Client not receiveing boot files.
I have everything configured and the clients now talk to the server and when I start my job the DS restarts the client like it should but the client does not receive the pre-boot files for automation to start my job. It just times out and then boots to production.
I am using the MSDOS as my pre-boot and I have configured it via PXE config and told it what drivers to use for my integrated NIC on the DELL 620. I originally created the boot disk on install but after inspecting the config files I noticed that it was referring to the external drive that I used so I copied the files on to the DS and edited my boot disk so now it is referencing everything locally. I have recreated a boot disk and I have adjusted the setting multiple times.
Also My DS is not the DHCP server but I do have option 66 pointing to my DS on my DHCP server. am I going to have to turn on DHCP on my DS server to set option 60 even if I have PXE configured telling it that it is not DHCP and to use the port. Also please correct me if I’m wrong but the port for DHCP is 5050 or is it different and should I open that port in my WinServ2008 firewall?
I have had to rebuild this DS server 4 times now and would love it if I don’t have to do it a 5th time. Please help!
Thank you in advance for all of your advice.
NewBtek
Robert.
Hi Robert, I have a setup
Hi Robert,
I have a setup with DHCP server and DS Server on different boxes, and this works fine without setting other options (like your TFTP option 66) on the DHCP box.
The way PXE works, is that your PXE server responds to the DHCP broadcast with PXE boot info, and your DHCP server responds with all the IP address information it needs to configure itself on the network. There is no need to configure TFTP information, as the PXE Server will respond with all the information it needs to download the boot files.
If you have multiple subnets which need servicing by the same DS Server for PXE booting, the configure IP Helpers in your routers for those subnets (for all intents and purposes your DS should be treated as a DHCP server as it needs to respond to the DHCP broadcasts from clients (UDP 67) as they PXE boot).
I recommend also turning your server firewall off when trying to PXE boot -this way you can narrow down if your problem is your local firewall, or a broader netwoking issue.
Kind Regards,
Ian./
Ian Atkin
Senior Developer for the ICT Support Team,
Oxford University, UK
Hello Ian, Thanks for all
Hello Ian,
Thanks for all your help. I can now get it to start the PXE but now it seems my drivers or MSDOS seems to be corrupted. I looked the the files are there but it errors out. And when I try to just use the UNDI driver it askes me for a password and when i enter in the password it fails and then just restarts. I am going to copy the B57 DOS driver from my DELL disk and replace the drivers on my DS Server and see if that helps. Has anyone ran into this problem before?
Thank You,
Robert
Prompting for password
If it is prompting for a password, it more than likely means that your drivers are fine but the password that was used when creating the PXE boot image is incorrect or contains more than 8 characters (DOS doesn't like passwords that are any longer or if they include special characters).
You may consider moving to Linux or WinPE, the throughput is a lot faster when doing imaging and they tend to support more complex passwords.
Do Over
Thank you for all your help guys. However I was unable to get it to work. I am going to rebuild it (again) on a diffrent server however this time I am using a newer version. I was using 6.8
Thank you again for your help.
Robert
sorry to hear about that
better luck this time round!
Kind Regards,
Ian./
Ian Atkin
Senior Developer for the ICT Support Team,
Oxford University, UK
WinPE
I have been trying to create a WinPE PXE boot and it wont let me. It is looking for an .exe file to install with however i dont seem to have the one its looking for. is there a speacial installer file for WinPE on Altiris. and if so where can i get it i have been searching for two days and the the closest i got ended up being a bad link.
Thanks again
Robert.
Download location
Point your browser to http://www.altiris.com/downloads
There will be a drop down. Choose Deployment Solution for Clients 6.9SP3. It will take you to another page. Select your WinPE Automation environment for your platform (x86, x64 or ia64).
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