10 replies to this topic

[Raffye.Memon]

Hello,
I have a custom bootable ISO image which i burn to CD's and DVD's to boot the machines, but recently managers decided to remove the optical drives from all computers. looks like i should get an PXE server up and running so that i can boot network machine from it using my own ISO image.


what are my options.. !


Thanks

[jamesclarke555]

Why not boot from USB or if you really want to use PXE, how about the HP MicroServer or build your own.

[Raffye.Memon]

are'nt there any software soloutions... !!

like acronis PXE server.. but i dont need those hi functionalities etc.. and cant afford licence !!

[Dan~]

Windows Deployment Services (WDS)

It'll be on add/remove programs in 2003, come with PXE as part of the package.

[Lexcyn]

You can use imagex and WindowsPE to create a tool that will allow you to boot from USB and select your custom WIM files. This is what we use at the office and it works great and is quick.

[+BudMan]

Here you go this is FREE and can boot all kinds different things and great for deployment of OSes

http://www.ultimatedeployment.org/

You should be able to boot your iso using pxe with it.

[SirEvan]

-V3n0m555-, on 28 November 2011 - 16:25, said:

are'nt there any software soloutions... !!

like acronis PXE server.. but i dont need those hi functionalities etc.. and cant afford licence !!

What you asked was a question, not an exclamation. You should've used "??" instead of "!!"

anyway, there's a free tool called netboot i believe, i used it along with a tftp server to remotely install ubuntu on vm's.

[forgreatsource]

grub4dos will boot iso files over pxe / tftp but the iso has to fix in ram,
Also not all iso files will work, anything like a windows installer will loose the iso when it boots.
There are ways around it but we need to know whats on these iso images.

[patpat]

you can do it with Serva;
a free PXE server for windows able to create a Install server in 10 minutes

read here
http://www.vercot.co...indowsPXE1.html

[+CPressland]

FOG is another one worth looking at, OpenSource Freeware.

[patpat]

This chart does not pretend to be more than a completely subjective comparison of the mentioned technologies.

.------+------------+----------------------+----------+------+------.
|..... |. Installs .| .. Install Mode .... | Requires | Docs | Easy |
+------+------------+----------------------+----------+------+------+
|RIS . |w2k/XP/S2003|CD-based / disk-image |MS Server |****--|*-----|
|WDS . |XP + ...... |wim-image ........... |MS Server |****--|*-----|
|MDT . |XP + ...... |wim Image ........... |MS Server |*****-|**----|
+------+------------+----------------------+----------+------+------+
|UDA . |XP/S2003/7 ?|CD-based / wim-image. |Linux ... |------|***---|
|FOG . |XP/S2003/7 ?|disk-image only ..... |Linux ... |**----|***---|
|Serva |w2k + ..... |CD-based / wim-image. |MS w2k + .|***---|*****-|
'------+------------+----------------------+----------+------+------'

The Microsoft alternatives need Server platforms, Domains, etc, plus some considerable time learning the tool.
If you do not fear the Linux world an you have to clone an image on many identical stations FOG could be for you.
If you do not fear the Linux world and you are ready for not a really stable platform that always requires some script tweaking here and there then you are a UDA guy.
For all the rest you probably should use Serva.