How to configure ‘PXE Network Boot Server’ for Multiple Linux Distribution

Setting up a ‘ PXE Network Boot Server’ for Multiple Linux Distribution Installations

PXE Server &ndash Preboot eXecution Environment &ndash instructs a client computer to boot or install an operating system from a network interface, this avoids the need of burn a CD/DVD or use a physical medium, and can ease the job of installing Linux distributions on your infrastructure on multiple machines the same time.

This article will explain how to install and configure a PXE Server on CentOS 7 x64-bit with local installation repositories, CentOS 7 DVD ISO image, with the help of DNSMASQ Server.

DNSMASQ server provides DNS and DHCP services, Syslinux package provides bootloaders for network booting, TFTP-Server makes bootable images available to be downloaded through network using Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and VSFTPD Server will host the local mounted DVD image files &ndash which will act as an official CentOS 7 installation repository from where the installer will extract its required packages.

Requirements

CentOS 7 minimal installation
Configure static ip address in CentOS 7

Install and configure DNSMASQ server

To install DNSMASQ server, use the following command

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install dnsmasq
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.webwerks.com
 * epel: mirror.rise.ph
 * extras: centos.webwerks.com
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package dnsmasq.x86_64 0:2.66-12.el7 will be updated
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.
.

Updated:
  dnsmasq.x86_64 0:2.66-14.el7_1                                                              

Complete!

After the installation is completed, configure the DNSMASQ server, first take backup of the DNSMASQ server configuration file and then create a new configuration file

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mv /etc/dnsmasq.conf /etc/dnsmasq.conf.backup
[root@linuxhelp ~]# nano /etc/dnsmasq.conf

Add the following lines in the DNSMASQ configuration file

interface=eno16777736,lo
#bind-interfaces
domain=linuxhelp
# DHCP range-leases
dhcp-range= eno16777736,192.168.5.3,192.168.5.214,255.255.255.0,1h
# PXE
dhcp-boot=pxelinux.0,pxeserver,192.168.5.214
# Gateway
dhcp-option=3,192.168.5.1
# DNS
dhcp-option=6,192.168.5.1, 8.8.8.8
server=8.8.4.4
# Broadcast Address
dhcp-option=28,192.168.5.255
# NTP Server
dhcp-option=42,0.0.0.0

pxe-prompt=" Press F8 for menu." , 60
pxe-service=x86PC, " Install CentOS 7 from network server 192.168.5.214" , pxelinux
enable-tftp
tftp-root=/var/lib/tftpboot

interface : replace with your network interface name
domain : replace with your domain name
dhcp-range : replace with your ip address range in this segment
dhcp-boot : replace with your network interface ip address
dhcp-option=3 : replace with your network gateway
dhcp-option=6 : replace with your DNS server IP addresses
dhcp-option=28 : replace with your network broadcast address (optional)
dhcp-option=42 : replace with your network time servers
pxe prompt : don’ t change,leave it as default
pxe=service : Use x86PC for 32-bit/64-bit architectures and enter a menu description prompt under string quotes. Other values types can be: PC98, IA64_EFI, Alpha, Arc_x86, Intel_Lean_Client, IA32_EFI, BC_EFI, Xscale_EFI and X86-64_EFI.
enable-tftp : enables the tftp server
tftp-root : location of all netbooting files

Install SYSLINUX Bootloaders

To install the syslinux bootloader, use the following command

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install syslinux
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.webwerks.com
 * epel: ftp.cuhk.edu.hk
 * extras: centos.webwerks.com
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package syslinux.x86_64 0:4.05-12.el7 will be installed

.
.
.
Installed:
  syslinux.x86_64 0:4.05-12.el7                                                               

Complete!

Install TFTP server

To install the tftp server,use the following command

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install tftp-server
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.webwerks.com
 * epel: ftp.cuhk.edu.hk
 * extras: centos.webwerks.com
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package tftp-server.x86_64 0:5.2-12.el7 will be installed
.
.
.
Installed:
  tftp-server.x86_64 0:5.2-12.el7                                                             

Complete!

Now copy the bootloader files to the tftp server path

cp -r /usr/share/syslinux/* /var/lib/tftpboot

PXE configuration file

Create a directory pxelinux.cfg under tftpboot directory

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg

Now create a pxe configuration file under pxelinux.cfg directory

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

Now open the configuration file and add the following lines

[root@linuxhelp ~]# nano /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
default menu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 300
ONTIMEOUT local
menu title ########## PXE Boot Menu ##########
label 1
menu label ^1) Install CentOS 7 x64 with Local Repo
kernel centos7/vmlinuz
append initrd=centos7/initrd.img method=ftp://192.168.5.214/pub devfs=nomount
label 2
menu label ^2) Install CentOS 7 x64 with http://mirror.centos.org Repo
kernel centos7/vmlinuz
append initrd=centos7/initrd.img method=http://mirror.centos.org/centos/7/os/x86_64/ devfs=nomount ip=dhcp

label 3
menu label ^3) Install CentOS 7 x64 with Local Repo using VNC
kernel centos7/vmlinuz
append initrd=centos7/initrd.img method=ftp://192.168.5.214/pub devfs=nomount inst.vnc inst.vncpassword=password

Adding CentOS 7 boot images to PXE boot server

Mount a pendrive with CentOS 7 files

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mount -o loop /dev/sdb1 /mnt

Create a directory CentOS 7 within tftpboot directory

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/centos7

Copy the CentOS 7 bootable kernel and initrd images from the pendrive mounted location to the CentOS 7 directory



[root@linuxhelp ~]# cp /mnt/images/pxeboot/vmlinuz /var/lib/tftpboot/centos7
[root@linuxhelp ~]# cp /mnt/images/pxeboot/initrd.img /var/lib/tftpboot/centos7

Create CentOS 7 local mirror Installation source

First install vsftpd daemon and then copy all the pendrive mounted OS files to the default vsftpd server path (/var/ftp/pub) and set 755 permissions for the directory

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install vsftpd
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.webwerks.com
 * epel: ftp.cuhk.edu.hk
 * extras: centos.webwerks.com
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package vsftpd.x86_64 0:3.0.2-11.el7_2 will be installed
.
.
.
Installed:
  vsftpd.x86_64 0:3.0.2-11.el7_2                                                              

Complete!

[root@linuxhelp ~]# cp -r /mnt/* /var/ftp/pub/
[root@linuxhelp ~]# chmod -R 755 /var/ftp/pub

Start and enable services

Start and enable the dnsmasq and vsftpd services.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl start dnsmasq
[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl status dnsmasq
dnsmasq.service - DNS caching server.
   Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/dnsmasq.service  disabled)
   Active: active (running) since Tue 2016-05-10 10:03:03 IST  6s ago
 Main PID: 4176 (dnsmasq)
   CGroup: /system.slice/dnsmasq.service
           ??4176 /usr/sbin/dnsmasq -k

May 10 10:03:03 client systemd[1]: Started DNS caching server..
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: started, version 2.66 cachesize 150
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt DBus no-i18n...uth
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: reading /etc/resolv.conf
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: using nameserver 8.8.4.4#53
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: using nameserver 8.8.8.8#53
May 10 10:03:03 client dnsmasq[4176]: read /etc/hosts - 3 addresses
Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl start vsftpd
[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl status vsftpd
vsftpd.service - Vsftpd ftp daemon
   Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/vsftpd.service  disabled)
   Active: active (running) since Tue 2016-05-10 10:03:37 IST  7s ago
  Process: 4186 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/vsftpd /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
 Main PID: 4187 (vsftpd)
   CGroup: /system.slice/vsftpd.service
           ??4187 /usr/sbin/vsftpd /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

May 10 10:03:37 client systemd[1]: Starting Vsftpd ftp daemon...
May 10 10:03:37 client systemd[1]: Started Vsftpd ftp daemon.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl enable dnsmasq
ln -s ' /usr/lib/systemd/system/dnsmasq.service'  ' /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/dnsmasq.service'

[root@linuxhelp ~]# systemctl enable vsftpd
ln -s ' /usr/lib/systemd/system/vsftpd.service'  ' /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/vsftpd.service'

To allow the services in Firewall

[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --add-service=ftp --permanent ## Port 21
[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --add-service=dns --permanent ## Port 53
[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --add-service=dhcp --permanent ## Port 67
[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --add-port=69/udp --permanent ## Port for TFTP
[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --add-port=4011/udp --permanent ## Port for ProxyDHCP
[root@linuxhelp ~]# firewall-cmd --reload ## Apply rules

[root@client ~]# firewall-cmd --list-services
dhcp dhcpv6-client dns ftp proxy-dhcp ssh

Test the FTP installation source

ftp://192.168.5.214/pub

Unmount the pendrive

[root@linuxhelp ~]# umount /mnt

Configure the clients to boot from network

Press F8 and then press enter to go the PXE menu and select the option that you need to go on with CentOS 7 installation.

If you want to add both Ubuntu15.10 and Debian 8 to the PXE Network Boot Server configuration, follow this link: https://www.linuxhelp.com/add-ubuntu-15-10-debian-8-pxe-setup-centos-7/

Tag : PXE boot

FAQ

In which location boot loader file situated in linux?

you can find boot loader file by following command
# /usr/share/syslinux/

What is the main advantage of the PXE boot server?

the main advantage for PXE boot server is easy the job of installing Linux distributions for your infrastructure on multiple machines the same time.

In which location dnsmasq configuration file situated in centos?

dnsmasq configuration file located by following command
# /etc/dnsmasq.conf

What are all the ports to be allowed to configure PXE boot server?

Following ports to be allowed to configure PXE boot
# firewall-cmd --add-service=ftp --permanent --> Port 21
# firewall-cmd --add-service=dns --permanent --> Port 53
# firewall-cmd --add-service=dhcp --permanent --> Port 67
# firewall-cmd --add-port=69/udp --permanent --> Port for TFTP
# firewall-cmd --add-port=4011/udp --permanent --> Port for ProxyDHCP

What are all the packages to be install to configure PXE boot server?

configure the PXE boot by installing following packages
dnsmasq, syslinux, tftp-server, vsftpd