot-land...?...=5187&st=12

jaclaz

[crashnburn]

Very interesting. Is this the best way even now? Is there something better that allows us to Run a Box on the network with Bootable ISOs and allows our Machines to Boot from the network?

[RoyM]

My preference is to use grldr for pxe booting, and I have quite an extensive menu.lst
or more precisely /menu.lst/default on the pxe server.
it allows for booting into a grub menu which can then chainload
most .ISO's or other pxe loaders iPxe, Gpxe, pxelinux.0 etc, etc

Working Examples;

title BartPE
pxe keep
chainloader --raw (pd)/startrom.0

title LiveXP_RAMsmall.ISO
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/LiveXP_RAMsmall.ISO (0xff) && map --hook
root (0xff)
map --mem /I386/BOOTSDI.IMG (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0,0)/NTLDR

title LiveXP_RAM.ISO
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/LiveXP_RAM.ISO (0xff) && map --hook
root (0xff)
map --mem /I386/BOOTSDI.IMG (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0,0)/NTLDR

title LiveXP.iso to --mem 0xffn
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/LiveXP.iso (0xff) && map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title win7pe.iso to 0xFF
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/win7pe.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

title Windows 7 PE
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO
map (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO (0xff) || map --mem (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Install Windows XP 32-bit nRun the Windows install DVD to install a copy of Windows to your hard disk
pxe keep
root (pd)/ImDisk/MYISO.CMD
dd if=()/ImDisk/au.xml of=()/AutoUnattend.xml
dd if=()/ImDisk/cr.txt of=()/ImDisk/MYISO.CMD
write ()/ImDIsk/MYISO.CMD SET MYISO=isoXpProSp3.isorn
map /iso/XpProSp3.iso (0xff)
# map (hd0) (hd1)
# map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

title Repair Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise EditionnRepair Windows on your hard disk
pxe keep
find --set-root /ImDisk/MYISO.CMD
dd if=()/ImDisk/spaces.txt of=()/AutoUnattend.xml
map /iso/en_windows_7_enterprise_with_sp1_x64_dvd_620201.iso (0xff)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

title Vista Recovery 32bit boot ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Vista32_Recovery_Disc.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/Vista32_Recovery_Disc.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Vista Recovery 64bit boot ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Vista64_Recovery_Disc.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/Vista64_Recovery_Disc.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Win7 Recovery 32bit boot ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Win7_32RepairDisc.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/Win7_32RepairDisc.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Win7 Recovery 64bit boot ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Win7_64RepairDisc.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/Win7_64RepairDisc.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title MS DaRT70 ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/DaRT70.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/DaRT70.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader ()

title Norton Ghost 15 (hd32)
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Ghost15.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/Ghost15.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader /BOOTMGR

title AVIRA AntiVir Rescue System v3.6.9-20100806194028n The default language is German, but you can change it to English anytime n by clicking on the English flag on the lower-left side of the screen.
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/rescue_system-common-en.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/rescue_system-common-en.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /vmlinuz vga=ask initrd=initrd.gz ramdisk_size=133551 root=/dev/ram0 rw console=/dev/vc/4
initrd /initrd.gz

title Kaspersky Rescue Disk == /rescue/rescue.iso
pxe keep
find --set-root /rescue/rescue.iso
map /rescue/rescue.iso (0xff) || map --mem /rescue/rescue.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /boot/rescue root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc looptype=squashfs loop=/image.squashfs cdroot initrd=rescue.igz noapic kav_lang=en
initrd /boot/rescue.igz

title Lightweight Portable Security kernel 2.6.27.56
pxe keep
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /iso/LPS-1.2.2_public.iso
map /iso/LPS-1.2.2_public.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
kernel /vmlinuz loadramdisk=1 initrd=initrd ramdisk_blocksize=4096 root=/dev/ram0 ramdisk_size=524288 vga=791 console=ttyS3
chainloader (hd32)

title UDPcast Mapped to Memory nUDPcast is a file transfer tool that can send data simultaneously to many destinations on a LAN. Network setup fails on Compaq laptop = use second network card in list
pxe keep
map --mem --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 (pd)/iso/udpcd.iso (hd32)
map --hook
chainloader (hd32)

title Ultimate Boot CD
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/ubcd411.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/ubcd411.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title pentoo-i686-2009 boot
root (pd)/iso/pentoo-i686-2009.0.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/pentoo-i686-2009.0.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title PciSniffer Mapped to (0xff)
pxe keep
map --mem --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 (pd)/iso/pcisniffer.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

title PC CMOS Cleaner ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/PCCMOSCleaner.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/PCCMOSCleaner.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Hirens Boot CD 14.0 hiren_menu.lstn *** Using hiren_menu.lst *** n *** EDIT & REMOVE FIRST LINE OF HIRENS MENU.LST n REMOVE -find --set-root TO RUN PROGRAMS ***
pxe keep
configfile (pd)/iso/hiren_menu.lst

title Hirens Boot CD 14.0 Boot to Mini Windows XPnBoot with Hiren's Mini Windows XP
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/HirensBCD.14.0.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/HirensBCD.14.0.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader /HBCD/XP/XP.BIN

title G Data BootCD (English)
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/GData_2010_SUI.iso
map --mem (pd)/iso/GData_2010_SUI.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel (0xff)/boot/grub/linux26 ramdisk_size=100000 init=/linuxrc apm=power-off vga=791 nomce lang=en_US.UTF-8
initrd (0xff)/boot/grub/minirt26.gz
chainloader (0xff)

title GParted live ISO
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/gparted-live-0.8.1-3.iso
# map (pd)/iso/gparted-live-0.8.1-3.iso (0xff) || map --mem (pd)/iso/gparted-live-0.8.1-3.iso (0xff)
map --mem (pd)/iso/gparted-live-0.8.1-3.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /live/vmlinuz boot=live config union=aufs noswap noprompt vga=788 ip=frommedia findiso=/iso/gparted-live-0.8.1-3.iso toram=filesystem.squashfs
initrd /live/initrd.img

title Partition Wizard 5.0 (Partition Tools)nSupports 32/64 bit Windows XP, Vista and 7. Users can perform complicated partition operations to manage their hard disk.Functions include:Resizing,Copying,Create,Delete,Format,Convert, Explore,Hide,Change drive letter,Set active,Partition Recovery.Support RAID,and size larger than 2 TB.
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/pwhe5.iso (0xFF)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title Partition Wizard 6.0 (Partition Tools)nSupports 32/64 bit Windows XP, Vista and 7. Users can perform complicated partition operations to manage their hard disk.Functions include:Resizing,Copying,Create,Delete,Format,Convert, Explore,Hide,Change drive letter,Set active,Partition Recovery.Support RAID,and size larger than 2 TB.
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/pwhe6.iso (0xFF)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)

title BackTrack 5 (1024x768) PersistentnType startx to run GUI once booted PERSISTENT
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/BT5-KDE-32.iso (0xFF)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /BT5/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/BT5/cdrom/preseed/custom.seed boot=casper live-media-path=/BT5/casper textonly nosplash vga=791-- persistent
initrd /BT5/casper/initrd.gz

title chain to /ipxe/undionly.kpxe w/pxe keep
pxe keep
chainloader --force --raw (pd)/ipxe/undionly.kpxe

title chain to /gPXE.pxe
pxe keep
chainloader --force --raw (pd)/gpxe.pxe

title PXELinux --raw (pd)/pxelinux.0
pxe keep
chainloader --raw (pd)/pxelinux.0

title chain to PXELinux.0 --force --raw (pd)/pxelinux.0
pxe keep
chainloader --force --raw (pd)/pxelinux.0

title chain to /undionly.kpxe
pxe keep
chainloader --force --raw (pd)/undionly.kpxe

title Load grldr with PXE support
pxe keep
terminal console
chainloader --force --raw (pd)/grldr

title Konboot Mapped (fd0)
pxe keep
map --mem /iso/FD0-konboot-v1.1-2in1.img (fd0)
map --hook
chainloader (fd0)+1
rootnoverify (fd0)

title Boot to Windows XP after Kon-BootnLogon to Windows XP with Password removed temporary after the KON-BOOT session.
fallback 1
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
map () (hd0)
map (hd0) ()
map --rehook
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr
savedefault --wait=3

title Memory Test v420 Mapped to (0xff)
pxe keep
map --mem --heads=0 --sectors-per-track=0 (pd)/iso/mt420.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

title * configfile /menu.lst ***
map --unhook
root (pd)/menu.lst/default
configfile /menu.lst/default

title Grub commandline
commandline

title Reboot
reboot

title halt - Switch OFF - STOP
halt

[crashnburn]

Wow! I am blown away. I was aware of network boots but wasnt aware that it was so CAPABLE

Damn!

Can you please guide me on how I can get such a setup running?

I have the following hardware at my disposal

HP Pro Curve Gigabit Switch
Synology NAS - CS 407
Old P4 PC - Lying idle... Formerly Win XP
Old Xeon Server - Lying Idle - Used to run Win Server 2003

What do I need to install on the Server/ Storage side
How do I need to store the ISOs?
How do I need to configure the ISO List... on Server Side?
What needs to be configured on Client side? (Or simply let my machines go through a network boot.. or is there some config to be done for the Intel PXE on the machine?)

[RoyM]

Hi crashnburn

My particular setup consists of a smoothwall firewall that has been heavily modded.

mods = tftpd + samba mod, and three additional harddrives setup as shared drives on my network,
each dedicated for a particular purpose. I won't bother with all the details
of each particular share.

The tftpd server uses one of the shared drives with a folder on it named /tftpdboot,
This is your base folder for pxe booting and all pxe references to it are relative to
this path, grldr's nomenclature for it is (pd)

This folder is where all the pxe fun stuff happens, grldr is located in this folder
and my pxe server is told to deliver this file to it's pxe clients.

Once grldr is delivered as the pxe boot file, grldr then looks for (pd)/menu.lst/default
as it's menu file, which of course is located in the /tftpdboot folder.
all my ISO's are in /tftpdboot/iso/*.iso as you can see from prior posting.

This is one of the best pxe setups I have used for ease of maintenance, security, and sharing.
Oh, and did I mention it's free, as in open-source.

(BUT)
If you are unfamiliar with linux, I would not suggest this to you.
There are many more nuances to a linux setup than just plug and play.
You have permissions and groups and other small details to deal with
to get it all working across the network.

However, any tftpd server can be used in the same way (ie.) tfptd32

Basically, you will tell your pxe server to deliver grldr as the pxe boot file
and then using the examples above, place all your ISO's in the iso folder

I will leave the homework chores to you for your particular pxe server.
If you need help or advice you can always post back.

Good Luck and happy pxe'ing

BTW, That old P4 or particularly the Xeon Server would make ideal candidates for a Smoothie.

[steve6375]

There is a PXE boot tutorial on my www.rmprepusb.com website which you may find useful. You can set up the old XP systems as the DHCP server...

[sweezhong(Malaysia)]

Hi crashnburn

My particular setup consists of a smoothwall firewall that has been heavily modded.

mods = tftpd + samba mod, and three additional harddrives setup as shared drives on my network,
each dedicated for a particular purpose. I won't bother with all the details
of each particular share.

The tftpd server uses one of the shared drives with a folder on it named /tftpdboot,
This is your base folder for pxe booting and all pxe references to it are relative to
this path, grldr's nomenclature for it is (pd)

This folder is where all the pxe fun stuff happens, grldr is located in this folder
and my pxe server is told to deliver this file to it's pxe clients.

Once grldr is delivered as the pxe boot file, grldr then looks for (pd)/menu.lst/default
as it's menu file, which of course is located in the /tftpdboot folder.
all my ISO's are in /tftpdboot/iso/*.iso as you can see from prior posting.

This is one of the best pxe setups I have used for ease of maintenance, security, and sharing.
Oh, and did I mention it's free, as in open-source.

(BUT)
If you are unfamiliar with linux, I would not suggest this to you.
There are many more nuances to a linux setup than just plug and play.
You have permissions and groups and other small details to deal with
to get it all working across the network.

However, any tftpd server can be used in the same way (ie.) tfptd32

Basically, you will tell your pxe server to deliver grldr as the pxe boot file
and then using the examples above, place all your ISO's in the iso folder

I will leave the homework chores to you for your particular pxe server.
If you need help or advice you can always post back.

Good Luck and happy pxe'ing

BTW, That old P4 or particularly the Xeon Server would make ideal candidates for a Smoothie.

hi RoyM.
can i direct make the iso from windows installation dvd for network boothing ?

[RoyM]

Hi sweezhong(Malaysia)

I think you are asking, "can you make a .iso from windows install dvd ?" == yes

All of the examples above are .iso's copied to Hard drive.
made from original Windows install cd/dvd's.
The XP .iso's have been N'Lited.
some .iso's are downloads, mostly the linux OS's.

[sweezhong(Malaysia)]

Thanks RoyM

"title Windows 7 PE
pxe keep
root (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO
map (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO (0xff) || map --mem (pd)/iso/Win7PE_x86.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)"

as your upper post . i knew that you using pxe for network . but this is PE ISO.
can i using oem dvd to make iso , and boot it from network ?

[RoyM]

Quoting the illustrious Mr. Wonko!

Yes, only it won't boot.
Or better, the grub4dos part and the real mode part will go allright ,
but as soon as the protected mode will kick in you will get a nice BSOD, 0x0000007b

as soon as the "real mode" part of booting will give way to the "protected mode" part
you will have a BSOD STOP 0x0000007b UNLESS you provide a suitable driver (Firadisk or WinVblock).

"Unquote"

Firadisk http://reboot.pro/8804/
WinVblock http://reboot.pro/8168/

In a nutshell, you will be loading the entire .iso to memory, and then trying to install from there.
you will also need to provide the F6 drivers to avoid the above situations.

Currently I don't have a working pxe config for Win7 install DVD.

an example of pxe booting XP follows.
You would need to do something similar for Win7 assuming target PC has enough ram.

title Install Windows XP 32-bit nRun the Windows install DVD to install a copy of Windows to your hard disk
pxe keep
root (pd)/ImDisk/MYISO.CMD
dd if=()/ImDisk/au.xml of=()/AutoUnattend.xml
dd if=()/ImDisk/cr.txt of=()/ImDisk/MYISO.CMD
write ()/ImDIsk/MYISO.CMD SET MYISO=isoXpProSp3.isorn
map /iso/XpProSp3.iso (0xff)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

[RoyM]

Deleted due to double post
Moderator Please remove Me and next goof up Please

Edited by RoyM, 18 October 2011 - 01:57 PM.

[Wonko the Sane]

Unfortunately quoting me wrongly.
What you quoted was referred to XP:
http://reboot.pro/15627/

A PE 2.x and 3.x will work allright, as seen here:
http://reboot.pro/5041/

The problem will be with the "7 install .iso" (it won't BSOD with 0x0000007b , BUT it will ask for the CD/DVD ), see here:
http://reboot.pro/9076/

In the mentioned thread there are various solutions, using IMDISK or firadisk.

IF and HOW this may need to be modified for PXE booting is another thing.


Wonko

[sweezhong(Malaysia)]

thanks RoyM and also Wonko the Sane . tomorrow maybe doing some research on that. any way .. thanks both of you very much...
hope i can found something new inside my research. and can be post back here to share with other ...

good nite. nice too see you . and thanks both of you very much.