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Installation of Windows 7 over Network Boot PXE


x23piracy

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THIS TUTORIAL ISN'T FINISHED YET SO STAY TUNED I WILL EXPLAIN MORE DETAILED BUT AT THIS POINT YOU CAN START WITH THE INFORMATION I PRESENT HERE

 

Why:

 

No need of any boot media except network connection

Easy Update of Installer changes

No space boarder (no DL-DVD or big USB Stick needed)

 

 

Requirements:

 

DHCP Server with Option 66 and 67 enabled and configured

TFTP Server

Syslinux

Microsoft Windows AIK

Windows 7 Installation files

 

 

Steps to procede:

 

Setup DHCP Server

Prepare the Base Directory for TFTP Server

Prepare WinPE to Start Windows Setup

Tell Windows Setup howto find Wintoolkit_Apps folder:

 

 

Setup DHCP Server:

 

For my case (Corporate) i have a running Microsoft DHCP Server (Windows Server 2003)

Just enable the DHCP Options 66 and 67

 

8pbiowyk.jpg

 

Option 66 is the Hostname or IP of the machine where TFTP Server is running on

Option 67 is the Boot filename from TFTP Base Directory

 

If you don't have a running DHCP Server you can use the buildin DHCP Server from TFTPD

 

 

Prepare the Base Directory for TFTP Server:

 

Create a Base directory called Boot or something wherever you want. (C:\Boot)

Create a subdirectory called images (C:\Boot\images)

Create a subdirectory called pxelinux.cfg (C:\Boot\pxelinux.cfg <-- is a directory!)

Create a file without extension called default in the pxelinux.cfg folder (C:\Boot\pxelinux.cfg\default <-- is a filename)

 

Extract the syslinux archive, find and copy the following files to your base directory:

chain.c32ldlinux.c32libcom32.c32libutil.c32linux.c32memdiskmenu.c32pxelinux.0reboot.c32vesamenu.c32

 

Open the default file and paste:

 

Attention, this is a fully paste from my default file, for a start you can delete the most to learn how it works.

DEFAULT vesamenu.c32ONTIMEOUT bootlocalPROMPT 0TIMEOUT 50TOTALTIMEOUT 3000KBDMAP german.kbdDISPLAY boot.msgALLOWOPTIONS 1# Layout-Definitionen fuer das MenueMENU AUTOBOOT Automatischer Start von der Festplatte in # Sekunde{n}...MENU BACKGROUND /logo_2.16MENU TITLE Retsch GmbH - Informationstechnik © josMENU color title    1;36;44    #ffffffff #00000000 stdMENU color sel        7;37;40    #ffffffff #ffdaa520 allMENU color hotsel    1;7;37;40  #ffffffff #ffdaa520 allMENU WIDTH 82MENU MARGIN 10MENU PASSWORDMARGIN 34MENU ROWS 14MENU TABMSGROW 18MENU CMDLINEROW 18MENU ENDROW 30MENU PASSWORDROW 11MENU TIMEOUTROW 18MENU HELPMSGROW 22MENU HELPMSGENDROW -1MENU HIDDENROW -2MENU HSHIFT 0MENU VSHIFT 2MENU PASSPROMPT KennwortMENU IMMEDIATEMENU MASTER PASSWD $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU AUTOBOOT Automatischer Boot in # SekundenMENU TABMSG Druecke [TAB] um die Optionen zu bearbeitenMENU BEGINMENU IMMEDIATEMENU PASSWD         $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU TITLE                Retsch GmbH - Informationstechnik © josMENU LABEL                ^1. PXE Menu (Administrator Kennwort wird benoetigt)LABEL bootlocalTEXT HELPErste lokale Festplatte und Partition booten.ENDTEXT        MENU DEFAULT        MENU LABEL     ^1. ^lokale Festplatte booten        KERNEL         chain.c32        APPEND         hd0 0   MENU SEPARATOR       MENU BEGINMENU IMMEDIATE#MENU PASSWD         $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU BACKGROUND /acronis.16MENU TITLE                Acronis True ImageMENU LABEL                ^2. ^Acronis True ImageLABEL Acronis True Image 2012 ISO    MENU LABEL    ^1. Acronis True Image 2012    KERNEL         memdisk    APPEND         iso initrd=images/acronis_ti_2012.iso rawLABEL Acronis True Image 2013 ISO    MENU LABEL    ^2. Acronis True Image 2013    KERNEL         memdisk    APPEND         iso initrd=images/acronis_ti_2013.iso raw        MENU SEPARATORLABEL return_mainMENU LABEL ^.. Eine Ebene hoeherMENU EXITMENU END      MENU BEGINMENU IMMEDIATE#MENU PASSWD         $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU BACKGROUND /clonezilla.16MENU TITLE             Clonezilla 2.0.1-15MENU LABEL             ^3. ^ClonezillaLABEL clonezilla_i486_iso        MENU LABEL     ^1. ^Clonezilla Live 2.0.1-15 i486        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/clonezilla-live-2.0.1-15-i486.iso raw   LABEL clonezilla_i686_iso        MENU LABEL     ^2. ^Clonezilla Live 2.0.1-15 i686        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/clonezilla-live-2.0.1-15-i686-pae.iso raw       LABEL clonezilla_x64_iso        MENU LABEL     ^3. ^Clonezilla Live 2.0.1-15 x64        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/clonezilla-live-2.0.1-15-amd64.iso raw       MENU SEPARATORLABEL return_mainMENU LABEL ^.. Eine Ebene hoeherMENU EXITMENU END   MENU SEPARATORLABEL easeus_iso        #MENU PASSWD $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=        MENU LABEL     ^4. ^EaseUS Partition Master Workstation / Server        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/EaseUS_Partition_Master_Server.iso rawMENU BEGINMENU IMMEDIATE#MENU PASSWD         $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU BACKGROUND /gparted.16MENU TITLE             GParted 0.14-1-6MENU LABEL             ^5. ^GPartedLABEL gparted_i486_iso        MENU LABEL     GParted Live 0.14.1-6 i486        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/gparted-live-0.14.1-6-i486.iso raw   LABEL gparted_i686_iso        MENU LABEL     GParted Live 0.14.1-6 i686        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/gparted-live-0.14.1-6-i686-pae.iso raw       LABEL gparted_x64_iso        MENU LABEL     GParted Live 0.14.1-6 x64        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/gparted-live-0.14.1-6-amd64.iso raw   MENU SEPARATORLABEL return_mainMENU LABEL ^.. Eine Ebene hoeherMENU EXITMENU ENDMENU SEPARATORLABEL dart_iso        #MENU PASSWD $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=        MENU LABEL     ^6. ^Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/DaRT70.iso raw       LABEL erd2005_iso        #MENU PASSWD $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=        MENU LABEL     ^7. ^ERD Commander 2005        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/ERD2005.iso rawMENU SEPARATORMENU BEGINMENU IMMEDIATE#MENU PASSWD         $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=MENU TITLE             Windows Preinstallation Environment TI 3.0MENU LABEL          ^8. ^Windows Preinstallation Environment True ImageLABEL winpe_x86_iso        MENU LABEL     Windows Preinstallation Environment 3.0 True Image x86 ISO        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/winpe/AcronisMediumx86.iso raw       LABEL winpe_x64_iso        MENU LABEL     Windows Preinstallation Environment 3.0 True Image x64 ISO        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/winpe/AcronisMediumx64.iso raw   MENU SEPARATORLABEL return_mainMENU LABEL ^.. Eine Ebene hoeherMENU EXITMENU ENDMENU EXITMENU SEPARATORLABEL dart_iso        #MENU PASSWD $4$IkeBrylcXa2yF39eCLyXpqubnkU=        MENU LABEL     ^9. ^Microsoft Windows 7 Professional x64 Installation        KERNEL         memdisk        APPEND         iso initrd=images/win7_pro_x64.iso rawMENU END

 

Place your images in the images folder

 

 

Prepare WinPE to Start Windows Setup:

 

Install Windows AIK

Create a WinPE Folder (You need to change the paths to your needs):

"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\copype.cmd" amd64 e:\WinPE_x64

Mount WinPE Folder:

"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\Servicing\Dism.exe" /Mount-Wim /WimFile:e:\WinPE_x64\winpe.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:e:\WinPE_x64\mount

Optionally integrate drivers into pe:

"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\Servicing\Dism.exe" /Image:e:\WinPE_x64\mount /Add-Driver /Driver:e:\WinPE_x64\Drivers /Recurse /forceunsigned

I integrated a LAN Driver pakage so it doesnt get problems when trying to mount a network share, that is needed because i install it over net share.

 

Now we customize the winpe:

 

Open the mount folder and goto Windows\System32 and open the startnet.cmd add the following line:

setup.cmd

Create setup.cmd in Windows\System32 and paste the following (You need to change IP, User, Pass, Paths):

@echo offnet use i: \\172.19.101.186\System /USER:domain\user password"i:\Windows 7 Professional x64\setup.exe" /unattend:"i:\Windows 7 Professional x64\Autounattend.xml"

This will mount the install sources and runs the setup.

 

Unmount the WinPE:

"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\Servicing\Dism.exe" /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:e:\WinPE_x64\mount /Commit

Create the ISO:

copy e:\WinPE_x642\winpe.wim e:\WinPE_x64\ISO\sources\boot.wim"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\oscdimg.exe" -n -be:\WinPE_x64\etfsboot.com e:\WinPE_x64\ISO e:\WinPE_x64\WinPE_x64.iso

Copy the iso to your Base\Images directory.

 

 

Tell Windows Setup howto find Wintoolkit_Apps folder:

 

Please use the (sources\$oem$\$$\Setup\scripts\setupcomplete.cmd) and add the following

(You need to change things to suite to your needs):

@echo offnet use i: \\172.19.101.186\Wintoolkit /USER:domain\user pass 

 

 

THIS TUTORIAL ISN'T FINISHED YET SO STAY TUNED I WILL EXPLAIN MORE DETAILED BUT AT THIS POINT YOU CAN START WITH THE INFORMATION I PRESENT HERE

 

I have big problems to explain things more detailed because of missing english vocabular and so on :)

 

 

 

Greetz X23

Edited by x23piracy
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Ah, seems that this isn't what I'm looking for.

 

Sorry, I thought there is a way to do it without building a server.

 

I want this if there is a way to do it in a home network through a router. I don't know anything about build and run a server.

 

If not I'll stick installing from USB.

 

Thanks.

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I'm very glad to have this explanation, so please continue and finish your tutorial, but I also was hoping for a way this could be done without a server type OS being installed.  I guess that shows my naivety.  Thank you very much for this info anyway.

 

heers and Regards

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Hi,

 

I'm very glad to have this explanation, so please continue and finish your tutorial, but I also was hoping for a way this could be done without a server type OS being installed.  I guess that shows my naivety.  Thank you very much for this info anyway.

 

heers and Regards

 

sorry for the disappointment ;) but this is based on winpe as boot media.

Sure i will finish this to have different points much clearer.

 

Installing Windows 7 over PXE means having to place an amount of space between 4-10GB somewhere ;)

 

From the private sigth this can be a customized router which enables option 66 und 67 for dhcp, normally

every dhcp should support this thats RFC!

 

The most problem would be to place a dedicated tftp server, for example a fritzbox router with freetz can do

that, or a fli4l router installation.

 

Whos not on the luckie side owning a nas can use a big usb stick directly connected to the router

(but speed may be very slow).

 

I feel very cool without having anything to carry with me to install win7 in our corporate.

My Boss is also still impressed but thats more related to his unknownness what for cool things are possible :D

 

The most impressive thing is the complete customized sfx pakages that enable a 90% out of the box ready

workstation after installation of windows 7.

 

 

Greetz X23

Edited by x23piracy
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I'm very glad to have this explanation, so please continue and finish your tutorial, but I also was hoping for a way this could be done without a server type OS being installed.  I guess that shows my naivety.  Thank you very much for this info anyway.

 

heers and Regards

You can actually do this without "directly" having a server.  A router that supports the custom firmware DD-WRT would be able to easily perform the same actions as the server.  If I am not mistaken, I think there are even a few basic tutorials over on the www.dd-wrt.com wiki that show how to set it up.

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More specifically, it is in relation to using the service "dnsmasq".  There are options to point to a tftp server. (If set up correctly, the server could even be the router itself, but then that requires storage, optware, and etc.)  The information regarding dnsmasq on the wiki is here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/DNSMasq_as_DHCP_server.  More answers can be gained by perusing the "Broadcom SoC based Hardware" forum (possibly searching for tftp and dnsmasq) here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1.

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Hi,

 

if someone is using a Fritzbox

Iam very close to the freetz team and can assist if someone likes to customize his fritzbox.

 

http://freetz.org/

 

Iam very experienced with freetz

Fritzboxes are mainly selled in germany, austria and swiss.

 

Who ever is using an open embedded system or a self made router (x86) should take a look at:

 

Fli4l

 

I used my self around 6 years the following board from Soekris

2 years ago i switched to fritzboxes.

 

All the rich features a Fritzbox has today wasnt offered years ago, i made the same cool things

with Fli4l years earlier ;)

 

 

Greetz X23

Edited by x23piracy
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