OPN as a PXE boot server

Started by cookiemonster, September 17, 2021, 12:17:37 AM

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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 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.


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

I'll start and report back any findings.

/Nykaer

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.

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.

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.

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.

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