[GH-ISSUE #143] Provide small VM image with PXE server that chainloads to netboot.xyz #64

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opened 2026-02-27 14:50:12 +03:00 by kerem · 8 comments
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Originally created by @jschwartzenberg on GitHub (May 10, 2017).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbootxyz/netboot.xyz/issues/143

Situation, system A is working properly, system B needs an OS installation. System B can only boot with legacy PXE, nothing else.

The quickest solution would be:

  1. Install VirtualBox or another VM solution on system A
  2. Bridge the virtual ethernet interface of VirtualBox to a wired ethernet port on system A
  3. Set up a PXE server which chainloads to netboot.xyz inside this VirtualBox
  4. Connect the wired ethernet interfaces of system A and B to each other
  5. Use legacy PXE boot on system B

If the VirtualBox environment has two network interfaces, it could provide the internet connection with NAT+IP masquerading as well, but that could also be done on the host.

Would it be possible to provide one or more PXE server VM images for this purpose? It would seem like a very quick way to get up and running when no physical boot medium is available.

Originally created by @jschwartzenberg on GitHub (May 10, 2017). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbootxyz/netboot.xyz/issues/143 Situation, system A is working properly, system B needs an OS installation. System B can only boot with legacy PXE, nothing else. The quickest solution would be: 1. Install VirtualBox or another VM solution on system A 2. Bridge the virtual ethernet interface of VirtualBox to a wired ethernet port on system A 3. Set up a PXE server which chainloads to netboot.xyz inside this VirtualBox 4. Connect the wired ethernet interfaces of system A and B to each other 5. Use legacy PXE boot on system B If the VirtualBox environment has two network interfaces, it could provide the internet connection with NAT+IP masquerading as well, but that could also be done on the host. Would it be possible to provide one or more PXE server VM images for this purpose? It would seem like a very quick way to get up and running when no physical boot medium is available.
kerem closed this issue 2026-02-27 14:50:13 +03:00
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@Ttech commented on GitHub (May 10, 2017):

So you want a basic DHCP server that provides the netboot stuffs? If thats it, I . could make a quick alpine ova but I'm not sure how much it helps.

<!-- gh-comment-id:300502246 --> @Ttech commented on GitHub (May 10, 2017): So you want a basic DHCP server that provides the netboot stuffs? If thats it, I . could make a quick alpine ova but I'm not sure how much it helps.
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@jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (May 10, 2017):

Exactly yep! Basic DHCP and I suppose a TFTP server that points to the netboot.xyz image. I think it would be a perfect way to bootstrap many environments.

<!-- gh-comment-id:300507848 --> @jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (May 10, 2017): Exactly yep! Basic DHCP and I suppose a TFTP server that points to the netboot.xyz image. I think it would be a perfect way to bootstrap many environments.
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@samip5 commented on GitHub (Oct 18, 2019):

@jschwartzenberg Would a docker container work?

<!-- gh-comment-id:543986146 --> @samip5 commented on GitHub (Oct 18, 2019): @jschwartzenberg Would a docker container work?
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@jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2019):

Not for all cases. If system A is an old Windows installation for instance. The solution I imagine could even be used by non-technical people to get this going if they have just two notebooks with at least one of them running any working OS plus just one UTP cable to connect the two.

An OVA would be easy enough to import in either VMware or VirtualBox on many platforms. Possibly providing an image with a few QEMU executables and a launch script would make it even easier.

<!-- gh-comment-id:544129424 --> @jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2019): Not for all cases. If system A is an old Windows installation for instance. The solution I imagine could even be used by non-technical people to get this going if they have just two notebooks with at least one of them running any working OS plus just one UTP cable to connect the two. An OVA would be easy enough to import in either VMware or VirtualBox on many platforms. Possibly providing an image with a few QEMU executables and a launch script would make it even easier.
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@NiKiZe commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2019):

On windows, just use https://tftpd32.jounin.net/ or similar

<!-- gh-comment-id:544132840 --> @NiKiZe commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2019): On windows, just use https://tftpd32.jounin.net/ or similar
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@typecasto commented on GitHub (Oct 25, 2019):

Install manjaro -> yay -S pixiecore -> sudo pixiecore quick xyz

Really any distro with the AUR will work, but manjaro is the most popular with an installer.

<!-- gh-comment-id:546363327 --> @typecasto commented on GitHub (Oct 25, 2019): Install manjaro -> `yay -S pixiecore` -> `sudo pixiecore quick xyz` Really any distro with the AUR will work, but manjaro is the most popular with an installer.
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@jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (Oct 26, 2019):

Something that's installable through netboot.xyz itself is indeed great already if it's then set up with just one command. @thecakeisalie25 thanks a lot for the info!

<!-- gh-comment-id:546572742 --> @jschwartzenberg commented on GitHub (Oct 26, 2019): Something that's installable through netboot.xyz itself is indeed great already if it's then set up with just one command. @thecakeisalie25 thanks a lot for the info!
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@thelamer commented on GitHub (Dec 5, 2019):

This image will provide TFTP endpoint and eventually a web based interface (track here: https://github.com/netbootxyz/webapp ) for customizing the files.
https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-netbootxyz
Though no DHCP server as supporting that kind of stuff is a huge headache.

I understand this is not exactly what you are looking for, but this will be the best solution we will be releasing unless someone outside the project decides to create something that is completely all inclusive either as a full VM or Docker Image.

<!-- gh-comment-id:561943628 --> @thelamer commented on GitHub (Dec 5, 2019): This image will provide TFTP endpoint and eventually a web based interface (track here: https://github.com/netbootxyz/webapp ) for customizing the files. https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-netbootxyz Though no DHCP server as supporting that kind of stuff is a huge headache. I understand this is not exactly what you are looking for, but this will be the best solution we will be releasing unless someone outside the project decides to create something that is completely all inclusive either as a full VM or Docker Image.
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