[syslinux] PXElinux boot sequence with multiple ethernets

[Jon Milan]

On Feb 9, 2011, at 8:39 AM, Knut Petter Ølberg wrote:

>
>
> 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

Thank you, Knut, these are newer servers and support both Legacy and  
UEFI options for PXE.   I will experiment with this.

Jon Milan