[syslinux] PXElinux boot sequence with multiple ethernets

Knut Petter Ølberg kpolberg at olberg.name
Wed Feb 9 07:39:14 PST 2011



On 08.02.2011 19:56, jon.milan at stativa.com wrote:
>     Hello,
>
>     I am attempting a PXE boot between two systems, each with multiple
>     network cards.   While there are a total of 8 ports on each computer,
>     only two (each) are connected as follows:
>
>     Boot Server
>
>          eth0 - 10GbE fiber channel (private to the set of computers being
>     managed) (Qlogic)
>
>          eth4 - 1Gb ethernet (public and out of my sphere of management)
>     (NetExtreme II)
>
>     Boot Client
>
>          eth4 - 10GbE fiber channel (same private as above)
>
>          eth0 - 1Gb ethernet (same public as above)
>
>     These are both IBM systems.
>
>     The firmware in the boot client is configured to PXE boot using eth4.
>     DHCPDISCOVERY, OFFER, REQUEST and ACK appear as I expect with a
>     pxelinux.0 file specified.  Vendor class identifier is
>     "PXEClient:Arch:00007:UNDI:003016"
>
>     After a negotiation (option ack fails on first request cause of tsize,
>     and I'm using tftpd-hpa 5.0), TFTP transfers the pxelinux.0 file (26
>     packets).
>
>     Then the problem starts:
>
>     1)  The whole DHCPDISCOVERY / OFFER / REQ / ACK / TFTP (pxelinux.0)
>     sequence repeats on the same eth4 port.
>
>     2)  The client's eth0 port attempts DHCPDISCOVERY which times out (no
>     DHCP for this "public" subnet).  This appears to be a PXE extended
>     discovery as it also includes a Vendor class identifier "PXEClient"
>     (different values).
>
>     3)  The client falls through to the next boot option specified.
>
>     I have attempted using option classes in the DHCP configuration, but
>     have seen no better results.
>
>     This is my first foray into PXE, though I am well versed in the UN*X
>     world (starting 1976).  Perhaps the symptom is known to someone already
>     -- might anyone have a suggestion?
>
>     As a data point, syslinux boot from a thumb drive launches me in to the
>     menu properly.   We are looking for a hands-free option, however, so I
>     am continuing to pursue PXE.
>
>     Thank you in advance,
>
>     Jon
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If these are newer IBM's with EFI I think you need to set legacy, hd0, 
network as boot order for pxelinux to work.

Knut Petter




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