Deployment Solution

Hi there my name is Jeroen,

I have a problem with Altiris Deployment Solution Server 6.9 SP4.
The problem is when i boot my Virtual Server and let the PXE boot run out so that the server boots to production.

When i do this i get a error message:

PXE-E81: PXENV+ structure is invalid. (#2)
Operating System not found.

This happens every time.
When i manually cancel the PXE boot the server does boot to production.

So i think the problem lies with Altiris/PXE.

Here are my system configuration.

Domain Controler:
Virtual Server (vSpere 4 Update 1)
Windows Server 2008 SP1
DHCP, DNS, AD

Altiris Member Server:
Virtual Server (vSpere 4 Update 1)
Windows Server 2008
Altiris Deployment Solution Server SP4 (Fresh installation)

Server:
Virtual Server (vSpere 4 Update 1)
Networkcard: VMXNET3 or E1000 (The problem is with both)
BIOS: 1st NIC, 2th HDD

Hope someone can help me.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Jeroen,

Does this PXE issue appear on physical hardware or other virtual machines? I have never seen this error before and I've been using Deployment Server now for 7 years and have used it on thousands of computers. My first guess would be a buggy BIOS implementation on your Virtual Server, or failing that a very oddly corrupted PXE setup.

Try booting off other hardware and try to build up a picture of the extent of the problem.

Hi Jeroen,

Any progress? Have you tried booting off other hardware to see if this problem is limited to this virtual machine? If so, try creating a new VM (who knows, just might work if you've had virtual server updates and this machine is an old format), or indeed you can check if your virtual server has any updates out.

Hi Ian,

Sorry for the late update.
I have created several new VM's but the problem still exists.

Could it be because there is another Altiris server in the network? Even if the PXE servies are disabled?

Is reinstalling PXE a possible solution?

Hi,

There could be other PXE services on the network which are resulting in your issue (but not if they are turned off!). Try powering down your Altiris box, and then PXE booting your VM and see what happens.

After turning your Altiris server back on, also try PXE booting REAL hardware -this is invaluable and report back here.

Am I right in assuming you have one Deployment Server, and this is the only server you have the Altiris PXE services installed on?

Hi Ian,

We are upgrading the network from Win2003 to Win2008.
In stead of upgrading Windows it self we opted for a clean installation of everyting.

So as we speak there are 2 Altiris Server (with PXE) in the network. 1 of them is the new Win2008 server (this one has the problem) and 1 with the PXE services disabled.

I will see what happens if i try it on physical hardware.

I will report back  as soon as possible.

Hi Ian,

Dit some more research and found this article
https://kb.altiris.com/display/1/kb/article.asp?aid=27974&n=27&s=

If i apply this configuration to my PXe configuration the probleem seems to be resolved.

I will do some further testing but it seems to be working.

Its very interesting that it appears to have solved the problem. How did you come by this article Jeroen? I ask purely because I would never thought of this, so am interested in your thought process!

The emulation mode is intended to help customers make the PXE boot process look like the legacy 6.5 PXE boot. The change is essentially cosmetic, but comes at the price of losing CPU detection. Would still be interested to hear what the results of your physical hardware tests were.


 

I found the article in the Altiris Knowledgebase.
Because it stated that it would emulate PXE 6.5 SP1 I thought it would work like PXE 6.5 SP1.

Do you know what the BStrap? Because the article disables this.

I will still test it with physical hardware when i get the change to.

I will update you as soon as possible.