A Preboot Execution Environment(PXE) is a client-server interface that enables the computers in a network to be booted from the server. After preparing the target computers, the PC image in local and remote offices can be deployed for the PXE-enabled clients. PXE network boot is performed using client-server protocols like DHCP(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and TFTP(Trivial File Transfer Protocol). PXE will be enabled by default on all computers.
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Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) is simply put the phenomenon of booting your desktops and laptops from the network. Thus, you can simultaneously boot multiple machines in your Local Area Network (LAN) using a DHCP server.
Before a PXE network boot, the DHCP server/scope Options 66 and 67 should be configured. Refer to this document to learn how to configure different DHCP servers easily. After the client computer is assigned an IP address, the PXE boot process starts.
The PXE boot process requires the following components for a seamless procedure:
These components will help you ensure a successful booting process.
OS Deployer supports the use of network boot servers like PXE servers for the users to boot their computers from a network.
Let us now discuss how to create a PXE bootable media to be used during the PXE boot:
The following video will give you more detailed information on the steps to create a PXE bootable media.
PXE boot stands for Preboot Execution Environment which is a network booting process using a DHCP server or a TFTP server.
As inferred from the PXE acronym expansion (Preboot Execution Environment), it is an interface that allows computers to be booted over a network. PXE network boot can be used to boot operating systems into multiple computers over a network.
If the OS Deployer server, the DHCP server, and the target computer are on the same network, we can ensure that even clients from other subnets can be booted using PXE and get the created image.
In order to harness the PXE boot capability, a network must have a DHCP server. The scope option 66 of the DHCP server must be configured by providing the IP address of the OS Deployer server. The scope option 67 must be configured with the legacy boot file or UEFI boot file based on our requirement.
In OS Deployer, the PXE server runs as a Windows service along with the Central Server. After configuring the DHCP server details, this server can be used to deploy OS images over the network.
A PXE boot process prepares Windows computers for operating system (OS) deployment over the network. The PXE network boot is mostly done for OS deployment to multiple computers simultaneously.
In your DHCP server, configure scope option 66 with the IP address of the OS Deployer server and scope option 67 with the legacy boot file or UEFI boot file. Then you can perform a PXE boot for multiple deployments.
If you still have concerns in configuring PXE settings, avail a free personalized technical demo at your convenience.