I'm on the hunt for a straightforward iPXE server that can handle DHCP and boot ISO files without needing internet access. Specifically, I want to be able to boot both BIOS and UEFI devices using a local DHCP server, as I have an ethernet interface set up for this purpose. I've tried several options without success, and I'd love any suggestions or fixes for what I've encountered so far. Here's what I've tried:
- **FOG Project**: Struggled with booting ISO files on UEFI devices.
- **Netboot.xyz**: Their Docker container failed to download the menus.tar.gz file, and errors cropped up during the self-host guide using Ansible.
- **iVentroy**: No ARM version was available.
3 Answers
You might want to consider trying Canonical MAAS. It’s built for servers, but it works for client devices too. It supports Secure Boot and UEFI, which could be beneficial. However, I haven’t tested it on ARM, so keep that in mind. It’s not designed to deploy ISO files directly, but you can use cloud-init or other tools to set up your OS on various platforms. You can check it out [here](https://canonical.com/maas) for more details.
I've been using netboot.xyz, but fair warning: getting netbooting set up can be a real challenge. It's not a set-it-and-forget-it kind of deal. It took me a week of troubleshooting to get it working with various OSes, including Linux and Windows. While it's likely your best bet for ARM, just be prepared for some serious tinkering to get everything to play nice.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve encountered issues with Netboot.xyz because it relies heavily on an internet connection, and I can't afford to re-download ISOs repeatedly. I had some luck with FOG Project and a local setup, but UEFI ISO booting is still a headache.
Have you considered using Dnsmasq with nginx? It might simplify some of your setup, especially for local serving.
I appreciate the suggestion! Just to clarify, I need an isolated setup, so I won't have an internet connection to pull images from. I’m looking for something that supports local storage.