USB to Ethernet PXE

[T_Lister]

Good afternoon forum,

 

I am trying to PXE boot a Lenovo V15-ADA via a USB Ethernet adapter. I have successfully managed to generate a WinPE boot USB, but I cannot get passed this screen:

 

wdsclient: there was a problem initializing wds mode

 

The server is assigning a DHCP address to the laptop, so I know the adapter is working, as does if I log into Windows I can get onto the network. I just cannot get the WDS to load properly. Any advice would be welcome, I'm on rather a short turn around to start trying anything new.

 

Thanks in advance.

[robyholmes]

I'm not sure if the error is the same but I've had problems in the past when using USB adapters that it thinks your re-imaging the same machine but the hardware might have changed. This is because it's using the LAN MAC for it's identification (Which doesn't change as your re-image machines with the same adapter). I think in WDS you could tell it not to identify machines by MAC or at least don't auto name. Not sure if this helps at all but something to consider when using an adapter.

[T_Lister]

Not sure how I stop it from looking for a MAC, but I've set autoname to a set name and it doesn't work still. I know it's not specifically the Lenovo as I've just tried it on an old acer as well, same problem.

[Steve21]

I mean there's a few items it could be off the top of my head, hopefully will be quick to narrow some of these down

 

Is the port you're using on the same VLAN as the server? If not have you configured up DHCP options etc (e.g. Can another machine build fine on the same port?)

 

If you're using a USB Nic does your Boot image have the drivers for it? Else it might not be able to load them during the boot in PXE

 

If you have multiple NICs (even wireless) on the device, you could try disabling the 2nd one until it's rebuilt in case it's trying to use wrong one

 

Steve

[T_Lister]

I mean there's a few items it could be off the top of my head, hopefully will be quick to narrow some of these down

 

Is the port you're using on the same VLAN as the server? If not have you configured up DHCP options etc (e.g. Can another machine build fine on the same port?)

 

If you're using a USB Nic does your Boot image have the drivers for it? Else it might not be able to load them during the boot in PXE

 

If you have multiple NICs (even wireless) on the device, you could try disabling the 2nd one until it's rebuilt in case it's trying to use wrong one

 

Steve

 

Yes, all on the same VLAN

 

USB Nic driver is on my WinPE boot image.

 

Just tested with WiFi uninstalled, still no go.

[mavhc]

Have you tried all the solutions here? https://diymediahome.org/wdsclient-there-was-a-problem-initializing-wds-mode

[T_Lister]

Have you tried all the solutions here? https://diymediahome.org/wdsclient-there-was-a-problem-initializing-wds-mode

 

Indeed. Ran out of time to get it sorted so had to do things the long way. I'm going to have to go down the clonezilla route in future methinks. I get the impression it's just not designed to play friendly with WDS.