OPNsense Forum

English Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: cookiemonster on September 17, 2021, 12:17:37 am

Title: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on September 17, 2021, 12:17:37 am

Hi.
I'm trying to setup OPN to serve PXE booting options to install OSs from the network.
Same question as https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=23128.0 (https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=23128.0) but it's an old post.
Once working I shall create the relevant documentation.

I've installed the os-tftp plugin and created the directory /usr/local/tftp and put in there my pxe files extracted from the syslinux-6.03.pkg i.e. pxelinux.0  and .c32 files

I've created my /usr/local/tftp/pxelinux.cfg/default file with my entries there pointing to a webserver I have in my LAN and started testing.

My tests are failing with:
"PXE-T01:File not found"

What I've found is that the plugin starts the tftp server and I can get the files with a tftp client and a "get" verb.
Also that it doesn't seem to use inetd as the service control mechanism and rc.d instead. All good.
I've also as a test included the OPN LAN address in the Services > DHCP4 > TFTP and the absolute path & NBP file.

Is the plugin still in development and not finished? I'd like some pointers to troubleshoot.

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on September 21, 2021, 08:04:09 pm

Anyone with pointers?

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: nykaer on September 24, 2021, 10:53:16 am

Following.    Been meaning to get something like this running at home.

I'll start and report back any findings.

/Nykaer

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on September 25, 2021, 12:44:18 am

I just got back from a few days away. I'll resume this.
I can't figure out what the plugin is meant to do/not do and how so I can plug the gaps. That's all I need at the moment.

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on September 25, 2021, 09:54:56 pm

Well this is interesting. tftpd seems to be working. I went to basics and simply connected with a machine in the LAN via tftp. I was able to download the files requested without problem.
So that part seems fine at the moment. Now I need to figure out why clients seem to be unable to get the pxe booting options offered by tftpd on OPN. I suspect I need to read some RFCs.
I shall post when I know more.

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: fabian on September 25, 2021, 10:08:12 pm

I would suggest to check the DHCP settings. If there is a Problem with the loader, you can use ipxe as a chain loader to load the actual loader.

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on September 26, 2021, 02:21:57 am

thanks for the pointer Fabian.
I'm happy to report I had success. I had to read documentation from syslinux, the other sense firewall distribution and digging around opn system files, plus a packet capture.
I'll write it up sometime for anyone trying to do this.

Title: Re: OPN as a PXE boot server
Post by: cookiemonster on October 02, 2021, 05:04:38 pm

I've finally got a few minutes to post the Tutorial.
https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=25003.0 (https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=25003.0)
Apologies it has taken longer than expected, we're dealing with a family situation.