boot windows ISO directly

[wiraport]

Hi.

Is there a way to add a windows iso file to boot from.
I know there are many topics about this but ive didnt found a solution for my problem.
On my previous installation of fog i was able to boot a windows iso file by using the sanboot option.
But i think there is an error in my syntax.
How is that possible ?

My current config.

:MENU
menu
item wsrv2019 iso
:wsrv2019
sanboot http://${fog-ip}/${fog-webroot}/fog/ISO/17763.737.190906-2324.rs5_release_svc_refresh_SERVER_EVAL_x64FRE_de-de_1.iso
chain memdisk iso raw ||

any idea ?

[george1421]

@wiraport There is no way to boot that iso directly.

You have 2 things working against you here.

1. memdisk is a bios based program and will not work with uefi systems.
2. You need to have enough ram for that entire iso to fit into memory and enough room for windows to boot. The other caveat here is that ipxe (the software that creates the boot menu can only hold up to a 2GB iso image)

There are ways to netboot a windows iso. But I haven’t tried to netboot windows 2019 personally.

[wiraport]

Thanks for the reply.

Ive already used the method in the past to boot this files.
But i dont know which option ive used fo it.

[george1421]

@wiraport said in boot windows ISO directly:

Ive already used the method in the past to boot this files.

I think its impossible to do. Maybe an older microsoft OS but 2019 is to big.

But my goal is to help you, help yourself.

sanboot http://${fog-ip}/${fog-webroot}/fog/ISO/17763.737.190906-2324.rs5_release_svc_refresh_SERVER_EVAL_x64FRE_de-de_1.iso

I have not used SANBOOT before but I would think the URL you have defined should be an iqn path, not URL. I don’t know what the right answer is but I’m pretty sure that is not it. But I will also say I have not used sanboot for this purpose before.

Secondly this just looks wrong:

http://${fog-ip}/${fog-webroot}

I think ${fog-webroot} already includes ${fog-ip}

A quick check on this would be to call your fog server with this URL http://<fog_server_ip>/fog/service/ipxe/boot.php?mac=00:00:00:00:00:00

That will give you the text behind the FOG iPXE menu. At the very top of that script within the first few lines ${fog-webroot} is defined. By looking at the code you should be able to tell how its assigned. Also the /fog in the path is redundant because that should be already included in the ${fog-webroot} path.

Also for the url as you have it created, you need to make sure your iso file is located in /var/www/html/fog/ISO directory.

The other limitations I said before still apply. I’m only helping you fix what is wrong with your parameter block.

And finally in this tutorial you will see how to properly setup the memdisk parameter block. https://forums.fogproject.org/topic/10944/using-fog-to-pxe-boot-into-your-favorite-installer-images/6

initrd nfs://${fog-ip}:/images/os/mswindows/7Pro-x64/WinPE_amd64.iso
chain memdisk iso raw
boot || goto MENU

Again this might not be the only way to use memdisk, but I know this method works for bios based computers. I have not tried to use sanboot for this method of booting.