How to pxe boot to Ghost in 4 steps

[bandgeekmafia78]

Hi.

 

I'm sure this has been done already in multiple threads but I thought I'd share with you how I've managed to get my computers pxe-booting to Ghost over the network in just FOUR steps...

 

Do all of these steps on your Ghost Server!!

 

1: Install 3Com PXE Boot Services

 

This is on the GHOST Installation CD under ‘extras’. If you don’t have the CD search for ‘master.exe’ in the ‘extras’ folder. By default, only the Administrator option is selected, which will install only the management tools. Remember to change this to Server during the install. Accept all other defaults.

 

After installation, start the 3Com PXE Server and 3Com TFTP Server services (services.msc). Set the startup type to Automatic.

 

2: Create a Network Boot Image

 

Start Ghost Boot Wizard, and select option: TCP/IP Network Boot Image. Select PC-DOS, then select the universal driver, and store the boot image in the C:\TFTPBOOT directory.

 

3: Create a PXE boot menu

 

Using the 3Com Boot Image Editor, select Create a PXE Menu Boot File.

 

Click Add and select Boot From Hard Drive as the default entry, then click Add again to create a second entry containing your boot image file (the .sys file you just created in step 2). Save the file.

 

4. Create an entry in the BootPTab control file

 

Start the 3Com BootPTab editor.

 

Delete the existing entries and go to Edit > Add Host… - add a wildcard host id "????????????" as a node identifier, and point it at the PXE Menu Boot File that you created in step 3.

 

 

 

Hope this is useful.

 

Alan

[sidewinder]

This has been useful to me.

 

Although I can't quite get it working!

 

The client connects to the TFTP server fine, starts PC-DOS, then brings up a load of 0x00 (00 being various numbers) on the screen, then just says

 

'sending status to 192.168.1.10'

'acknowledged by 192.168.1.10'

 

over and over, like it is waiting for something

 

Any ideas?

[sidewinder]

Sorted it...I was being an idiot and not following instructions, I'd created a Ghost console boot image instead of just a Ghost one

 

Works fine..thanks!

[jimothy]

You are a star sir, I've been after this information for years!! Thank you, no more ghost boot CDs!!

[Ghaz013]

Sorry for thread necromancy. But after step 4 what is the next step..?

 

Sorry Im kind of new to this, Ive been trying to understand the TFTP/PXE/GHOST combination but the parts havent all sunk in yet. Any help is much appreciated, I yearn for the day when I can boot to any PC and do an image.

[themightymrp]

Don't know if you use MDT and WDS at all but I have a custom Task Sequence which launches the Ghost32 executable. It's a great way of leveraging the massive network driver database I have built up in MDT to be able to boot up practically any machine

[patpat]

try Serva; far easier...

Serva PXE/BINL - AN02: Windows Install Adv & WinPE Boot

[petben]

I wonder if anyone is going to look at this after 2 years..,

 

sometimes I have multiple (differently named) ghost sessions open at the same time waiting for clients to connect (if the room I'm imaging needs diff't images putting onto different machines for example), will this method allow the user on the f12 booted client to choose which session to connect to?

[sidewinder]

Havent used Ghost in a couple of years but I think the answer is yes. I had it setup like this and once booted it would be the same as doing it from a CD, you can type in which session to connect to

[petben]

cool, instant reply!

 

do you know the implications of wanting x32 clients connecting to my x64 (2012) server? is it different?

 

I've been using 'ghost with RIS' for years on 2003 server and fighting to get 'ghost with WDS' working, is this the answer to get it working on a modern server OS? awesome.

[Parm_Sarai]

Hi guys,

 

I have been playing around on/off with Ghost all day today

After step 4 what file extension should I save this as and where?

 

Thanks,

Parm

[petben]

dont change its name, just click the 'save' floppy disk icon

it should be located in C:\TFTPBOOT

 

I have this working now, it seems to work fine!

[steewy]

Ahh ghost my old friend. Don't use it any more but it was a great tool !

[Parm_Sarai]

Hi Guys,

 

So after testing this and i found out that i had to use the check box for option 60 on the DHCP scope.

I am just testing this now and looking at how to ghost a server that I have running as I need this for the MS courses that we have running here.