[by Nugraha, 2009.05.01]
We want to make a diskless computing system so that we need a PXE Server. PXE stands for "Pre-boot eXecution Environment". PXE is a special extension of services provided by the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). It uses a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server to provide minimal boot to a network client. Let's try to configure it!
What we need†
- A computer with linux operating system to be configured as a server. Here we use Fedora Linux. This computer should have at least two network interface cards (NIC). One of the cards will be used to connect the server with client.
- Computer that acts as a client. For a checking purpose we need this computer to have SSH facility (Windows or Linux is okay).
- Network hub and cables.
Checking†
Network setting†
- Turn on the hub, connect a network cable from Fedora Linux computer (server) to the hub (e.g. to channel 1).
- Connect again a network cable from the client computer (Windows/Linux) to the hub (e.g. to channel 2).
- Open Network configuration on Fedora Linux using root privilege. We should set network interface card that has been connected to the hub.
- Assuming the network card is eth1, we set it to have:
- IP Address: 192.168.1.1
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
- On the client computer, set the IP Address statically to be:
- IP Address: 192.168.1.2
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
SSH check†
- Open SSH software on client computer, for example Putty or any command line software:
ssh username@192.168.1.1
- If username is "nugraha" and hostname of server is "rsaito-necPC", then we must find this line after succesfully login:
nugraha@rsaito-necPC:~$
it means that we can access the server from the client.
DHCP and TFTP Server†
DHCP Configuration†
- Edit /etc/dhcpd.conf. The following is a configuration for a network that uses:
- 192.168.1.0/24 addressing
- Dynamic address will be provided between 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.240
to be continued...
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