The netboot project simplifies the process of setting up Ubuntu or Debian netinstaller by offering a straightforward bootstrapping tool.
The netboot project is a fantastic way to bootstrap both Ubuntu and Debian netinstallers with ease. It's also incredibly convenient for assigning addresses to network devices like ILO to configure them. This software is extremely user-friendly and requires minimal configuration, which makes it ideal for those who have always disliked dealing with dhcpd and tftp-ha.
One of the advantages of using netboot is that it allows you to see who's asking for a boot. For example, you can enter "kef@flash:~$ sudo ./netboot request 1 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 ()" to locate the hostname in parentheses. Once you've found what you're looking for, you can easily boot it by typing "kef@flash:~$ sudo ./netboot 192.168.0.255 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.55 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 mac pattern:00 e0 91 02 9e 24 request 1 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 () matched request 3 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 () matched rrq pxelinux.0 rrq pxelinux.0 end."
The broadcast address for netboot is 192.168.0.255, while the address of the interface is 192.168.0.1. If you're looking for an address that the client can use, the software offers 192.168.0.55. For mac addresses, you only need to type in the last few digits, and you can use any separator except for whitespace.
The bootfile is hardcoded to pxelinux.0, and you can use any file with this name. The current directory is where tftp requests are served, and both dhcp and tftp implementations are simple. Tftp can only serve one file at a time, and the software's security features are minimal. Therefore, it's best to use netboot in a secure environment.
One of the advantages of using netboot is that it allows you to see who's asking for a boot. For example, you can enter "kef@flash:~$ sudo ./netboot request 1 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 ()" to locate the hostname in parentheses. Once you've found what you're looking for, you can easily boot it by typing "kef@flash:~$ sudo ./netboot 192.168.0.255 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.55 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 mac pattern:00 e0 91 02 9e 24 request 1 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 () matched request 3 from 00-e0-91-02-9e-24 () matched rrq pxelinux.0 rrq pxelinux.0 end."
The broadcast address for netboot is 192.168.0.255, while the address of the interface is 192.168.0.1. If you're looking for an address that the client can use, the software offers 192.168.0.55. For mac addresses, you only need to type in the last few digits, and you can use any separator except for whitespace.
The bootfile is hardcoded to pxelinux.0, and you can use any file with this name. The current directory is where tftp requests are served, and both dhcp and tftp implementations are simple. Tftp can only serve one file at a time, and the software's security features are minimal. Therefore, it's best to use netboot in a secure environment.
What's New
Version 04-07-2007: N/A