Discussion:
Infinite loop attempting to find DHCP
Phil Selmer
2009-12-11 20:50:37 UTC
Permalink
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue with
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found. I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.

Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork or
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network). If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks again and
waits 3 seconds. It will do that indefinitely.

Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server? If a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access to
a Linux box.

Thanks in advance.
Thomas Miletich
2009-12-11 21:00:22 UTC
Permalink
Hello Phil,
please try gPXE. gPXE will exit and continue with the next boot device
after the DHCP request failed(unless your BIOS has issues with
that...). You shouldn't use Etherboot anymore if you don't really need
to, as it's unsupported and hasn't been updated in a while.

Thomas
Post by Phil Selmer
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue with
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found.  I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.
Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork or
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network).  If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks again and
waits 3 seconds.  It will do that indefinitely.
Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server?  If a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access to
a Linux box.
Thanks in advance.
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Phil Selmer
2009-12-11 21:33:05 UTC
Permalink
Thanks for the quick response, Thomas.

Unfortunately, I'm required to use software that does not support gPXE, only
PXE.

Am I looking at some source code mods here?

Thanks again.

- Phil

On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM, Thomas Miletich
Post by Thomas Miletich
Hello Phil,
please try gPXE. gPXE will exit and continue with the next boot device
after the DHCP request failed(unless your BIOS has issues with
that...). You shouldn't use Etherboot anymore if you don't really need
to, as it's unsupported and hasn't been updated in a while.
Thomas
Post by Phil Selmer
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue
with
Post by Phil Selmer
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found. I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.
Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork
or
Post by Phil Selmer
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network). If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks again
and
Post by Phil Selmer
waits 3 seconds. It will do that indefinitely.
Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server? If a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access
to
Post by Phil Selmer
a Linux box.
Thanks in advance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post by Phil Selmer
Google Enterprise Search pays you back
Get the facts.
http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev
_______________________________________________
Etherboot-discuss mailing list
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/etherboot-discuss
--
-----
It's time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of
remaking America. Roads, bridges, electric lines, harness the sun, and the
wind and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. All this we can
do; all this we will do. - Barak Obama
Marty Connor
2009-12-11 21:52:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil Selmer
Thanks for the quick response, Thomas.
Unfortunately, I'm required to use software that does not support gPXE, only
PXE.
As gPXE is an Open Source PXE implementation, it would be nice to
understand what you mean.

Would you be more specific about what you are trying to accomplish?

Did you mean to say "I'm required to use software that does not support
gPXE, only Etherboot." ??
Post by Phil Selmer
Am I looking at some source code mods here?
Possibly. But if you can describe in more detail what you're trying to
do, we might be able to help.
Post by Phil Selmer
Thanks again.
- Phil
You're quite welcome.

Marty
Post by Phil Selmer
On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM, Thomas Miletich
Post by Thomas Miletich
Hello Phil,
please try gPXE. gPXE will exit and continue with the next boot device
after the DHCP request failed(unless your BIOS has issues with
that...). You shouldn't use Etherboot anymore if you don't really need
to, as it's unsupported and hasn't been updated in a while.
Thomas
Post by Phil Selmer
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue
with
Post by Phil Selmer
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found. I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.
Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork
or
Post by Phil Selmer
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network). If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks again
and
Post by Phil Selmer
waits 3 seconds. It will do that indefinitely.
Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server? If a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access
to
Post by Phil Selmer
a Linux box.
Thanks in advance.
Phil Selmer
2009-12-11 22:34:51 UTC
Permalink
I need to use Acronis SnapDeploy which comes with its own PXE server. That
server does not interface with gPXE. I have no idea why, but that is what I
was told.

I'll be using event-driven deploys to image headless systems. I am required
to turn off all the servers (DHCP, TFTP, PXE) when they are not in use, so
those systems must be able to boot without DHCP (and without user input).

I apologize if I'm still not being very clear.

Thanks,
- Phil
Post by Phil Selmer
Thanks for the quick response, Thomas.
Post by Phil Selmer
Unfortunately, I'm required to use software that does not support gPXE, only
PXE.
As gPXE is an Open Source PXE implementation, it would be nice to
understand what you mean.
Would you be more specific about what you are trying to accomplish?
Did you mean to say "I'm required to use software that does not support
gPXE, only Etherboot." ??
Am I looking at some source code mods here?
Possibly. But if you can describe in more detail what you're trying to do,
we might be able to help.
Thanks again.
Post by Phil Selmer
- Phil
You're quite welcome.
Marty
On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM, Thomas Miletich
Post by Phil Selmer
Hello Phil,
Post by Thomas Miletich
please try gPXE. gPXE will exit and continue with the next boot device
after the DHCP request failed(unless your BIOS has issues with
that...). You shouldn't use Etherboot anymore if you don't really need
to, as it's unsupported and hasn't been updated in a while.
Thomas
Post by Phil Selmer
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue
with
Post by Phil Selmer
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found. I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.
Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork
or
Post by Phil Selmer
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network). If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks again
and
Post by Phil Selmer
waits 3 seconds. It will do that indefinitely.
Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server? If a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access
to
Post by Phil Selmer
a Linux box.
Thanks in advance.
--
-----
It's time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of
remaking America. Roads, bridges, electric lines, harness the sun, and the
wind and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. All this we can
do; all this we will do. - Barak Obama
Thomas Miletich
2009-12-11 22:48:35 UTC
Permalink
I need to use Acronis SnapDeploy which comes with its own PXE server.  That
server does not interface with gPXE.  I have no idea why, but that is what I
was told.
You should definitely try it on your own. One of the reasons why gPXE
is preferred over Etherboot is gPXE's much superior PXE support. If it
works with etherboot, it should work with gPXE too.
I'll be using event-driven deploys to image headless systems.  I am required
to turn off all the servers (DHCP, TFTP, PXE) when they are not in use, so
those systems must be able to boot without DHCP (and without user input).
I apologize if I'm still not being very clear.
Thomas
Thanks,
   - Phil
Post by Marty Connor
Post by Phil Selmer
Thanks for the quick response, Thomas.
Unfortunately, I'm required to use software that does not support gPXE, only
PXE.
As gPXE is an Open Source PXE implementation, it would be nice to
understand what you mean.
Would you be more specific about what you are trying to accomplish?
Did you mean to say "I'm required to use software that does not support
gPXE, only Etherboot." ??
Post by Phil Selmer
Am I looking at some source code mods here?
Possibly.  But if you can describe in more detail what you're trying to
do, we might be able to help.
Post by Phil Selmer
Thanks again.
- Phil
You're quite welcome.
Marty
Post by Phil Selmer
On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM, Thomas Miletich
Post by Thomas Miletich
Hello Phil,
please try gPXE. gPXE will exit and continue with the next boot device
after the DHCP request failed(unless your BIOS has issues with
that...). You shouldn't use Etherboot anymore if you don't really need
to, as it's unsupported and hasn't been updated in a while.
Thomas
Post by Phil Selmer
I'm wondering if there is any way to have Etherboot quit and continue
with
Post by Phil Selmer
the normal boot sequence if there is no DHCP server found.  I've tried
multiple options from Rom-o-matic, but can't get one that will work.
Currently, it will load the BIOS extension and ask "Boot from (N)etwork
or
Post by Phil Selmer
(Q)uit" for the default 3 seconds before attempting to boot the default
(which is network).  If it can't connect to a DHCP server, it asks
again
and
Post by Phil Selmer
waits 3 seconds.  It will do that indefinitely.
Is there any way to have it quit if it can't find the DHCP server?  If
a
Rom-o-matic solution exists, I would prefer that as I do not have access
to
Post by Phil Selmer
a Linux box.
Thanks in advance.
--
-----
It's time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of
remaking America. Roads, bridges, electric lines, harness the sun, and the
wind and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. All this we can
do; all this we will do. - Barak Obama
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google Enterprise Search pays you back
Get the facts.
http://p.sf.net/sfu/google-dev2dev
_______________________________________________
Etherboot-discuss mailing list
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/etherboot-discuss
Shao Miller
2009-12-19 21:33:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phil Selmer
I need to use Acronis SnapDeploy which comes with its own PXE server.
That server does not interface with gPXE. I have no idea why, but
that is what I was told.
Some common "re-imaging" products in industry that can utilize PXE are:

* Acronis
* Altiris
* IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment
* Symantec Ghost


If an incompatibility is found with any of these and gPXE, it would be
good to identify it and fix it, since gPXE implements PXE. Are there
further details you could provide in regards to this incompatibility,
Phil? How are you currently getting the older Etherboot running? Is it
burned onto ROMs or part of BIOS? A gPXE floppy or .ISO or USB image
from ROM-O-Matic might make for a good, quick test.

- Shao Miller

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