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PXE SERVER?
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:53 am
by whataboutnow
Is it possible to make a plugin or something similar so that I can install distros/iso that are stored on USB connected to the router? Something similar to multiboot so that I can choose which OS I'd like to install on a remote machine?
There are a few guides that show how to do a Linux distro but I can't find any to set up a Windows pxe.
Many thanks
Re: PXE SERVER?
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 1:54 pm
by RomanHK
Maybe this guide will help you:
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/ser ... pxe-server
EDIT: So I tried it and it works. I had to edit the paths and the "default" file, but after editing the Ubuntu Live-CD started.
Re: PXE SERVER?
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:09 am
by whataboutnow
Ah that's good to know
Would you be kind enough to show me how to make those edits please?
I figure I'll learn the process using Linux on my way to my ultimate goal of being able to do it with a windows image
I'm glad it worked for you, it started in my head as a hmmm, what if?... Idea,
but I think it's got enough legs to keep me busy over the weekend getting it working. I wish I had enough knowledge to be able to write it as a plugin but I have to start somewhere I guess
Re: PXE SERVER?
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 4:11 pm
by RomanHK
Step by step - I used a VM with Gargoyle 1.13.x
1. First, we will run the USB storage (if we haven't done so in the past) in Gargoyle format so that we get the path eg
/tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb (sdb1)
2. Prepare files for PXE-Booting
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/ser ... xe-booting
Code: Select all
cd /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1
mkdir tftp tftp/pxelinux.cfg tftp/disks tftp/disks/ubuntu1604-64
mkdir /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/syslinux-download
cd /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/syslinux-download
wget --no-check-certificate https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/syslinux-6.03.tar.gz
gzip -df syslinux-6.03.tar.gz
tar -xf syslinux-6.03.tar
cd /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/syslinux-download/syslinux-6.03/bios
cp core/pxelinux.0 com32/elflink/ldlinux/ldlinux.c32 com32/menu/vesamenu.c32 com32/lib/libcom32.c32 com32/libutil/libutil.c32 /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp
touch /tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp/pxelinux.cfg/default
3. We will insert the information into the file
/tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp/pxelinux.cfg/default
Code: Select all
DEFAULT vesamenu.c32
PROMPT 0
MENU TITLE OpenWrt PXE-Boot Menu
label Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu Live 16.04 64-Bit
KERNEL disks/ubuntu1604-64/casper/vmlinuz
APPEND boot=casper ide=nodma netboot=nfs nfsroot=192.168.1.1:/tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp/disks/ubuntu1604-64/ initrd=disks/ubuntu1604-64/casper/initrd
TEXT HELP
Starts the Ubuntu Live-CD - Version 16.04 64-Bit
ENDTEXT
4. Download and expand (eg using
7zip) *.iso file:
https://releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/ubunt ... -amd64.iso which we then copy (already unpacked) to USB in the folder
/tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp/disks/ubuntu1604-64
5. Enable TFTP and NFS Service
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/ser ... fs_service
Code: Select all
uci set dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].enable_tftp='1'
uci set dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].tftp_root='/tmp/usb_mount/dev_sdb1/tftp'
uci set dhcp.linux='boot'
uci set dhcp.@boot[0].filename='pxelinux.0'
uci set dhcp.@boot[0].serveraddress='192.168.1.1'
uci set dhcp.@boot[0].servername='OpenWrt'
uci set dhcp.@boot[0].force='1'
uci add_list dhcp.@boot[0].dhcp_option='209,pxelinux.cfg/default'
uci commit dhcp
6. Now enable NFS share:
7. Testing it out
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/ser ... ing_it_out
I don't know how it is in the case of Windows, but it will definitely be similar - you have to figure it out yourself or someone else can advise.
Good luck...
Re: PXE SERVER?
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:55 pm
by whataboutnow
Lush, thanks for the effort you have gone to in your reply - very much appreciated, I'll get back to you with results
I have learned a lot about pxe in the last week or so - I currently have a pxe server running on my nas hosting various system images, next step is to move that to the router
