Ghost Solution Suite

Hello,

I am currently deployed to Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. I am trying to get a new standalone GhostCast server up and running after relocating to a new base.

I am using Ghost Solution Suite 2.5 and TFTPD32 SE for my software.

I am using a Dell Optiplex 980 with Server 2008 R2 for my server, with a Cisco 3750G 24port switch for a local network just for imaging machines.

I have tried several different ways of setting up the TFTPD TFTP Server & DHCP Server, along with different ways of setting up the Network Boot Image for the PXE boot. I had this working on a setup similar to this at my previous base, but it was on Windows XP, and someone else had already made the boot image file.

I am looking for instructions on how to setup this system from scratch, I have read many different things, and none of them are working for me. Alot of the are wanting me to use the 3Com Services, but I know this will work without those. From what I know/believe here is what I have.

Switch is a blank switch (aka dummy).

TFTPD32 - Base Directory = C:\TFTPBOOT

     TFTP Server - TFTP Security = Standard

                          timeout = 3

                          max retransmit = 6

                          tftp port = 69

                         PXE Compatability (checked)

                         show progress bar (checked)

                         translate unix file names (checked)

                       allow '\' as virtual root (checked)

   DHCP - IP Pool Starting Address = 192.168.0.11

              Size of pool = 100

              bootfile = boot/pxeboot.n12

              WINS/DNS Server = 192.168.0.1

              default router = 192.168.0.1

              subnet mask = 255.255.255.0

              ping address before assignation (checked)

              presistant leases (checked)

Server Interface (STATIC) = 192.168.0.1

I am using Ghost Boot Wizard to create a TCP/IP Network Boot Image, everything is default. Directory is C:\TFTPBOOT name is boot.

Any help that you can provide to help me get 50+ computers imaged tonight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Cpl Kirkland

USMC

Installing ghost running on Windows 2008 64bit

I assume you already installed MS DHCP Server service and authorized it of course…

1. Install Symantec ghost using install cd
   1. D:\cdstart.exe
   2. Select “Install Symantec Ghost”
   3. Select “Install Ghost Standard tools”
2. Install 3com
   1. D:\Extras\3Com Boot Services\master.exe
   2. Click “Install 3com boot services”
   3. Next, Yes, Next, Next
   4. Select “Server” and hit next
   5. Next, finish
3. Set firewall rules
   1. Start-->programs-->accessories-->cmd (right-click and “runas administrator”)
   2. netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8
   3. netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="GhostCast Server" dir=in action=allow program="c:\program files (x86)\Symantec\ghost\ghostsrv.exe" enable=yes
   4. netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="3Com TFTP" dir=in action=allow program="c:\program files (x86)\3Com\Boot Services\3ctftp.exe" enable=yes
   5. netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="3Com PXE" dir=in action=allow program="c:\program files (x86)\3Com\Boot Services\3cpxe.exe" enable=yes
4. Set Mcafee  (if you are using Symantec then skip this step)
   1. Right Click on the shield icon by the clock and select "VirusScan Console"
   2. Task-->Properties
   3. Select "Antivirus Standard Protection" in the left pane (default)
   4. Select "Prevent IRC Communication" in the right pane and click the "Edit" button
   5. Under "Processes to Exclude" type "ghostsrv.exe" then click ok
   6. Click "APPLY"
5. Create a DHCP Scope  (Example if Your Server IP = 192.168.100.1)
   1. Start-->programs-->accessories-->cmd (right-click and “runas administrator”)
   2. netsh dhcp server add scope 192.168.100.0 255.255.255.0 "My Scope1"
   3. netsh dhcp server scope 192.168.100.0 add iprange 192.168.100.101 192.168.100.199
   4. netsh dhcp server scope 192.168.100.0 set optionvalue 003 IPADDRESS 192.168.100.1
   5. netsh dhcp server scope 192.168.100.0 set optionvalue 006 IPADDRESS 192.168.100.1
   6. netsh dhcp server scope 192.168.100.0 set optionvalue 51 DWORD 86400
   7. netsh dhcp server scope 192.168.100.0 set state 1
6. Create a boot image (ghost.sys)
   1. Start-->programs-->symantec ghost-->ghost boot wizard
   2. Select PCDOS and hit next
   3. TCP/IP Network Boot Image
   4. Universal Packet Driver v2.0 [irqcfg]
   5. Next, OK,Next, Next, Next, Next
   6. Type C:\tftpboot\ghost.sys then hit next
   7. Next then Finish
7. Create PXE file (ghost.pxe)
   1. Start-->programs-->3com Boot Services-->3com boot image editor
   2. Select “Create a PXE Menu boot file”
   3. Click “add”
   4. Click Browse and select “C:\tftpboot\ghost.sys”
   5. Click ok
   6. Click save “C:\tftpboot\ghost.pxe”
8. Point 3com to the ghost.pxe
   1. Start-->programs-->3com Boot Services-->BOOTPTAB Editor
   2. Click “add” button
      1. Name:  Universal
      2. Node:  ????????????
         1. Filling node with all ? means all mac addresses that try to connect
      3. Image: ghost.pxe
   3. File-->save
9. Make sure DHCP is up
   1. Start-->programs-->accessories-->cmd (right-click and “runas administrator”)
   2. net start "DHCP Server"
10. Make sure 3COM ftp and server are ready
    1. cd /d "c:\Program Files (x86)\3Com\Boot Services"
    2. start /min 3ctftp.exe
       1. select all nics
       2. verify under options-->network adapters
    3. start /min 3cpxe.exe
       1. select all nics
       2. verify under options-->network adapters
11. Boot the machines and hit f12 and it should boot to ghost

The steps give by funguy is definitely useful however you can find the detailed steps in 3com user guide in pdf format which are available on the Symantec Ghost Solution Suite CD under Extras-> 3com boot services-> documents. Hope this helps.