PXE Network Boot

You can boot the Solaris 9 Operating Environment (Intel Platform Edition) directly from a network without the Solaris boot diskette on IA based systems that support the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) network booting protocol. The PXE network boot is available only for devices that implement the Intel Preboot Execution Environment specification.

You can enable the PXE network boot on the client system by using the BIOS setup program in the system BIOS, the network adapter BIOS, or both. On some systems, you must also adjust the boot device priority list so that a network boot is attempted before a boot from other devices. See the manufacturer's documentation for each setup program, or watch for setup program entry instructions during boot.

Some PXE-capable network adapters have a feature that enables a PXE boot if you type a particular keystroke in response to a brief boot-time prompt. This feature is ideal when you use PXE for an install boot on a system that normally boots from the disk drive because you do not have to modify the PXE settings. If your adapter does not have this feature, disable PXE in the BIOS setup when the system reboots after installation, and the system will boot from the disk drive.

Some early versions of PXE firmware cannot boot the Solaris system. If you have one of these older versions, your system can read the PXE network bootstrap program from a boot server, but the bootstrap will not transmit packets. If this problem occurs, upgrade the PXE firmware on the adapter. Obtain firmware upgrade information from the adapter manufacturer's web site. For more information, see elxl(7D) andiprb(7D).

For information on booting IA based systems with or without the boot diskette, see IA: How to Boot a System From the Network.