[syslinux] [gpxelinux] How to use sanboot.c32 to attach a iscsi lun and then boot from CD

[Bart van den Oetelaar]

> I've been trying a couple of day now, but I can't seem to figure it out.
> On www.etherboot.org, I found the example of configuring gPXE so that
> it mounts an iSCSI lun and then boot from CDROM so you are able to
> install on the LUN. But if I use gpxelinux.0 (latest release 3.73),
> with sanboot.c32 like this:
>
> <snip>
>
> Is this scenario valid what I'm trying to do? Is it possible to boot
> from CD after gPXE?

Booting from CD after gPXE is definitely possible.  Booting from CD after
gpxelinux.0 and sanboot.c32, I have no idea about.

Michael

Booting from CD after gPXE is definitely possible.  Booting from CD after
gpxelinux.0 and sanboot.c32, I have no idea about.

Michael

> I'm now going to try and copy a vmware-disk to a san disk. Maybe that
> works, but installing a OS on a SAN disk that way takes far more time,
> so if it would be possible to get the 'direct to san' installation
> (talking about server 2008 as the OS) to work would be great.

Direct to SAN installation *does* work with gPXE.  The procedure is documented
at

  http://etherboot.org/wiki/sanboot/win2k8_iscsi_install

and I have personally tested it (and created the documentation).

Michael

> I've just finished copying the vmwaredisk to the SAN-disk using dd (as
> documented on the etherboot wiki), it seems to boot, however, it's
> taking a very long time.. (Loading screen of 2008 server keeps on going)
> Wait, oh crap, a BSOD, maybe I'm still missing some driver or so... I'l
> investigate that now..

If your VM is set up to use a completely flat disk file (i.e. preallocated
space, not split at 2GB boundaries), then the .vmdk file is already a valid
disk image that can just be exposed via iSCSI.  Might make things faster for
your testing.

Michael


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