BLKMGK Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 How hard would it be to Netboot off of an unRAID box. It looks like I need a TFTP server that will respond to requests, not sure what else. Is there any reason why this wouldn't or couldn't be done off of an unRAID? Still learning about what exactly is needed but I'd be interested in thoughts. duh just found this -> http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=828.0 So tftpd is included already, guess I need to figure out what else is needed and give it a whirl. If anyone is doing this I'm all ears! Quote Link to comment
musicmann Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I don't know much (read: anything), but I looked into this a little when I was looking at LinuxMCE a while back. I think there is also a requirement regarding the DHCP server. I think I remember something about a specially formed dhcp request, and the dhcp server has to forward properly forward the request to the TFTP server. This is not simply a port forward, and most off-the-shelf routers cannot do this. If you're using a linux machine that is doing your dhcp, I think it's supposed to be pretty easy. I'd assume that if you're using a server-type OS to do your routing, that would work too. LinuxMCE can do network booking for diskless HTPC clients (its Media Directors). However, because most routers can't process these requests correctly, the LinuxMCE core needs to be the dhcp server on the network to be able to do this. Quote Link to comment
WeeboTech Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 he LinuxMCE core needs to be the dhcp server on the network to be able to do this. This is correct, the linux machine or unRaid would need to be the DHCP Server for the network Here's a chunk example from my linux machine (overlord) /etc/dhcpd.conf file host unraid.cotrone.com { hardware ethernet 00:30:18:ab:f0:37; # Jetway 1GB fixed-address 192.168.1.178; option routers 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.254; option domain-name-servers 192.168.1.252; option domain-name "cotrone.com"; filename "pxelinux.0"; } Overlord has the dhcp server and tftpd. in the /var/tftpboot folder I have the following [root@overlord etc]# cd /var/tftpboot/ [root@overlord tftpboot]# ls -l total 1980 drwxr-xr-x 3 root sysadmin 4096 May 30 2004 boot -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 164 Jun 2 2004 BOOTMSG.TXT lrwxrwxrwx 1 root sysadmin 20 Mar 4 2006 default -> pxelinux.cfg/default drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 8 17:24 image drwxrwxr-x 2 root sysadmin 4096 Jan 12 18:58 images -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 365509 May 29 2004 initrd.img -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 20056 Dec 30 12:35 memdisk -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 14848 Jul 27 2002 memdisk-1.75 -rwxr-xr-- 1 root sysadmin 14336 Dec 30 13:47 memdisk-2.0 -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 20056 Dec 30 12:35 memdisk-3.50 -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 14848 Jul 27 2002 memdisk.bak -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 30 Jun 2 2004 memdisk.cfg -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 123104 Jun 2 2004 nbgrub -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 1637 Jan 12 19:05 options.txt -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 124128 Jun 2 2004 pxeboot.test -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 124128 May 30 2004 pxegrub -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 13940 Dec 30 12:35 pxelinux.0 -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 10052 Jul 27 2002 pxelinux.0-1.75 -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 10820 Dec 30 13:47 pxelinux.0-2.0 -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 13940 Dec 30 12:35 pxelinux.0-3.50 -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 10052 Jul 27 2002 pxelinux.0.bak -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 13940 Dec 30 12:35 pxelinux.bin -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 13940 Dec 30 12:35 pxelinux.bin-3.50 drwxrwxr-x 2 root sysadmin 4096 May 26 2007 pxelinux.cfg -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1536 May 30 2004 pxeloader -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1030147 May 29 2004 vmlinuz [root@overlord tftpboot]# Note there are many duplicates and versioned files. In my images folder I have the following floppy boot images [root@overlord tftpboot]# cd images [root@overlord images]# ls -l total 106544 -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2533465 Jan 31 2006 centos-3.6-initrd.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 900113 Jan 31 2006 centos-3.6-vmlinuz -rw-r--r-- 1 rcotrone users 5482335 Jan 12 18:50 centos-5.1-initrd.img -rw-r--r-- 1 rcotrone users 1844028 Jan 12 18:50 centos-5.1-vmlinuz -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 5482335 Jan 12 18:50 centos-5.1-x86_64-initrd.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1844028 Jan 12 18:50 centos-5.1-x86_64-vmlinuz -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 4916737 Apr 10 2007 centos5-initrd.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1765428 Apr 10 2007 centos5-vmlinuz -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 27 2006 dban.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 26 2006 dft32_v406_b00.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Jul 29 2002 di20-288.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 18 2003 dosfs-netboot.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Jul 29 2002 dw603-288.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jan 6 2003 gatekeeper.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jul 29 2002 ghost.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jun 2 2004 grubboot.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 11 2006 grub.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Mar 2 2003 grub.img.bak -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jun 2 2004 grubnew.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jul 27 2002 grub-old.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2698200 Jan 7 2004 initrd-everything.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 4916737 Apr 10 2007 initrd.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Mar 8 2003 linux-hercules.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 28 2005 memt86-3.2.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 4 2003 memt86.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 933888 May 24 2006 pcplus.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 4 2003 pcpro.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Jul 29 2002 pm50-288.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Nov 24 2003 pm80-288.img -rw-rw-r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Nov 5 2005 powermax.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 17863 Aug 1 1997 rawrite2.exe -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Nov 5 2005 scsimax.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 26 2006 seatools.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jul 29 2002 spinrite.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 16 2004 syslinux-2.4.18-3.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 May 27 2004 syslinux-2.4.18-3smp.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 May 26 2006 syslinux-2.4.22-dev.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Nov 26 2005 syslinux-2.4.31.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 May 26 2004 syslinux-288.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 May 30 2004 test.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 May 29 2004 test.img.bak -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1765428 Apr 10 2007 vmlinuz -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 4 2003 win2k.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jun 13 2006 win98-bios-asus.img -r--r--r-- 1 rcotrone sysadmin 1474560 May 24 2006 win98-bios-x5dal.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Jul 27 2002 win98se-288.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Dec 7 2003 win98se-bios.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 May 24 2006 win98se-bios-x5dal.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Jul 27 2002 win98se.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Nov 5 2005 win98se-scsimax.img -r--r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 2949120 Oct 21 2006 win98se-usb.img -rw-r--r-- 1 root sysadmin 1474560 Oct 21 2006 windows98-startup.img [root@overlord images]# So as a possibility it exists, You would have the kernel and init ram disk on the network server. You still need a flash drive on the machine to store the /boot folder. So I'm not sure if this effort is totally worthwhile unless you want speed or your motherboard does not support booting from USB. Frankly a kicker floppy might be easier. I have allot of experience with PXEBOOT so feel free to ask questions. You will need the tools pxelinux and memdisk from here http://syslinux.zytor.com/ Quote Link to comment
BLKMGK Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 Ouch, was afraid it would be less than simple. My router is a Linksys running 3rd party firmware - DD-WRT. Looking at the interface I have some options for modifying the DHCP daemon's behavior but I'm not sure to this extent. I do not feel like setting up another server, especially since this one has plenty of mods for static IPs based on MAC for some of my hardware... Quote Link to comment
WeeboTech Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 It's not that hard. There are only a few things to set up. DHCPD A segment in dhcpd PXELINUX MEMDISK and a boot image. My extensive list shows how many different boot images I have. I have all sorts of boot floppies for bios updates, partition magic, ghost, DOS, windows, grub, and various other linux boot disks. I created them years ago when I removed the floppies from all my machines. The point was to show you what you can do, you only need the boot images you'll use. That being said, I still say, a floppy disk with the proper drivers would be better in this case. If you were willing to give up an IDE port you can use a compact flash adapter on an IDE port and have speed too! I've found special compact flash adapters that are brackets where PCI cards go. On the inside it connects to an IDE port. This lets you pull it out and update it as needed. Under any of the circumstances you still need a flash drive (I believe). I wonder if you can get a GUID off a compact flash adapter on the IDE port... Hmmmmmmmmmmm Quote Link to comment
BLKMGK Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 Well, my thought here was to netboot Ubuntu with XBMC onboard, thus removing the laptop drive from my HTPC. I do already have a CF to IDE adapter in my desk drawer - spotted one CHEAP on eBay and couldn't resist. Shortly after purchase I spotted the dual C/F to IDE adapters - doh! Anyway, I certainly have lots of options but was curious as to how this might be done after it was suggested on the XBMC forums. No one has tried it yet and I knew little about it - wasn't sure if there was something I could run on unRAID to facilitate it. I do like the idea of being able to choose from boot floppy images etc. though at startup - hrm! Might be a good way to go with an image of my Acronis boot CD for backups, wouldn't have to worry about digging it up anymore. Quote Link to comment
WeeboTech Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 OK, I misunderstood a piece of this, however I've provided plenty of food for thought in the process. In any case, having unRaid be a PXEBOOT server is quite possible. It just means it has to be the DHCP server also. This way you put all your mac definitions and IP addresses in the DHCP server config. Come to think of it, if you have direct editable access to the router's dhcpd.conf file, you can add the respective code, However, I'm not sure if you can direct the "filename "pxelinux.0";" option to another host. If that is possible, then having unRaid only serve PXELINUX and the respective MEMDISK images would work. Quote Link to comment
WeeboTech Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Hmm, seems to be an option called NEXT-SERVER The next-server statement next-server server-name; The next-server statement is used to specify the host address of the server from which the initial boot file (specified in the filename statement) is to be loaded. Server-name should be a numeric IP address or a domain name. If no next-server parameter applies to a given client, the DHCP server's IP address is used. So if you can get to the /etc/dhcpd.conf file on your router, then it's possible to store the images on unRaid. http://www.fifi.org/cgi-bin/man2html/usr/share/man/man5/dhcpd.conf.5.gz Quote Link to comment
BLKMGK Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 I can get into /etc but there's no dhcpd.conf file - weird! I admit I've not often dug into my router at the command prompt and I could probably use a software upgrade on it but hey it's working DD-WRT is good stuff but I'm going to have to poke around some. The WEB interface DOES allow me to pass commandline options to the DHCP daemon though - hrm! Quote Link to comment
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