Description

This article provides a method for configuring DHCP server for PXE Environment on the EX Switch

Symptoms


Solution

Preboot xEecution Environement (PXE) - is an environment to boot computers using a network interface independent of available data storage devices or installed operating systems.

The term PXE client only refers to the role that the machine takes in the PXE boot process. A PXE client can be a server, desktop, laptop or any other machine that is equipped with PXE boot code

The PXE protocol is approximately a combination of DHCP and TFTP.

1) Configure a pool of IP addresses for DHCP clients on a subnet. When a client joins the network, the DHCP server dynamically allocates an IP address from this pool.

2) Set the boot filename advertised to clients. The client uses the boot image stored in the boot file to complete configuration.

3) Set the server that contains the boot file.

4) Define the default and maximum lease times, in seconds.

5) Specify the DNS server that maintains the database of client name to IP address mappings.

6) Specify IP address for routers on the client’s subnetwork. Routers are listed in order of preference.

7) Set the next-server statement which is used to specify the host address of the server from which the initial boot file is to be loaded, this address could be from tftp, or ftp or nfs or something else that the host will use. It is asumed that the client either knows what to do next, or that information is in the bootfile.

EX Swtich CLI procedure for DHCP server:

edit system services dhcp

1) set pool 192.168.2.0/24 address-range low 192.168.2.2 high 192.168.2.254

2) set pool 192.168.2.0/24 name-server <name-server ip>

3) set pool 192.168.2.0/24 default-lease-time 1209600 maximum-lease-time 2419200

4) set boot-file <boot-file name>

5) set boot-server <boot-server ip>

6) set router <router ip>

7) set next-server <next-server ip>



EX Switch JWEB procedure:

Login to JWEB by supplying username and password.

Click on configure button on top.

Select the Services.

Click on "DHCP" button and Select "Add" under the DHCP Pools.

Configure DHCP
a) DHCP Pool Information

b) Server Information
c) Lease Time
d) Boot Options

e) Note: Under the Jweb the next-server statment is not supported, you need to go under the CLI and configure this option if you want to define this attribute.
set next-server <next-server ip>