iPXE + WinPE + iscsi How-to

[Adam.Nuclear]

Hello I want subscribe my short notes about installation Win7 to iscsi disk.

1.st Step - DHCP

I am using gentoo so I dont't have isc-dhcp-server like debian based users. I am using net-misc/dhcp-4.2.4_p2-r1. At first time I was scared about support iPxe in this DHCP but it works perfect with this configuration.

Code:

if exists user-class and option user-class = "iPXE" {
      filename "http://10.0.0.100/winpe/boot.ipxe";
  } else {
      filename "undionly.kpxe";
  }

2.nd Step - Tftp

Only one thing what I have to set after instal tftphpa was path so simply edit tftp config. (in gentoo /etc/conf.d/in.tftpd)

I will be using winpe so I had running apache.
Simply I add this line into tftp conifg and start it.

Code:

INTFTPD_PATH="/var/www/localhost/htdocs/winpe/"

3.rd Step - dnsmasq

after install I only add 1 line to dnsmasq.conf

Code:

dhcp-boot=undionly.kpxe,hostname,10.0.0.100

4.rd Step - Lvm + iscsi

I had to create some lv to install and add it to iscsi server.

Code:

lvcreate -L100G -n iscsiwinD_lv md1000-01VG

/etc/ietd.conf
Target iqn.2001-04.org.gentoo:win
        Lun 2 Path=/dev/md1000-01VG/iscsiwinD_lv,Type=fileio
/etc/initiators.allow
iqn.2001-04.org.gentoo:win ALL

restart ietd and this part is done.

5.th - Step Create winpe

on Pc where I had installed Windows 7 I download and install Windows AIK

In Deployment Tools Command Prompt I generate basic windowsPE.

Code:

mkdir C:\temp\winpe
  copype x86 C:\temp\winpe\x86
  copype amd64 C:\temp\winpe\amd64

If you need add drivers for ehernet check this manual

6.th Step - boot.ipxe

I use config from ipxe.org with one important thing.

Code:

#!ipxe
cpuid --ext 29 && set arch amd64 || set arch x86
set netX/gateway 10.0.0.100
sanhook iscsi:10.0.0.100:::2:iqn.2001-04.org.gentoo:win
kernel wimboot
initrd ${arch}/ISO/bootmgr       bootmgr
initrd ${arch}/ISO/boot/bcd      BCD
initrd ${arch}/ISO/boot/boot.sdi boot.sdi
initrd ${arch}/winpe.wim         boot.wim
boot

set netX/gateway is only needed if your router is a bit messed up (doesn't route back to local network, or has slow network interfaces)

Most inportant thing in this fille is sanhook. You dont have to add some iscsi initiator to winpe like google whispers.

Now I am ready to boot WinPe.

After what is WinPe loaded I see command line so simply start setup.exe from samba sharing.

Code:

net use \\10.0.0.140\win7
  \\10.0.0.140\win7\setup.exe

(10.0.0.140 is my samba server)

And now I see 100G disk for install.

After was win7 installed I add this lines to dhcpd.conf

Code:

if exists user-class and option user-class = "iPXE" {
     filename "";
      option root-path "iscsi:10.0.0.100:::2:iqn.2001-04.org.gentoo:win";
  } else {
      filename "undionly.kpxe";
  }

And now I am able to boot win7 from network with Iscsi



If someone will need some hints just IRC freenode /msg |Nuclear|

[robinsmidsrod]

Great writeup Adam!

Step 1 and 3 do the same thing. You should use either dhcpd (1) or dnsmasq (3), not both, as they provide the same service.

I've added a link to this thread in the FAQ here on the forum.

[frankpeng]

I got success by pulling out all hard drives from the target computer.