Network Boot Problems/Computer won't communicate with Ubuntu/FOG

[Adam Kohnert]

Would it be easier if I made my FOG server give out IP addresses like a DHCP server rather than messing with our actual DHCP server?

Thanks

[djm79]

Well if you already have a device doing DHCP you could cause a “race” situation were they are both trying to hand out address. The proxy DHCP setup would allow FOG to hand out the PXE boot options to computers without messing with the DHCP device that is doing it now. Does someone else manage the device handing out addresses? If so ask they to add the boot options to the DHCP scope. IF not then proxy is the way to go.

[Adam Kohnert]

Well, the CIPA fiter does not allow us to make any sort of changes. Now what???

We looked and looked and it did not let us do anything

Thanks

[Matt Harding]

Time for a dhcp proxy. I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark here and assume you are running FOG on Ubuntu. If not, the info will still be handy at least.

Try this: [url]https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuLTSP/ProxyDHCP[/url]

[Adam Kohnert]

OK…I was frustrated so I reinstalled FOG on my computer…tried everything again with no luck. We attempted to make changes to our DHCP device with no luck also.

So…does someone want to take control of my computer and see what I have wrong? Help me please!!!

Thanks

[Matt Harding]

Can you post your configs here? I’m not saying I’ll be able to help as I dont use a DHCP Proxy myself, I have full control over my DHCP setup so I’ve no need of one, but there are plenty of people on this forum with loads of experience that may spot the problem straight away.

[Adam Kohnert]

What is the best way to show you how I have it set-up?

[Matt Harding]

I was hoping to see your dhcpd.conf file on your dhcp server. When you say you had no luck I take it then that you mean you couldn’t get onto it to alter the config? I thought perhaps you meant that you had tried unsuccessfully to modify it.

Have you used Wireshark before? Great tool for finding out whats going on at the heart of a network. I think it’d come in real handy for you in dealing with this issue too. Give it a go. If you’ve never used it before it can seem very complicated and overwhelming, but its quite straight forward for beginner use anyhow. Install it, run it, and select your chosen interface to watch on near the top left. Once you’ve done that it will immediately start live capture of packets.

What I suggest you do is run this on a machine on your network to observe what is happening, and while its running, try to boot another PC from the network. Watch for packets of the DHCP variety. You’ll see them come up under the DHCP Protocol, and in the INFO field next to it will be “DHCP Request” followed by a couple of “DHCP Discover” entries. Click on the discover line(s) and take a closer look in the main information window below the list (bottom half of the screen). Somewhere down there will be an entry that says “Bootp flags” and within that will be the line “Next Server IP address”. If there is nothing there but “0.0.0.0 (0.0.0.0)” then your dhcp server is not giving out bootp addresses which is what gives a network booting machine the ability to talk to fog’s tftp server.

In short if you only get 0.0.0.0 there then your good to go and can use the dhcp proxying method of supplying the extra details. If it does pick up an address, you really need to get in touch with the people who maintain the system giving out the addresses and explain your situation because if its giving bootp addressing out, its not directing you where you need to go, and you cant change it.

Hope I haven’t confused you too much

I’m sure there’s easier ways to say what I’m trying to get accross and perhaps if you are still in need of help with this, someone can convey in a more human friendly way the essence of what I am trying to get across.

Oh incidentally the URL for the wireshark download is:

[url]http://www.wireshark.org/download.html[/url]

[chad-bisd]

The FOG project wiki article on proxyDHCP is based on Ubuntu and LTSP, and has specific instructions. search the wiki for proxyDHCP

[Adam Kohnert]

Good news all!

We purchased a new Firewall/Filter (CIPA) and it came in today and it is up and running!

It looks like there is a place for us to modify it so we can add:

next-server 10.0.175.162;
filename “pxelinux.0”;

Note the filename end of .0 is a zero.

Is there anything else that we need to add???

YeeHaa

Thanks

[Matt Harding]

Put those settings in (Remember to make note of what you do in case you need to take it out again).

Register a client PC with fog through the web frontend, set it to PXE boot, then see if it boots from network and shows you a FOG menu. If you get the fog menu, its worked.

[Adam Kohnert]

Well…

We can’t seem to change any settings on the DHCP server

Plan D

Can we set up our own network? Just have the fog server hooked up to a switch then have some computers hooked up to a switch? And then have the FOG server give out DHCP address?

I am at a loss…I have about 75 computers to do

Thanks

[BryceZ]

During the install process for FOG it asks if you would like to have FOG manage your DHCP. If you don’t have any images or a long list of hosts added to FOG already, it might be easiest to just set it up one more time from scratch on an isolated switch, making sure to let FOG handle DHCP.

[Adam Kohnert]

OK, is there a way I can change my current settings without uninstalling FOG? Should I be connected to our current network when I install FOG? What IP address do I use for the FOG server?

Thanks again

[chad-bisd]

Yes. install the DHCP daemon and configure it manually.

[Adam Kohnert]

Hello again!

Here is what I did and it didn’t work, I know shocking:

Set up my fog server to handle DHCP…I think
Connected my fog server to a switch no hooked to the internet
Connected the client to the same switch as the fog server
And…nothing

Can someone check my fog settings?

I can’t have my fog server hooked to our current network…it causes some problems

Thanks!!!

[chad-bisd]

post your dhcpd config file (use code tags or attach the file).

When you says “And…nothing” what part of the process gives you nothing? Maybe if you spelled out the exact steps you are taking when trying to use FOG when the “And…nothing”, we might be able to help. You can configure FOG all day long, but if you don’t turn on the clients “and…nothing” is an expected and acceptable result.

[Adam Kohnert]

Sorry for being vague
And…nothing—this means the client machine did not boot from PXE

Did I miss a step?
Probably something simple

Thanks Again

[chad-bisd]

Did you go into the BIOS on the clients and set them to network book, and then actually make sure they are network booting. Some require you to hit F12, or hold down a key before they network boot, even if it’s set in the BIOS. I have some tablets that I have to hold down a special button on the front while turning them on, or they ignore the boot order and quick boot to windows.

[Adam Kohnert]

Yes, I hit F12 and selected Boot From PXE.

Ill keep trying.

Thanks again