Syslinux - Aug 2004 - PXELinux sending a boot disquette image? Is this possible?

Hi,

First, I want to precise that I'm new to linux, so please answear with
simple words ;)

My problem is that I have to install and configure linux (RH9) on 36
identical computers. This would take ages. What I want to do, is to
configure one, and then clone the install.
But thos computers have no CD, no floppy, and I didn't manage to boot them
brom an usb stick.

The last option is to boot them via PXE (they can). So PXElinux seems a
good thing to try.

I've found a software that can copy a harddrive image to a ftp server, and
afterthat, install it on another computer.
Here's the software: http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/
But g4u boots from a floppy drive (or a bootable cd), both image files are
available on the website.

Is it possible, with PXELinux, to send the floppy image (or the bootable
cd image) to the remote computers, instead of a linux image? The floppy
image is in a .fr format, the cd in a .iso one. Does PXElinux support this
format? And how can I do it?


Thanks a lot
Alex

On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 bricolo at beroot.org wrote:
>Is it possible, with PXELinux, to send the floppy image (or the
>bootable cd image) to the remote computers, instead of a linux image?
>The floppy image is in a .fr format, the cd in a .iso one. Does
>PXElinux support this format? And how can I do it?
Yes, with the aid of memdisk. An entry like this:

label memdisk
  kernel memdisk
  append initrd=floppy.img

in PXElinux's config file will cause the floppy image to be transferred
from the TFTP server and booted as though it were in the local drive.


Cheers,
Phil

On Fri, Aug 13, 2004 at 09:30:13AM +0200, bricolo at beroot.org
wrote:
> Hi,
> First, I want to precise that I'm new to linux, so please answear with
> simple words ;)
> My problem is that I have to install and configure linux (RH9) on 36
> identical computers. This would take ages. What I want to do, is to
> configure one, and then clone the install.
> But thos computers have no CD, no floppy, and I didn't manage to boot
them
> brom an usb stick.
	Take a look at Kickstart and SystemImager.
	Kickstart is part of Redhat
	SystemImager is at http://www.systemimager.org/

	Both use, or can use PXE to boot the install bits.
> 
> The last option is to boot them via PXE (they can). So PXElinux seems a
> good thing to try.
> 
> I've found a software that can copy a harddrive image to a ftp server,
and
> afterthat, install it on another computer.
> Here's the software: http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/
> But g4u boots from a floppy drive (or a bootable cd), both image files are
> available on the website.
> 
> Is it possible, with PXELinux, to send the floppy image (or the bootable
> cd image) to the remote computers, instead of a linux image? The floppy
> image is in a .fr format, the cd in a .iso one. Does PXElinux support this
> format? And how can I do it?
> 
> 
> Thanks a lot
> Alex
> 
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