LinuxServer AdministrationTechnology

Network Boot Server with Linux Install, Debian Etch and Lenny, CentOS and KNOPPIX

I just LOVE my dedicated PXE boot server at the office with several flavors of linux install on it.

I can bring a new server online with a base install in as few as five minutes with Debian or CentOS
I can debug workstations and servers with a quickbooting KNOPPIX install.

I even have some kernel installations customized to install network drivers for the Dell 2650 so that the installs I do for those are quick and simple. (basically the broadcom network drivers and the openssh-server packages are preseeded to be installed with the default package)

Here are the contents my pxelinux.cfg/default file:

DISPLAY boot.txt

#DEFAULT etch_i386_install

LABEL etch_i386_install
kernel debian/etch/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/i386/initrd.gz  —
LABEL etch_i386_expert
kernel debian/etch/i386/linux
append priority=low vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/i386/initrd.gz  —
LABEL etch_i386_rescue
kernel debian/etch/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/i386/initrd.gz  rescue/enable=true —
LABEL knoppix
kernel knoppix/vmlinuz
append secure myconfig=scan nfsdir=192.168.0.1:/srv/diskless/knoppix nodhcp lang=us ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init apm=p
ower-off nomce vga=791 initrd=knoppix/miniroot.gz quiet BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix
LABEL centos5_install
kernel centos/5/vmlinuz
append ks=nfs:192.168.0.1:/srv/diskless/centos/5/ks_prompt.cfg initrd=centos/5/initrd.img ramdisk_size=100000 ksdevice=eth0
ip=dhcp url –url http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/
LABEL centos5_raid_install_noprompt
kernel centos/5/vmlinuz
append ks=nfs:192.168.0.1:/srv/diskless/centos/5/ks_raid.cfg initrd=centos/5/initrd.img ramdisk_size=100000 ksdevice=eth0 ip
=dhcp url –url http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/
LABEL centos5_hda_install_noprompt
kernel centos/5/vmlinuz
append ks=nfs:192.168.0.1:/srv/diskless/centos/5/ks_hda.cfg initrd=centos/5/initrd.img ramdisk_size=100000 ksdevice=eth0 ip=
dhcp url –url http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/
LABEL centos5_install_noprompt
kernel centos/5/vmlinuz
append ks=nfs:192.168.0.1:/srv/diskless/centos/5/ks.cfg initrd=centos/5/initrd.img ramdisk_size=100000 ksdevice=eth0 ip=dhcp
url –url http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/i386/CentOS/

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LABEL lenny_i386_install
kernel debian/lenny/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/i386/initrd.gz —

LABEL lenny_amd64_install
kernel debian/lenny/amd64/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/amd64/initrd.gz —

LABEL etch_amd64_install
kernel debian/etch/amd64/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/amd64/initrd.gz —

LABEL etch_amd64_linux
kernel debian/etch/amd64/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/amd64/initrd.gz —

LABEL etch_amd64_expert
kernel debian/etch/amd64/linux
append priority=low vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/amd64/initrd.gz —

LABEL etch_amd64_rescue
kernel debian/etch/amd64/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/amd64/initrd.gz rescue/enable=true —

LABEL etch_amd64_auto
kernel debian/etch/amd64/linux
append auto=true priority=critical vga=normal initrd=debian/etch/amd64/initrd.gz —

PROMPT 1

Here are the contents of my boot.txt file (so that I know what to type at the command line when booting)

– Boot Menu –
=============

etch_i386_install   –   Debian Stable
etch_i386_expert    –   Debian Stable (Shows install menu every step)
etch_i386_rescue    –   Debian Stable Rescue
lenny_i386_install — has Broadcom net card customization
lenny_amd64_install — has Broadcom net card customization
etch_amd64_install
etch_amd64_linux
etch_amd64_expert
etch_amd64_rescue
etch_amd64_auto
centos5_install –  CentOS 5 (Will prompt for disks)
centos5_install_noprompt –  CentOS 5 (Will auto install without prompts)
centos5_hda_install_noprompt –  CentOS 5 (Will auto install without prompts)
centos5_raid_install_noprompt –  CentOS 5 (Will auto install on raid 1 without prompts)
knoppix

Hope someone out there can find some use from this.
We of course can help people having trouble with their own TFTP and PXE Boot Server .