LAN Boot

[OKJEFF4]

If I understand correctly, using LAN boot means you can take a computer without a HDD and boot off of another networked computer that does have a HDD and an OS.

Both machines' onboard NICs support the network boot option. Can anyone give me any details on how to set this up? The reason being is my Maxtor HDD caught on fire (literally) a few days ago, and while waiting for a replacement I'd like to have a running machine. I've used google to try and find out this information myself but I still can't find what I need.

Thanks for your help
-S

[ssgohan434]

*bump* , id like to find out too.

[su root]

Basically, yes, that's how it works. You fire up the computer, and the NIC:
-Connects to a BOOTP (DHCP) server, gets an IP address, server IP, boot file name, and other info
-Downloads the boot file from the server, and runs it.

You cannot boot windows over the network. If you have a Windows Server, you can boot windows installs over the network through Remote Installation Services (RIS), but other than that, windows won't work. So, you have to do it with linux or unix, or DOS.

http://www.bpbatch.org/docs/linux.html
http://www.pcquest.com/content/depth/103060204.asp
http://www.dissoft.com/Network-Boot-Tools-769.html

You might also want to search around the folding or seti forums, remote booting can be used for cheap farms.

[gusgizmo]

w00t! network dos boot! go lynx! i love to sit in dos (or in my linux console) for that matter and surf the net using lynx and listen to music with mplayer (only on my linux machine). i would like to see an article on how to configure active directory and network installation for win2k advacned server. even better would be a way to set it up with samba though.