[Infra] PXE server setup -- part 1
Just wanna to make a note since my previous articles are missing.
In the very first, we have to make sure that DHCP server is setup. In this part, we'll focus on the Legay mode.
There're some services that we need to setup: DHCP, TFTP and HTTP services.
The main setup file is /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf:
Then, we'll create a boot menu file in /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/, file name is "default" (if pxelinux.cfg doesn't exist, create it):
The main core setup is that we have to make sure the basic file (linux && initrd.gz in debian system, vmlinuz && initrd.img in Red Hat system) are put in the correct place. Next we'll setup the actual installation file and start the HTTP service.
Booting the client host, the PXE boot image would look like: Right now we could start installation manually, to perform automated installation, we also need kickstart file and seed file (for debian-like distribution).
Next, we'll show the automated installation -- kickstart and seed file(for debian-like distribution).
BTW, in the PXE default file, you'll need to setup below message:
That's all. Next article we'll introduce the PXE installation under UEFI mode.
In the very first, we have to make sure that DHCP server is setup. In this part, we'll focus on the Legay mode.
There're some services that we need to setup: DHCP, TFTP and HTTP services.
DHCP service(IPv4)
In legacy mode, PXE only support the IPv4, IPv6 only support UEFI mode.The main setup file is /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf:
# dhcpd.conf
#
# Sample configuration file for ISC dhcpd
#
# option definitions common to all supported networks...
#option domain-name-servers ns1.example.org, ns2.example.org;
allow bootp;
allow booting;
default-lease-time 259200;
max-lease-time 518400;
option routers 192.168.100.1;
option broadcast-address 192.168.100.255;
option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4;
####### Add Para. for UEFI boot ##########
option space PXE;
option PXE.mtftp-ip code 1 = ip-address;
option PXE.mtftp-cport code 2 = unsigned integer 16;
option PXE.mtftp-sport code 3 = unsigned integer 16;
option PXE.mtftp-tmout code 4 = unsigned integer 8;
option PXE.mtftp-delay code 5 = unsigned integer 8;
option arch code 93 = unsigned integer 16; #RFC4570
###########################################
# Use this to enble / disable dynamic dns updates globally.
#ddns-update-style none;
# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
#authoritative;
# Use this to send dhcp log messages to a different log file (you also
# have to hack syslog.conf to complete the redirection).
log-facility local7;
subnet 192.168.100.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.100.10 192.168.100.100;
}
class "pxeclients" {
match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 9) = "PXEClient";
next-server 192.168.100.1;
if option arch = 00:07 {
filename "shimx64.efi"; ## This is for UEFI PXE
} else {
filename "pxelinux.0"; ## It's for legacy PXE
}
}
TFTP service(Legacy)
We need to copy some files to the default folder of TFTP service (/var/lib/tftpboot, make sure all tftp-related packages are installed):cp /usr/share/syslinux/{gfxboot.c32,ldlinux.c32,libutil.c32,menu.c32,chain.c32, libcom32.c32,mboot.c32, pxelinux.0,vesamenu.c32} /var/lib/tftpbootThen, we'll create a boot menu file in /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/, file name is "default" (if pxelinux.cfg doesn't exist, create it):
UI vesamenu.c32
TIMEOUT 100
DEFAULT 1
MENU TITLE Welcom to PXE Server System
MENU RESOLUTION 1024 768
MENU BACKGROUND flw.jpg
# Boot to the local disk
LABEL 1
MENU LABEL Boot from local drive
LOCALBOOT 0
# Install Ubuntu server 1804 manually
LABEL 2
MENU LABEL Install Ubuntu Server 18.04
kernel images/ub1804srv/linux
append initrd=images/ub1804srv/initrd.gz method=http://192.168.100.1/ub1804srv/ live-installer/net-image=http://192.168.100.1/ub1804srv/install/filesystem.squashfs
# Install CentOS 8 kickstart
LABEL 3
MENU LABEL Install CentOS 8 kickstart
kernel images/c8os/vmlinuz
append initrd=images/c8os/initrd.img inst.repo=http://192.168.100.1/c8os ks=http://192.168.100.1/cfgfiles/c8lite.cfg
# Install CentOS manually
LABEL 4
MENU LABEL Install CentOS 8 manual
kernel images/c8os/vmlinuz
append initrd=images/c8os/initrd.img inst.repo=http://192.168.100.1/c8os
The main core setup is that we have to make sure the basic file (linux && initrd.gz in debian system, vmlinuz && initrd.img in Red Hat system) are put in the correct place. Next we'll setup the actual installation file and start the HTTP service.
Installation source/HTTP service
Take CentOS 8 for example, 1st we mount the CentOS 8 installation image and copy all files in the image to a target folder, e.g., we create a folder called "c8os/" under /var/www/html/:cp * /var/www/html/c8os/.cp /var/www/html/c8os/isolinux/{vmlinuz, initrd.img} /var/lib/tftpboot/images/c8osBooting the client host, the PXE boot image would look like: Right now we could start installation manually, to perform automated installation, we also need kickstart file and seed file (for debian-like distribution).
Next, we'll show the automated installation -- kickstart and seed file(for debian-like distribution).
Kickstart && seed files
Below is the basic configuration of the kickstart file:
#Generated by Kickstart Configurator
#platform=x86
#System language
lang en_US
#Language modules to install
langsupport en_US
#System keyboard
keyboard us
#System mouse
mouse
#System timezone
timezone Asia/Taipei
#Root password
rootpw --disabled
# Create a sudo user
user balajan --fullname "balajan" --plaintext --password balajan --groups=sudo
#Reboot after installation
reboot
#Use text mode install
text
#Install OS instead of upgrade
install
#Use Web installation
url --url http://192.168.122.1/ub1804srv/
#System bootloader configuration
bootloader --location=mbr
#Clear the Master Boot Record
zerombr yes
#Partition clearing information
clearpart --all --initlabel
part / --fstype ext4 --size 1 --grow --asprimary
part swap --size 8000
#System authorization infomation
auth --useshadow --enablemd5
#Firewall configuration
firewall --disabled
#Do not configure the X Window System
skipx
#Package install information
%packages
ubuntu-server
openssh-server
screen
curl
wget
python
%end
## Pre-setting
d-i live-installer/net-image sting http://192.168.100.1/ub1804srv/install/filesystem.squashfs
## Remind the host to remember mirror
# Since choosing http method, setup the mirror/country setting
d-i mirror/http/mirror select 192.168.100.1
d-i mirror/country string manual
##d-i mirror/http/mirror string 192.168.100.1
d-i mirror/http/hostname string 192.168.100.1
d-i mirror/http/directory string /ub1804srv
d-i mirror/http/proxy string
#d-i mirror/suite string bionic
#d-i mirror/codename string bionic
# Suggest Regular by default.
d-i partman-auto/disk string /dev/nvme0n1
# Regular partition
d-i partman-auto/method string regular
# All files in a partition
d-i partman-auto/choose_recipe atomic
d-i partman-partitioning/confirm_write_new_label boolean true
d-i partman/choose_partition select finish
d-i partman/confirm boolean true
d-i partman/confirm_nooverwrite boolean true
#d-i passwd/root-login boolean true
# Install the Ubuntu Server seed.
tasksel tasksel/force-tasks string server
# Only install basic language packs. Let tasksel ask about tasks.
d-i pkgsel/language-pack-patterns string
# No language support packages.
d-i pkgsel/install-language-support boolean false
# Only ask the UTC question if there are other operating systems installed.
d-i clock-setup/utc-auto boolean true
# Verbose output and no boot splash screen.
d-i debian-installer/quiet boolean false
d-i debian-installer/splash boolean false
# Install the debconf oem-config frontend (if in OEM mode).
d-i oem-config-udeb/frontend string debconf
# Wait for two seconds in grub
d-i grub-installer/timeout string 5
# Add the network and tasks oem-config steps by default.
oem-config oem-config/steps multiselect language, timezone, keyboard, user, network, tasks
#d-i pkgsel/include string openjdk-8
d-i pkgsel/include string openssh-server build-essential unzip zip libasound2 libasound2-data libasyncns0 python
#d-i debian-installer/exit/poweroff boolean true
d-i preseed/late_command string \
## Download the preset file
in-target sh -c 'wget -O /home/pixellab/tfpreset.sh http://192.168.100.1/postinst/preset.sh' ;\
in-target sh -c 'wget -O /etc/apt/sources.list http://192.168.100.1/postinst/sources.list'
#Reboot the host
d-i finish-install/reboot_in_progress note
BTW, in the PXE default file, you'll need to setup below message:
kernel images/ub1804srv/linux
append ks=http://192.168.100.1/cfgfiles/ubkstf.cfg initrd=images/ub1804srv/initrd.gz preseed/url=http://192.168.100.1/seedfiles/ubsrv.seed
That's all. Next article we'll introduce the PXE installation under UEFI mode.