remote boot

[f. halili]

Any tried to remote boot a "diskless" pc/worktation to a linux server ?? I haven't seen a complete ( step by step ) document to do this. Please help.

thanks

[Calvin Dodge]

Are you saying you already have a diskless workstation - like my Fujitsu-Siemens model? One which can handle basic X-Windows sessions?

If so, then you need to set up your workstation to call a Linux server for logins (I tried indirect (calling for any server on the local network), but I haven't got it to work yet).

Then you need to do the following with the server (I use Red Hat, so if you use a different distro you'll have to translate accordingly):

1) Set up your font server (typically xfs) so it will serve across the network (the Red Hat default is limited to the computer xfs is installed on). With Red Hat, you edit /etc/X11/fs/config, and comment out the line which reads " no-listen = tcp".

2) If you're running X locally on the server, then you need to change your /etc/X11/XF86config (and/or XF86config-4) file, so it knows to grab fonts from xfs via tcp/ip. Find the line which reads 'FontPath "unix/:7100"' and change it to 'FontPath "tcp/:7100"'

3) you need to have a graphical network login program running. Xdm, gdm, and kdm are all available on Red Hat - I use gdm, since that's the default program. Edit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf and change the following lines:

[xdcmp]
Enable=1
HonorIndirect=1 (it's worth a try, anyway)

[servers]
0=/usr/bin/X11/X
1=/usr/bin/X11/X


If you run Red Hat at init level 5 (network with graphical login), then gdm will automatically start after your server starts up. If not, then you'll need to change your setup so that it DOES start automatically (perhaps by editing /etc/inittab).

Of course, after changing xfs' settings you'll need to restart it (/etc/init.d/xfs restart)

Whew - that was a lot! Feel free to email me with questions (caldodge@fpcc.net)

Now, if you're trying to CREATE diskless workstations, then you need more information than I care to cram in this little space. Head to http://www.ltsp.org/documentation/lts_ig_v2.3/lts_ig_v2.3.html for all the information you need.

[f. halili]

hi,

i'll be using an intel pc to remote boot to a linux box. i'll check the ltsp site you gave ..... i'll post here if i got it working. other docs and tips are still welcome.

[f. halili]

the ltsp document has its own scripts and rpms to make a diskless node. any general way to do this ???

[Calvin Dodge]

I've never actually used it, so I don't know.

If you're building both server and workstation, you might visit http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/ltsp_workstation.html

They have a 2-CD distro (based on Red Hat) which is supposed to make the server + diskless workstation(s) setup as easy as possible.

Now I just need to find (or build) two more machines to try that out on. ;^)