After messing around with TFTP in my previous post I decided to investigate further into what I can do with TFTP and PXE.  Browsing through the Debian mirror I found a tar called “netboot.tar.gz” so I decided to decompress it into my /tftpboot and see what happens.

I created a new diskless 2.6 vmware image and started it,  up pops debian install bootsplash.  I was so satisfied with the lack of configuration on my behalf that I started reading more documentation about creating menus for PXE booting.  I came up with a fairly clean solution comprised of :

Ubuntu : Jaunty, Intrepid, Gutsy

CentOS : 5.2, 4.7

Mandriva : 2009

Fedora : 9

Debian : Lenny, Etch, Sid

All of the above worked perfectly so I am now researching iSCSI for diskless clients, unfortunately I am out of hard drives so I will attempt it on a USB thumb drive.

If you are interested in a copy of my /tftpboot and a quick tutorial how to set it up leave me a comment and I will post a link, otherwise I am guessing no one cares.