In this article:
This article details how to use TinyPXE server to rapidly configure network booting for endpoint computers.
As well as providing our own PXE solution to enable the network booting of endpoint computers, the SiteDeploy deployment media can also be used with third-party PXE solutions. This article details how to use the SiteDeploy deployment media with TinyPXE to rapidly configure network booting for endpoint computers. TinyPXE does not need to be installed, and can even be run from a USB drive. This makes TinyPXE extremely useful for ad-hoc PXE support for quick deployments. For more information and to download TinyPXE, please see their website here.
Requirements
- TinyPXE Server
- TinyPXE Server must be run on a computer that is not a DHCP server.
Creating PXE Network Boot Components
First, the deployment media PXE components should be created. Select the ‘Deployment Media’ tab of SiteDeploy®. On this tab, the two types of deployment media can be created. Next to the 'PXE' option, select 'Build':
The progress of the PXE components being built can be viewed on the 'Deployment Media' tab of SiteDeploy®, or using the 'Activity' widget on the 'Dashboard' page of Site Manager.
Since TinyPXE is being used to PXE boot the deployment media, the in-box PXE server that is included with SiteDeploy® should be disabled. By default, the PXE network boot components that have been created can be found in the PXE folder in the rescue media working directory. By default, the path to the PXE components is C:\ProgramData\Macrium\SiteManager\RescueMedia\PXE. This path can be copied to the clipboard using the ‘Copy Path’ button:
The location of the rescue media working directory can be changed on the 'Rescue Media' page of the Site Manager settings:
Preparing TinyPXE Server
By default, the SiteDeploy PXE Network Boot Components will have been created in C:\ProgramData\Macrium\SiteManager\RescueMedia\PXE. All the files in this directory should be copied to %Path to TinyPXE directory%\pxesrv\files The existing files in the %Path to TinyPXE directory%\pxesrv\files should be deleted.
On the top bezel, 'HTTPd' should be enabled.
The IP information should be checked to ensure that it is correct for the network where TinyPXE is being run.
Under the 'Boot File' settings, select the '...' button and select the bootmgfw.efi file from the %Path to TinyPXE directory%\pxesrv\files directory if you are network booting computers with UEFI firmware. If you are booting computers that use legacy BIOS firmware, then the pxeboot.0 file should be selected from the %Path to TinyPXE directory%\pxesrv\files directory.
Once TinyPXE has been configured, select 'Online' to start the PXE server. The endpoint computers can now be booted using PXE.