PXE Network Boot

PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) booting is a way for a computer with an Intel compatible network card to boot across an intranet network from a server based computer running Windows, Linux, etc. PXE booting allows for small client like computer with limited system resources to boot a file on a server located on the same network. Client computers may not need to have a hard drive or a lot of RAM.

Step 1 Needed Materials

For Windows:

1. DHCP/TFTP/DNS  free software here

2. A computer with an enabled ethernet port (server)

3. A computer with an Intel compatible ethernet adapter (client)

For Ubuntu:

1. Check this link out

For Linux:

1. Use these instructions to install software

Comments

[dtitzer]

Using PXE is a fantastic way to set up diagnostics programs or a boot-into-ram Linux distro for on-line antivirus scanning (I have a wired CAT5 jack nearby). I have Debian, Spinrite, memtest++, and Damn Small Linux set up for PXEbooting. I also have an Etherboot CD for systems that can't PXE by themselves.

It helps when my college-aged kids bring their friend's computers home for me to take a look at ;)

[wingeekkid]

PXE even though it was brought about by Intel, is an amazingly easy to set up and use. At my house I have 100Mbit networking because of my Internet router/Ethernet hub, but I want Gigabit. The first time I booted my computer over PXE I had a lot of trouble with DHCP. Have you had an easy time PXEbooting? And is/are your server(s) running the DHCP service? For my test of Open Thin Client I had to have two servers; one for DHCP, and one for the TFTP. If you know about DSL, have you ever used the ten MB Tiny Core Linux? I ran it in VMware and thought that was absurd how tiny that distro is considering it had a GUI. Check it out if you get a chance. And those college kids, how the tear up things... ;)

[Computothought]

Nice instructable. I first started using pxeboot with ltsp on linux. had old p1's that booted via floppy with etherboot. I eventually replaced the p1's with pxe ready thin clients. Saved me a fortune. Now I like to use drdb/clonezilla server for backup/restore, using thin clients like ltsp, and installing an os to machine without having to use a cd/dvd.

[wingeekkid]

Cool! I prefer to use Linux for server related, or particularly long term operations. Unlike windows, Linux has very little need to reboot daily. At the school system where I live the computers boot off the network, but the school bought regular power-hungry workhorses for the students to do a little lightweight photo editing with GIMP. I just love what you can do with open source software!

Anyway, thanks for reading this instructable!

[Computothought]

I want to do an instructable on gpxe, but I hope someone beats me to it.

[wingeekkid]

That would be cool! gPXE is the next step up, it would be amazing to be able to boot from a web server. I should look into it. ;)