How to Install and Configure the neopxe Boot Server Daemon

Complete the following steps on your DHCP server. The neopxe server is designed for use with a DHCP server that is running on the same system.

1. Install the neopxe boot server daemon onto the system that is your DHCP server.

   # cd /tmp/name-pxefiles/neopxe-0.2.0
   # ./configure
   # make
   # make install

   where name is the file name corresponding to your version of Linux. For example, rhel4-pxefiles.

2. Append the path /usr/local/sbin/neopxe to the rc.local file by typing the following command, making sure to use two greater-than signs.

   # echo "/usr/local/sbin/neopxe" >> /etc/rc.d/rc.local

3. Copy the PXE Linux image from the /tmp/ directory.

   # mkdir /home/pxeboot
   # cp /tmp/name-pxefiles/pxelinux.0 /home/pxeboot

4. Configure the PXE Linux image.

   # mkdir /home/pxeboot/pxelinux.cfg/
   # touch /home/pxeboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

5. Edit the /usr/local/etc/neopxe.conf configuration file, which is read by neopxe at startup.

   If the neopxe.conf file is not in the /usr/local/etc directory, you can copy it from the /tmp/name-pxefiles/neopxe-0.2.0/ directory.

   A valid configuration file must have entries for each of the following lines, including at least one service line.

   ip_addr=n.n.n.n
   prompt=boot-prompt-string
   prompt_timeout=timeout
   service=service-number,boot-server,boot-file,label

   • n.n.n.n is the IP address of your PXE server.

   • boot-prompt-string is the character string displayed during a network boot that prompts the user to press the F8 key for a boot menu.

   • timeout is the number of seconds the prompt is displayed before the server defaults to the first service for booting.

   • service-number is an integer in the range of 1 to 254 that identifies the boot service.

   • boot-server is the IP address of the boot server for that boot service.

   • boot-file is the name of the boot file that is read from your /home/pxeboot directory.

   • label is the text string that is displayed when the boot menu is invoked by pressing the F8 key.

     ip_addr=192.168.0.1
     prompt=Press [F8] for menu...
     prompt_timeout=10
     service=1,192.168.0.1,pxelinux.0,Linux
     service=2,192.169.0.1,nbp.unknown,Solaris

     ---

     Note - Refer to the neopxe.conf man page for more information.

     ---

6. Start the neopxe daemon.

   # /usr/local/sbin/neopxe

Next Steps

How to Configure the NFS Service on Your PXE Server