Here below a step by step to PXE boot Linux Mint over NFS
needed :
–ipxe
–tiny pxe server
–winnfsd
–Mint
1/Prepare the Linux Mint files
open mint.iso in winrar (or any other iso reading capable tool).
extract casper folder to x:\pxe\iso\mint (or any path that suit you)
2/Prepare NFS Server
launch winnfsd with the following :
winnfsd.exe -id 0 0 x:\pxe\iso\mint
note : adapt the above path with your own path
3/Prepare iPXE Script
#!ipxe
set nfs-server ${next-server}
kernel /ISO/mint/casper/vmlinuz root=/dev/nfs boot=casper netboot=nfs nfsroot=${nfs-server}:/x/ISO/mint quiet splash
initrd /ISO/mint/casper/initrd.lz
boot
note : adapt /x/pxe/ISO/mint to your own path.
name it mint.ipxe and put it in x:\pxe
4/Prepare PXE Server
put ipxe-undionly.kpxe in x:\pxe
launch tiny pxe server with the following settings (leave other settings untouched) :
->boot filename = ipxe-undionly.kpxe (use the browse files and folders « … » button)
->filename if user-class=iPXE = mint.ipxe
push the online button
5/Boot !
pxe boot your computer and here we go 🙂
11 Responses to “step by step to PXE boot Linux Mint over NFS”
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Thanks for the is great guide.
I’m having trouble getting this to work.
I put everything in c:\pxe
Path to mint is c:\pxe\iso\mint . Extracted casper, etc.
My mint.ipxe file looks like this:
#ipxe
set nfs-server ${next-server}
kernel /ISO/mint/casper/vmlinuz root=/dev/nfs boot=casper netboot=nfs nfsroot=${nfs-server}:/c/ISO/mint quiet splash
initrd /ISO/mint/casper/initrd.lz
boot
I’m sure the configuration is incorrect above. PXEbooting from a computer will attempt to work.. it gets to tftp://ipaddress/mint.ipxe…. ok then freezes.
Here’s the last part of the log:
7:48:35 PM TFTPd:DoReadFile:mint.ipxe B:1432 T:211
7:48:35 PM TFTPd:DoReadFile:mint.ipxe B:1432 T:211
7:48:39 PM TFTPd:TFTPException:Timeout
Any suggestions?
I’m running host on Windows 8.1 over gigabit ethernet. Thanks for any help.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your feedback.
First : I would advise to disable your firewall on your windows host.
Second : replace ${next-server} by your ip (just to make sure)
Last : have you launched your nfs daemon? if so , please copy paste your command line.
Cheers,
Erwan
Hi! This actually happened to me too, watch out when you copy the mint.ipxe file, I don’t know how this happend but it copied #ipxe instead of #!ipxe, and i see it happened to you too, just add the missing « ! ».
Thanks for the feedback.
Wrong ipxe header is a common error.
Hi! This was of great help to me! But I had the same problem as Rob, connection timeout. I guess this was due to bad configuration and folder structure. I want to clear that up for following readers.
First, here’s the ipxe file content I used:
#!ipxe
set nfs-server 192.168.0.100
kernel /ISO/mint/casper/vmlinuz root=/dev/nfs boot=casper netboot=nfs nfsroot=${nfs-server}:/e/pxe/ISO/mint splash
initrd /ISO/mint/casper/initrd.lz
boot
(next server was indeed causing connection timeout like mentioned above)
The iso was in E:\pxe\ISO\mint\ But the guide was a bit unclear. At first I copied only the content of casper into this folder! The ipxe file suggested otherwise, which was part of the solution. In fact I copied the whole iso’s contents (linux mint 16 32 bit xfce) into the folder, I don’t know if that made a difference.
The last important bit was formatting the ipxe file properly, watch out for those automatic newlines! It has to be exactly like Erwan posted it.
Thanks for your feedback, will definitely help others !
/Erwan
Hello Erwan,
I like to boot into linux mint, in such a way that i don’t need a hdd inside my pc. I have a self build NAS and i try to start my linux from the nas so I can remove by HDD. Is this what your tutorial is about? Or is it that you install linux mint from your NAS to a local hhd inside your pc? That’s not realy clear to me. Also i use xpenology (same as synology) nas which has a XPE server build in. Can I use these script in the same way?
Thanks in advance
Hi Salvatore,
This is to boot a live distro.
But you could also also your linux to a remote network storage (over nfs or iscsi).
iscsi has my preference : you would only then need to pass the iscsi path thru your dhcp server or thru your ipxe script.
Regards,
Erwan
The system config file loads for me fine, I have a menu. I have tried to setup PXE Booting for Ubuntu, Debian and Mint. So far all that works is Ubuntu. If I select the Debian or Mint options and press enter, nothing happens.
does anyone know why this is?
Hi,
Share your ipxe script.
Share you winnfsd command line.
Describe your folder setup.
Regards,
Erwan
first of all,
thanks for that amzing work you did -> this is frcking awesome
i only have problems with the installation
sometimes the installation crashes or it says everything wored out but after a quick restart the bios cant find any system on the HDD
is there a way to fix this or is this even made for the installation?