PXE client not seeing new Fogserver
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I am replacing on old FOG server with a physically new server running ubuntu 20.04 and FOG 1.5.9. I followed the migration guide located at https://wiki.fogproject.org/wiki/index.php?title=Migrate_FOG. I compared the /opt/fog/.fogsettings file and it is generally the same. The new server is on the same network as the old. The IP address has been changed in the settings.
When I try to have a client connect to the PXE server it connects to the old server. When I shutdown the old server the client then does not see any PXE server.
Is there anything I need to do on the new FOG server to get the PXE server running? Is there anything I need to do on the network?
Thanks for your assistance.
Jim P.
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@geekyjm said in PXE client not seeing new Fogserver:
Is there anything I need to do on the network?
Update your dhcp server’s option 66 to point to the new fog server.
Also as well as spinning up a new fog server there are a few things you might want to do.
- Switch to the dev branch (using the git installer) and upgrade to FOG 1.5.9.115 or later
- Update the FOS Linux kernel to the 5.15.x branch (fog web ui -> Fog Configuration -> Kernel update (both x64 and x32 kernels)
- Recompile iPXE to the latest version: https://forums.fogproject.org/topic/15826/updating-compiling-the-latest-version-of-ipxe
#1 addresses some issues with Windows 10 20H2 and later with resizing disks.
#2 and 3, gets you support for the latest hardware (if you run into hardware issues). These need to be installed after #1. BUT they can be done without #1. But if you do step #1 later you must repeat steps #2 and 3. -
George1421 Thanks for the reply. I have made the change to the 066 change to the DHCP server. But I am still not seeing the pxe server. I will try to update the FOS linux kernel and recompile iPXE.
Jim P.
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@geekyjm said in PXE client not seeing new Fogserver:
I have made the change to the 066 change to the DHCP server. But I am still not seeing the pxe server.
OK at this point you don’t need to update the other two. This issue is not related to the other components yet.
Do you happen to have more than one dhcp server (like a backup dhcp server) on your network?
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@geekyjm said in PXE client not seeing new Fogserver:
I have made the change to the 066 change to the DHCP server
Ok stop at this point. The other two updates will not fix this issue. The other two are important but don’t have an impact on this problem.
Do you happen to have more than one dhcp server at your site, such as a backup dhcp server? Both dhcp servers need to be configured for pxe booting. This info is not replicated between the dhcp servers.
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@george1421 Yes, I have two DHCP servers but I configured 066 on both servers.
Jim P.
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@geekyjm OK good. Then lets see what the target computer is being told.
If your fog server is on the same subnet as your target computers you can use the fog server to capture a pcap (packet capture) of the dhcp process. https://forums.fogproject.org/topic/9673/when-dhcp-pxe-booting-process-goes-bad-and-you-have-no-clue
You can either review this pcap with Wireshark or post it to a public file share site and post the link here or DM me the link and I will take a look at it.
If your target computer is on a different IP subnet than the fog server, then use Wireshark loaded onto a witness computer. Use the capture filter of
port 67 or port 68(this capture filter will block everything except dhcp). Same guidance as before review it with wireshark or post it where I can take a look.The pcap will show us who the actors are here and what are they saying.
Last bit what device is your dhcp server? (mfg and model)
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@george1421 I did update the kernel before I got your last message. It appears that the PXE client is not getting an IP address. Also, the 066 was not set up for the old Fog server, but the PXE client gets an IP and connects. So I’m not sure what I’m missing.
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@geekyjm What device is giving IP addresses for this network? Is it the fog server or some other server? Not getting an IP address is an infrastructure thing and not fog.
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@george1421 We have two windows DHCP servers that gives out IPs. When I connect a client to the old fog server it gets an IP address. When I plugin the new fog server into the same port as the old fog server and then try to connect the client it does not get an IP address. The only change I made is swapping the new fog server with the old. Same client and the same network jack.
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@geekyjm said in PXE client not seeing new Fogserver:
it does not get an IP address
Technically I can’t see how that’s possible since the FOG server is not involved with handing out IP addresses.
What (specifically) is the error you see on the target computer?
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@george1421 You are most likely correct. There is no error. The client shows that it is booting ove PXE on IPv4. It times out after around a minute. Do I need to point the Fog server to the DHCP server? When the old Fog server is connected it finds an IP address and boots normally. I feel I’m missing something network or DHCP server setting.
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@geekyjm Lets go ahead and grab a pcap of the pxe booting process. If you are uncomfortable uploading the pcap to a file share site, I can tell you what to look for. But first we need the pcap.
My intuition is telling me that your target computer is getting an IP address, but the condition you are indicating is that the target computer might be told to connect to the old fog server and its timing out and then continues to load windows. So in a way its getting an IP address but timing out downloading the ipxe boot loader.
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@george1421 I would be glad to grab a pcap of the pxe booting process. Not sure how to do it though.
When I have the old fog server connected the target desktop gets a IP within a few seconds and displays it on the screen. When I connect the new fog server in to the same jack (even tried same IP) the target desktop doesn’t show that it received an IP address. Maybe I need to setup a DHCP relay server on the new fog server?
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@geekyjm I provided the instructions in this post: https://forums.fogproject.org/post/149423
if fog and pxe booting computer on the same subnet then use the fog server. If on different ip subnets then load wireshark on a third computer on the same subnet as the pxe booting computer. The dhcp process is sent by broadcast messages. So its easy to capture the process.
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@george1421 I can’t seem to get to this link. https://forums.fogproject.org/post/149423
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@geekyjm Same thread as this, just 5th from the bottom in order. There is a link to a kb article on setting up your fog server, as well as instructions for a capture filter in wireshark if you have to go that route.
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@george1421 Ok thanks. I did a tcpdump and I will try to view it in Wire shark.
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@george1421 How do I tell if the PXE server is running on the Fog server?
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@george1421 Nevermind, I put a 067 record in the DHCP options and PXE boot worked. Thanks for your help.
Jim P.
