Ubuntu Server PXE Boot Guide

Which would you like to see added?

  • Total voters
    64
cooltech said:
What about adding partedmagic?
http://partedmagic.com/doku.php
Click to expand...

Instructions for Parted Magic are here: http://www.fogproject.org/wiki/index.php/Include_Parted_Magic You just have to edit the entry to match your fog directory structure. I really like the memdisk option, and use it whenever I can, but I couldn't get Pmagic to boot that way. So, I had to resort to the "classic" method.

Parted Magic is great, and most of my favorite tools are included in it already (gsmartcontrol, dd, clonezilla, cfdisk, photorec etc..)

Currently I have these booting fine (Pmagic, Seatools for DOS, WD diagnostics, and the Hitachi Drive Fitness utility). There are a few more I want to add, but so far have been unsuccessful at getting to work. I would really like to get the Kaspersky Rescue CD and/or the F-Secure Rescue CD working (might just end up using TRK instead if I can't get these individual offline A/V tools to boot), RedoBackup, and possibly O&O Disk Image, but so far, no luck.
 
Looking for the Guide / towandacomputers not reachable

Hi there,

as I just started with building a FOG-Server environment, I found this interessting thread and I am looking for this guide. I couldn't get it from the given link as the site seems to be down. Maybe there is an alternative where I can get it from?

Greetings from Germany
 
I was also wanting to try this out, but it appears that the site is down. If anyone has any ideas, please keep us posted.
 
I know this thread has kind of died, and the OP hasn't been online for several months. The link to his original document no longer works as well.
However, I have found this discussion (and FOG in general) to be very helpful. In the event that someone else does as well, or would like to refer to the OP's original doc, I have hosted a copy here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9IE7KXr0pJyVHpnZlY0QXU2Vlk/edit?pli=1

I hope this is OK with the OP. If not, I will remove it.
 
Updated Info!

Please check the first post for updated information.

In the coming days/weeks i will be adding some new tools, and updates to the guides.

1. i am creating a shell script to make the entire process much easier!
2. I will be uploading a new VM .vhd Ubuntu 12.10 Server i386.
3. Included with the .vhd will be a guide that shows you how to use it.
4. I will also be updating the main PXE Server guide.

:D I am BACK. Thank you for your support and patience!
 
Welcome back! I'm sure many others will certainly appreciate your efforts on this. Providing the VM will be a great help to those who want to get started quick and/or aren't comfortable using a linux terminal.

As a side note, I currently use Ubuntu server for PXE/fog services. However, the same server also provides samba services for file storage and sync, back-ups, images, WSUS offline files, etc.. All of this on a lowly CeleronD Optiplex with 3GB of memory. Add a gigabit switch, and your good to go. Inexpensive, and has been rock-solid so far.

Currently, I have the following in my boot menu:

Default FOG services
Memtest86+
Parted Magic (I still get occasional kernel panics on some laptops)
Trinity Rescue Kit
Redo Backup
Win7 PE
HDFT
Seatools for DOS
WD Diagnostic

Every so often, I'll make another attempt at getting the Kaspersky Rescue CD to work. So far, this has been unsuccessful. :(

As soon as I get the chance, I hope to start creating and test deploying Windows images via fog, but that may be a little while off yet.

Thanks again for your work on this, I know it must demand a lot of your time.
 
If there is one thing I have learned. It is this works wonderfully on minimal hardware.

How are you booting the WinPE disk? Loading the ISO to RAM?

I may be able to work some magic with Kaspersky Rescue. I have gotten others to boot that weren't supposed to. Like Avast BartPE rescue disk. I think the trick is going to be hosting the squashfs on http much like Clonezilla.

I have recently figured out how to run Ubuntu 11.10 as a thinstation using PXE. It is still rather buggy though, but it works. I want to add live Linux distros and installers to the guide, but I am having issues with getting them to boot correctly.

FOG Imaging and deployment is rather simple and works well in a controlled environment. Not so well with having a universal customer image.

I will provide my time as long as there continues to be an interest with this. Hardest part is figuring out what applications to include and making them work.
 
memdisk usually works like a charm!

I fiddled with Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10, and had no luck at all. The Kernal doesn't support or have the NFS modules in it. While it is possible to add the modules and make it work with NFS. I can not find out how to do that. I tried, but didn't know where to put the code in init. I have found guides that explain how to to it with Gentoo, but this is a bit different than a regular run of the mill Gentoo disk.

I will be starting a Poll here....I need to know what programs people would like added. So I can try and get them to work and add them to my script installer. Which by the way installs FOG, Installs Menus, Installs AVG, and BitDefender at the poke of a number. I will be uploading a test version of my script to use in a clean Ubuntu, RedHat, or Cent OS Server VM. I would really like feedback!
 
Updated First Post

Added Alpha Version of my Shell Scipt for installing FOG, and Adding Bootable Items to your PXE server.

i would like a guinea pig to test this script, and provide feedback.

Added a Poll to the Thread
Updated Guide Download Link
Removed Link for old .VHD file.

New .VHD is coming along nicely, and should be uploaded soon.
 
I will be uploading it tonight, and adding the link tomorrow. This one should be a lot more smooth than the last. Simple setup......

Step 1. Get the VM to run
Step 2. Log in Username "pxeadmin" Password "password"
Step 3. ifconfig and note the IP
Step 4. cd /opt/pxeinstall/
Step 5. bash pxesetup.sh
Step 6. Press 1 to Run FOG installer (This will update the correct ip for your VM, your DNS server, and your Gateway in FOG)
Step 7. Open a webbrowser on your LAN and point it to http://<yourserverip>/fog create database and log in Username "fog" password "password"
Step 8. Configure your router's DHCP server so set a static IP for your VM, and add dhcp-boot=pxelinux.0,,<yourvmiphere> to DHCP options.
Step 9. Try a Client.......It should work.
Step 10 Add more Images to boot!

As I add more installs to my scripts, the easiest way is to download the updated script tarball....place it in /opt/, unzipand overwrite when prompted, cd /pxeinstall/, bash pxesetup.sh

I don't think i could make such a tough task any easier!
 
Last edited:
smashedbotatos said:
I fiddled with Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10, and had no luck at all. The Kernal doesn't support or have the NFS modules in it. While it is possible to add the modules and make it work with NFS. I can not find out how to do that. I tried, but didn't know where to put the code in init. I have found guides that explain how to to it with Gentoo, but this is a bit different than a regular run of the mill Gentoo disk.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've given up on Kaspersky Rescue Disk. I did find this info. But, the patch that is referenced in the post is no longer available on Gitorious.
 
SilverLeaf said:
Yeah, I've given up on Kaspersky Rescue Disk. I did find this info. But, the patch that is referenced in the post is no longer available on Gitorious.
Click to expand...

i did find that patch and try it, but it will not work on the current version.

http://xasya.livejournal.com/6329.html
Its is in Russian, but i get the gist of what is going on there. The link of that site works for the patch file.
I think you need the dev build of KAV_10 though.
 
smashedbotatos said:
I will be uploading it tonight, and adding the link tomorrow. This one should be a lot more smooth than the last. Simple setup......

Step 1. Get the VM to run
Step 2. Log in Username "pxeadmin" Password "password"
Step 3. ifconfig and note the IP
Step 4. cd /opt/pxeinstall/
Step 5. bash pxesetup.sh
Step 6. Press 1 to Run FOG installer (This will update the correct ip for your VM, your DNS server, and your Gateway in FOG)
Step 7. Open a webbrowser on your LAN and point it to http://<yourserverip>/fog create database and log in Username "fog" password "password"
Step 8. Configure your router's DHCP server so set a static IP for your VM, and add dhcp-boot=pxelinux.0,,<yourvmiphere> to DHCP options.
Step 9. Try a Client.......It should work.
Step 10 Add more Images to boot!

As I add more installs to my scripts, the easiest way is to download the updated script tarball....place it in /opt/, unzipand overwrite when prompted, cd /pxeinstall/, bash pxesetup.sh

I don't think i could make such a tough task any easier!
Click to expand...

Can't wait (but i have to) i have 7 VM's ready to be imaged.
 
Benchtech said:
Can't wait (but i have to) i have 7 VM's ready to be imaged.
Click to expand...

That is alright....the longer you wait the easier it will be to install other bootable programs!

My script will be automatically included in the image, but once a week I will upload a new .VHD with my updated scripts already pre packaged in it. Granted you can always just update the scripts yourself. There will be a guide, doing the script and the VM I am find a lot of little tid bits that will make it easier.
 
smashedbotatos said:
That is alright....the longer you wait the easier it will be to install other bootable programs!

My script will be automatically included in the image, but once a week I will upload a new .VHD with my updated scripts already pre packaged in it. Granted you can always just update the scripts yourself. There will be a guide, doing the script and the VM I am find a lot of little tid bits that will make it easier.
Click to expand...

With the VM will the FoG Server have to act as the DHCP?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

smashedbotatos
Learn Ubuntu Server Video Tutorial
Replies
6
Views
2K
Your PCMD
Your PCMD
Appletax
[TIP] ★ Recommended Websites ★
Replies
10
Views
4K
The Tech's Touch
T
Skillachi
No boot disk detected /PXE- E61 Media test failure error
Replies
2
Views
2K
Skillachi
Skillachi
C
General Troubleshooting steps for the Windows Update issue!
Replies
6
Views
2K
Forge33
Forge33
Appletax
[TIP] ★ Items to Add to Your PC Tech Toolkit ★
2
Replies
22
Views
11K
SteveSi
S
Back
Top