Tiny PXE Server

NOTE - Live USB media can be used as an alternative to setting up ubuntu/Lubuntu for PXE boot via a NFS share - if using Live USB media then a persistent install is recommended.

System Setup

Stage 1

NOTE - the screenshots below are from ubuntu, the instructions cover both ubuntu and lubuntu.

Start a terminal and enter the commands listed below (amending as required to reflect your own setup). On ubuntu, a terminal can be started by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Open Terminal. On lubuntu, click on the menu button (bottom left) > System Tools > LXTerminal.

Download the package lists from the repositories to get information about any new versions and dependencies (recommended before installing any new software/packages) -

apt-get update

Install the open-iscsi software package (required to connect to the iSCSI Target before running the installer) -

apt-get install open-iscsi

Query available iSCSI Targets on the device with IP address 192.168.1.1 (the device hosting the iSCSI Target software) -

iscsiadm -m discovery -t st -p 192.168.1.1

output from running the above command (note that one target (iqn.target)) is listed -

Connect/attach the iSCSI Target with iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) iqn.target -

iscsiadm -m node -T iqn.target -P 192.168.1.1 -l

output from running the above command -

List the partition table(s) of devices on the system (use this to confirm the device name for the iSCSI Target mounted in the preceding step).

fdisk -l

output (detail) from running the above command -

On the test system the iSCSI Target attached earlier was identified as /dev/sdb by checking the attributes of the devices listed when running the preceding command (fdisk -l).

Stage 2

Having successfully attached and identified the device name of the iSCSI Target in stage 1 (see here), proceed with the installation. ubuntu and lubuntu both have desktop shortcuts for the installer -
ubuntu -

lubuntu -

The majority of the installation screens/options are self explanatory. The following instructions focus on the steps required to prepare and select the iSCSI Target.

When prompted for Installation type, select Something else > Continue -

The next screen should display a list of devices. Select the iSCSI Target from the list (identified earlier as /dev/sdb on the test system). As this is a raw disk, click on the New Partition Table... button -

Click on Continue on the Create new empty partition table on this device? screen -

Select free space on the relevant device and then click on the + button -

On the Create partition options screen, select the required file system (Ext3 used on the test system) > select Mount point: as / (root) > OK -

Select the iSCSI Target device in the Device for boot loader installation: field (/dev/sdb on the test system) > Install Now -

A warning about not selecting a swap space will be displayed > ignore and click on Continue -

Write the changes to disks? screen/warning. Double check to ensure that the correct device is selected > Continue

After installing the operating system you will be prompted to Restart Now or Continue Testing. Select Continue Testing and proceed to stage 3 -

NOTE - if you accidently selected the Restart now option then repeat Stage 1 (here) and then proceed to Stage 3.

Stage 3

Remember that the iSCSI Target attached earlier was identified as /dev/sdb. The partition containing the operating system and boot loader files is device /dev/sdb1.

Create a directory to use as a mount point for the iSCSI Target partition (/dev/sdb1) -

mkdir /mnt/temp

Mount /dev/sdb1 to the directory created in the preceding step -

mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/temp

Change the root directory to the device mounted in the preceding step. After running this command, all additional commands will be executed on the new root device. This essentially allows changes to be made (including software installation) to the offline system -

chroot /mnt/temp

Add the DNS IP address to /etc/resolv.conf. It was not possible to install any software on the test system without completing this step.

echo "nameserver 192.168.1.254" >> /etc/resolv.conf

Download the package lists from the repositories to get information about any new versions and dependencies (recommended before installing any new software/packages). Although this step was completed earlier, it needs to be repeated on the new root device (the offline system on the iSCSI Target) -

apt-get update

Install the initramfs-tools software package on the offline system -

apt-get install initramfs-tools

Install the open-iscsi software package on the offline system -

apt-get install open-iscsi

Install the sysv-rc-conf software package on the offline system -

apt-get install sysv-rc-conf

Add the line "iscsi" to /etc/initramfs-tools/modules -

echo "iscsi" >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules

Create file /etc/iscsi/initiatorname.iscsi and add the Client Initiator name (required by some software Targets to authenticate connections) -

echo "InitiatorName=iqn.client" > /etc/iscsi/initiatorname.iscsi

Execute Touch command on file /etc/iscsi/iscsi.initramfs. The following information has been copied from here - "...The touch command is the easiest way to create new, empty files. It is also used to change the timestamps (i.e., dates and times of the most recent access and modification) on existing files and directories....A nice feature of touch is that, in contrast to some commands such as cp (which is used to copy files and directories) and mv (which is used to move or rename files and directories), it does not automatically overwrite (i.e., erase the contents of) existing files with the same name. Rather, it merely changes the last access times for such files to the current time..." -

touch /etc/iscsi/iscsi.initramfs

Update/rebuild the initramfs file - the Initial RAM File System loaded by the kernel containing the device drivers and tools required to boot from the final root file system (incorporating the information required for connecting to the iSCSI Target during the boot process) -

update-initramfs -u

Stage 4

Some commands will need to be added to the Grub configuration file (/boot/grub/grub.cfg) to successfully connect to the iSCSI Target during the boot process.

NOTE - do NOT edit any settings in this file unless you know what you are doing. Whilst it is necessary to make the additions detailed below, changing other settings may break the boot process!

Example grub.cfg (copied from the Client system before any edits were made) -

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}
function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_GB
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=30
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=10
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=10
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30,0; then
  clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
	set gfxpayload="${1}"
	if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
		set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
	else
		set vt_handoff=
	fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
  if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
    if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
      if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=text
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
  else
    set linux_gfx_mode=keep
  fi
else
  set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
	recordfail
	load_video
	gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
	insmod gzio
	if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	fi
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Ubuntu' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-64-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-64-generic-advanced-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-64-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic
	}
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-64-generic (upstart)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-64-generic-init-upstart-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-64-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff init=/sbin/upstart
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic
	}
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-64-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-64-generic-recovery-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-64-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro recovery nomodeset 
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic
	}
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-21-generic-advanced-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-21-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
	}
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-21-generic (upstart)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-21-generic-init-upstart-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-21-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff init=/sbin/upstart
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
	}
	menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 4.4.0-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.4.0-21-generic-recovery-2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf' {
		recordfail
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.4.0-21-generic ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro recovery nomodeset 
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
	}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+)' {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	fi
	knetbsd	/boot/memtest86+.elf
}
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)' {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf
	fi
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-B602-96F8' {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod fat
	set root='hd0,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  B602-96F8
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root B602-96F8
	fi
	parttool ${root} hidden-
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry 'Windows 8 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-E2B679DCB679B221' {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ntfs
	set root='hd0,msdos2'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos2 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos2  E2B679DCB679B221
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root E2B679DCB679B221
	fi
	parttool ${root} hidden-
	drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
	chainloader +1
}
set timeout_style=menu
if [ "${timeout}" = 0 ]; then
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

And the line that requires editing (in the menuentry 'Ubuntu' section) -

linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff

Due to security permissions, the easiet way to edit the grub.cfg file is to run the following command -

nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg

After editing the file, press [Ctrl]+[O] to write the changes to the file, and [Ctrl]+[X] to exit the text editor.

Edited line in grub.cfg -

linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff

Stage 5

The /etc/network/interfaces file will need to be edited to stop the operating system from reconfiguring any settings on the Ethernet interface. Set device eth0 to manual - eth0 is the first ethernet interface on the system.

The following information will need to be added to /etc/network/interfaces -

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual

Run the following command to open /etc/network/interfaces for editing -

nano /etc/network/interfaces

If you have multiple network interfaces on the Client system, then consider adding additional settings. E.g. -

# interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
auto enp0s25
iface enp0s25 inet manual

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual

auto eth1
iface eth1 inet manual

Stage 6

NOTE - you can ignore this section if using iPXE or chainloading iPXE from a different Network Boot Program.

Identify the relevant kernel and initrd files from the menuentry 'Ubuntu' section in the modified /boot/grub/grub.cfg (refer to stage 4).

Using the test system as an example, the linux and initrd lines in the menuentry 'Ubuntu' section are as follows -

linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic

The kernel file can consequently be identified as /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic, and the initrd file as /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic.

Boot

Assuming all of the steps above have been completed, shutdown ubuntu/lubuntu and add the required settings for your Network Bootstrap Program...

grub4dos Settings

Remember to ensure that the required files are copied to your Tiny PXE Server root directory -

You will also need to ensure that the kernel and initrd were copied in Stage 6 (the file names may vary in different builds/versions) -

linux and initrd lines copied from the menuentry 'Ubuntu' section in the modified /boot/grub/grub.cfg (refer to stage 4).....

linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic

.....Converted to the grub4dos menu format -

title ubuntu (iSCSI)
kernel (pd)/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd (pd)/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic

Amend file names as required and add the menu entry to C:\pxesrv\files\menu.lst\default.

grub4dos settings (Chainload iPXE)

If using this method iPXE can be used to SANBOOT the iSCSI Target - kernel and initrd files do not need copying to the Server.

Add the following to C:\pxesrv\files\menu.lst\default (create this file if required) -

title ubuntu (iSCSI)
pxe keep
kernel (pd)/ipxe.lkrn
initrd (pd)/ubuntu.iscsi.txt

Contents of C:\pxesrv\files\ubuntu.iscsi.txt (create this file if required) -

#!ipxe
dhcp net0 && echo IP address: ${net0/ip} ; echo Subnet mask: ${net0/netmask}
set gateway 0.0.0.0
sanboot iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target
boot

Refer to the iSCSI URI Syntax section for information about iSCSI Target device names.

pxelinux Settings

Remember to ensure that the required files are copied to your Tiny PXE Server root directory -

You will also need to ensure that the kernel and initrd were copied in Stage 6 (the file names may vary in different builds/versions) -

linux and initrd lines copied from the menuentry 'Ubuntu' section in the modified /boot/grub/grub.cfg (refer to stage 4).....

linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic

.....Converted to the pxelinux menu format -

label ubuntuiscsi
  menu label ubuntu (iSCSI)
  kernel vmlinuz-4.4.0-64-generic
  append initrd=initrd.img-4.4.0-64-generic ISCSI_INITIATOR=iqn.client ISCSI_TARGET_NAME=iqn.target ISCSI_TARGET_IP=192.168.1.1 ISCSI_TARGET_PORT=3260 root=UUID=2b665d86-5887-4700-b71a-9bfd2ea11cdf ro  quiet splash $vt_handoff

Amend file names as required and add the menu entry to C:\pxesrv\files\pxelinux.cfg\default.

pxelinux settings (Chainload iPXE)

If using this method iPXE can be used to SANBOOT the iSCSI Target - kernel and initrd files do not need copying to the Server.

Add the following to C:\pxesrv\files\pxelinux.cfg\default (create this file if required) -

label ubuntuiscsi
  menu label ubuntu (iSCSI)
  kernel ipxe.lkrn
  append initrd=ubuntu.iscsi.txt

Contents of C:\pxesrv\files\ubuntu.iscsi.txt (create this file if required) -

#!ipxe
dhcp net0 && echo IP address: ${net0/ip} ; echo Subnet mask: ${net0/netmask}
set gateway 0.0.0.0
sanboot iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target
boot

Refer to the iSCSI URI Syntax section for information about iSCSI Target device names.

iPXE settings

Remember to ensure that the required files are copied to your Tiny PXE Server root directory -

Add the following to the menu section of C:\pxesrv\files\ipxe_menu.txt -

item ubuntuiscsi	Boot ubuntu from iSCSI

Add the following to the menu options section of C:\pxesrv\files\ipxe_menu.txt -

:ubuntuiscsi
set gateway 0.0.0.0
sanboot iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target
boot

E.g. -

#!ipxe
set boot-url http://${dhcp-server}
set iscsi-target iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target

#================ Main Menu =================
:menu
menu iPXE menu
item ubuntuiscsi	Boot ubuntu from iSCSI
choose target && goto ${target}
#============== End Main Menu ===============

:ubuntuiscsi
set gateway 0.0.0.0
sanboot iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target
boot

NOTE - remember to change any references to ${dhcp-server} to ${next-server} if using ProxyDHCP.

Click on one of the following for config.ini settings (edit to reflect your own setup) -

iPXE Scripts

iPXE menus are essentially scripts. It's also possible to specify a simple script to boot the iSCSI Target using the altfilename option in config.ini. For example, create a script in the TFTP root directory C:\pxesrv\files\ubuntu.iscsi.txt > add altfilename=ubuntu.iscsi.txt to config.ini. NOTE - remember to change any references to ${dhcp-server} to ${next-server} if using ProxyDHCP.

Sample iPXE script ubuntu.iscsi.txt -

#!ipxe
set gateway 0.0.0.0
sanboot iscsi:${dhcp-server}::::iqn.target
boot

iSCSI URI Syntax

The format for iSCSI URI's is - iscsi:[servername]:[protocol]:[port]:[LUN]:[targetname]

If default settings are used for the protocol, port and LUN fields then these fields can be left blank. The following entries for example will all function (assuming the Target IP address is 192.168.1.1 and that this IP address is correctly set as the dhcp-server variable when iPXE is booted) -

iSCSI (Install ubuntu to Target)

Requirements

System Setup

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Boot

grub4dos Settings

grub4dos settings (Chainload iPXE)

pxelinux Settings

pxelinux settings (Chainload iPXE)

iPXE settings

iPXE Scripts

iSCSI URI Syntax