MacPro6,1 PXE boot
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@george1421 I have moved the FOG server into the same VLAN and IP subnet. I have the DHCP set up as per the BIOS and UEFI co existence post. I am now getting PXE boot on windows, but it fails with a “No configuration methods succeeded”
The screenshot is from Virtualbox, but I’ve tested on phyical Dell laptops with same issue.
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@chief Its been a few days now so lets make sure we are on the same page.
You have the dhcp server (MS Windows??), the FOG server, and the PXE booting client all on the same vlan for testing.
The target computer PXE boots, then the iPXE kernel is sent to the target computer. But now iPXE complains about “No configuration methods succeeded”
If this is the case, my initial reaction is that this might be a spanning tree issue (assuming this happens on the dell computer).
Why?, because the target computer pxe boots and the undionly.kpxe (or ipxe.efi) is sent to the target. computer. To do that the PXE rom must be able to talk to the dhcp server to get an IP address and boot file name. When the iPXE kernel launches it momentarily resets the network interface causing the link light to drop (wink) for a second. If spanning tree is enabled on that switch port and it is not configured for one of the fast STP protocols, the port won’t go into the forwarding state for 27 seconds. By then the iPXE kernel has given up stating “No configuration methods succeeded” or in english - “I can’t get a dhcp address on any network interface”.
A quick check for a spanning tree issue is to place a dumb (unmanaged) switch between the target computer and the building network switch. If it boots into the FOG menu with the unmanaged switch in line then you need to speak to your networking group to confirm that one of the fast STP protocols are enabled. This is not a FOG issue but a networking issue.
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@george1421 Thanks for help. Was off for a few days over the holiday period.
Yes, Windows 2012r2 DHCP server. The FOG server and PXE client are on same VLAN/Subnet.
Will test the network issues.
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@george1421 Putting a dumb switch in between fixes the issue.
We have Dell switches with portfast enabled and a bpdufilter. After a bit of googling, I think the bpdufilter should allow the dhcp through the switches. -
@chief Ok if you put a dumb switch in between the target computer and building switch and it resolved the problem. Then its probably one of the advanced protocols causing the issue.
This is typically spanning tree being enabled and not using one of the fast stp protocols.
Or you have green ethernet (802.3az) enabled on the building switch. We’ve seen this to be an issue with some realtek nics.
