This might be interestingly relevant as well: http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ltsp/index.php?title=Ltsp_BootingFromLocalDevice
its a branch from LTSP however for old machines that don't have PXE functions. On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 8:45 AM, Paul Mooring <drpppr...@gmail.com> wrote: > Another setup I think works pretty well is thinstation > http://www.thinstation.org/ > It's used to boot into a really minimal version of linux that connects > directly to a remote server through rdp, vnc. ssh, ect > > On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 8:33 AM, Lisa Kachold <lisakach...@obnosis.com> wrote: >> This has been a standard technique in Unix [BSD, AIX, Solaris and >> HP-UX] for diskless servers since the early days (pre-Linus). >> >> In linux PXE booting from servers is best supported via LTSP project: >> >> http://www.ltsp.org/ >> http://www.kegel.com/linux/pxe.html >> http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/1639.html >> >> It is very fun, especially with older hardware and nice fast networking. >> >> Additional fiber channel RAID for shared disk I/O on a switched >> backplane makes these systems nice and swift. >> >> On 2/12/10, Dazed_75 <lthiels...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Turns out the two PXE servers I built do totally different things and really >>> should be called PXE based Install Servers AND I can imagine a third which >>> might more properly be described as a PXE Boot Server. BTW, for those who >>> do not know, PXE stands for Pre-eXecution Environment and really does let >>> you boot a machine from the network. Anyway, here are the three types I >>> mentioned: >>> >>> 1. from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PXEInstallMultiDistro I built a >>> server that does PXE boots from files stored entirely on the PXE server. >>> Those files came from .iso files that had been previously mounted and the >>> necessary material extracted when the server is set up. The .iso files >>> need >>> not be kept since they are not used during a PXE boot. The booting is >>> generally into a Live environment with the option of installing. >>> 2. from >>> >>> http://www.howtoforge.com/install-multiple-linux-distributions-via-pxe-the-easy-wayI >>> built a PXE server that does PXE boots using only a few files resident >>> on >>> the PXE server and retrieves most of the material from the internet EVERY >>> TIME a client uses the PXE based boot. These all seem to boot directly >>> to >>> an installer (no live environment). >>> 3. I have not seen any article for this but I can imagine PXE booting >>> being used simply to boot a system where the OS and Application files >>> only >>> live on the PXE server. Configuration and user files could live locally >>> or >>> on the server. I suspect PXE is never used this way but do not know. >>> >>> BTW, the server I built for #2 only works for some of the distributions it >>> purports to. Both the Fedora and CentOS installs fail because the install >>> procedures ask for information that the client doing the booting cannot >>> provide. Ubuntu Karmic and Mandriva seem to work fine. The single entry >>> for Karmic appears able to install all the core distributions (i.e. Ubuntu, >>> Kubuntu, etc). The Mandriva install lets you choose KDE, GNOME, or CUSTOM >>> (whatever that means). >>> >>> It seems to me that method 1 is superior for speed and bandwidth >>> considerations. Method 2 seems better for the ability to install variations >>> of configuration or distro builds. I suspect it would be possible to do >>> both in a single PXE server though it would be more work. >>> >>> What I would like to see for method #1 is that the .iso files were retained >>> for use in burning discs either on the PXE server or a client on the net >>> (not a PXE function) AND might be mounted by the PXE server function rather >>> than having to extract files when building the server. Since all three uses >>> only require reading the .iso's I would think they could be shared. >>> >>> Opinions? And is anyone interested in this? >>> >>> -- >>> Dazed_75 a.k.a. Larry >>> >>> The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, >>> that I wish it always to be kept alive. >>> - Thomas Jefferson >>> >> >> >> -- >> Skype: (623)239-3392 >> AT&T: (503)754-4452 >> http://obnosis.110mb.com/nuke/index.php >> http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Arizona >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. 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