Question

PXE Multi Boot ISO Menu

Asked by: ariusx

At the moment there are many boot CDs that allow us to do many different tasks. For example: Clonezilla, Hiren's Boot CD, KNOPPIX, UBCD, Windows XP/Vista Installation etc..

I was wondering if there is a way to create a PXE boot menu that will load the appropriate ISO file and boot it. This would be extremely useful in a networked environment. I am open to whatever ideas that involve Windows, Linux, or a combination of both.

Does anyone have a solution for a Multi Boot ISO Menu over the network?

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Asked On
2008-09-25 at 09:50:15ID23763242
Topics

System Utilities

,

Operating Systems Miscellaneous

,

Miscellaneous Networking

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: pzozulkaPosted on 2008-09-25 at 09:58:45ID: 22571486

RIS is the answer. Available in Windows Server 2000 and up. I think it is also called Windows Deployment Services in Windows 2003 and up.

From Client's point of view, as the machine begins to boot, you are prompted to hit F12 for Network Boot.
Provide an administrator's username and password, and you get a list of pre-loaded Operating Systems. (i.e. windows xp sp3, windows xp sp2, windows vista, windows server 2003, windows 2000, etc.)

A full unattended, installation of an OS is done withing a couple hours.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742501.aspx
http://labmice.techtarget.com/windows2000/install/RIS.htm
Step-by-step quide: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742378.aspx

 

by: ariusxPosted on 2008-09-25 at 12:01:27ID: 22572747

I have tried RIS for Windows OS Installations but can you also point an ISO file to it? Or even install non-Microsoft operating systems (e.g. Ubuntu)?

 

by: pzozulkaPosted on 2008-09-25 at 13:40:00ID: 22573649

1) Yes, Linux is supported.
2) It does not matter if it is an ISO or not, during setup you will be asked to point to the OS system files folder. Whether that happens to be on your CD Drive, or an ISO mounted with (MagicISO), it does not matter. All it needs is the path to the i386 folder and other system folders.

 

by: ariusxPosted on 2008-09-26 at 07:55:03ID: 22580124

Windows Deployment Services is in native mode since I did not have RIS installed before and the OS already had SP2. This means that RIS (legacy mode) is not supported. Currently, when I try to add an image, the first thing it asks for is a WIM file.

Is there a way to switch from native mode to legacy or mixed mode for WDS?

 

by: pzozulkaPosted on 2008-09-26 at 11:24:21ID: 22582262

I see, take a look at the below suggestions first, if they do not work, look at the link at the bottom as your last resort:

Run WDS Legacy, %SystemRoot%\system32\risetup.exe. You can just convert the RIS images to WIM via WDSUTIL /convert.
If that doesn't work try: WDSUTIL /Set-Server /ForceLegacy

If that doesn't work, look at this link:
http://www.msfn.org/board/WDS-Mixed-Mode-t96473.html


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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