PXE-BOOT: Tool to boot using PXE enabled network cards

Discussion in 'MDL Projects and Applications' started by osmuni, Nov 10, 2010.

  1. osmuni

    osmuni MDL Novice

    Apr 5, 2009
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    #1 osmuni, Nov 10, 2010
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2010
    I have compiled this package to make it easy to boot computers that have a PXE enabled network card.

    Using a configurable menu and floppy images or ISO files, you can boot a computer with no floppy or CD/DVD drive and without the need to create real floppies or CDs.

    The floppy images can be easily created, modified and rebuilt. In the package you will find the following already included:

    d510mo.ima
    2.88 MB. Boots to DOS. Use to insert LENOVO SLIC into D510MO Intel motherboards. (It may work with other Intel boards)

    flashbios.ima
    2.88 MB. Boots to DOS. Use to flash your BIOS, just add the BIOS files and BIOS flash utility to the flashbios.files folder, rebuild the floppy images, and you are set.

    oembios.ima
    2.88 MB. Boots to DOS. Use to add XP SLP strings to AMI/AWARD/INTEL BIOS. This image combines the HP Tattoo files and the Intel Integrator Toolkit files for most INTEL chipsets.

    mt410.iso
    Memtest86+ ISO image, well known memory tester

    Floppy images/ISO files can be easily added/modified. The floppy images can be created/updated with the included tools. ISO images must be created/updated using tools not included.

    Programs included/used:

    TFTPD32
    SYSLINUX/MEMDISK
    BFI (Build Floppy Image)

    How it works

    In PXE boot, the CLIENT computer network card requests PXE information from a DHCP server. After getting an IP address from the DHCP server, and the location of a TFTP server, the CLIENT computer downloads files from the SERVER computer.

    In the server, the following files are used to implement PXE booting:

    pxelinux.0
    memdisk
    menu.c32
    pxelinux.cfg\default

    These files should be present in their current locations for everything to work.

    pxelinux.cfg\default is just a txt file that holds the boot menu configuration to select desired boot image tu be used.

    HOW TO CONFIGURE/USE

    You will need a Windows computer to use as a SERVER, and a CLIENT computer that will PXE boot. Both computers of course have to be connected to the same LAN.

    In the SERVER, just unzip the files in any folder of your choice, there is no need to install anything, just run createimages.cmd to create the floppy images.

    1A)
    USING THE DHCP SERVER OF YOUR DD-WRT ROUTER

    If you have a DD-WRT based router, you can check out docs\dd-wrt.dhcp.1.png and docs\dd-wrt.dhcp.2.png to configure the DHCP in the router. You will need the MAC, the name, and the current IP of the SERVER.

    Login to the DD-WRT router, and configure as shown in the images. Add a static lease for the server computer, add the DNSMasq options as shown. Use the correct MAC/HOST/IP.

    Save the configuration, start the CLIENT computer, set it up so it will boot from the PXE network card, and verify that it gets an IP from the DD-WRT router.

    Now run tftpd32.dhcp.off.cmd so TFTPD32.INI is configured to use your external DHCP server.

    1B)
    USING THE TFTPD32 DHCP SERVER

    In most cases you will already have a router or a computer with a DHCP server, so you will have to shut it down or disconnect it first.

    Configure the SERVER computer with a fixed IP of 192.168.100.1 netmask 255.255.255.0

    Now run tftpd32.dhcp.on.cmd so TFTPD32.INI is configured to use the TFTPD32 DHCP server.

    1C)
    USE A WINDOWS SERVER WITH DHCP ENABLED (UNTESTED)
    See docs\windows.dhcp.png

    2)
    Run TFTPD32. If you get a Firewall dialog, allow everything for TFTPD32. Boot the CLIENT and select PXE boot option in BIOS or in boot menu.

    If everything works, you should see a boot menu, select FLASH BIOS just to test, you should boot to a DOS prompt.

    To modify a floppy image, just add/change/delete files in the image folders, then run createimages.cmd to create/update the floppy images.

    To modify the boot menu, run \pxelinux.cfg\edit.cmd This will open \pxelinux.cfg\default in notepad

    Download
    www . megaupload . com/?d=C11RWRFD
     
  2. spkleader

    spkleader MDL Senior Member

    Oct 13, 2009
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    Thank you osmuni! Can you please make a d510mo image with ASUS slick instead?
     
  3. osmuni

    osmuni MDL Novice

    Apr 5, 2009
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  4. mgdtm

    mgdtm MDL Novice

    Oct 24, 2011
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    Can you post this again? please i need only the pxe part and one image for flashing
    thanks
     
  5. muthumuthiah

    muthumuthiah MDL Novice

    Jul 20, 2012
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