> > Hi, > > > >> I am in an environment where I cannot control DHCP, > >> so I have gone to using Cobbler buildISO's to boot new > >> installs. > > > > That's a common and widespread misconception, > > regrettably :-( > > > > You *never* need to have direct control of a DHCP > > server to be able to use PXE boot with cobbler. > > > > The two DHCP servers that cobbler 2.2.3 (and later > > versions) work with OOTB: ISC DHCP and dnsmasq, both can act > > either as the authoritative DHCP for selected MAC addresses or > > simply just as proxies. Please check the relevant man page > > depending on your own preference. > > In this environment, DHCP is neither ISC or dnsmasq, > but Microsoft.
That should be fine. I know first hand that having the control of the DHCP server is completely unnecessary to carry out even a large scale PXE booting. Let me clarify a bit: 0. If you use static IP address assignment to your hosts, then as soon as the PXE network install is over, the DHCP server is out of the picture. Thus, whether the DHCP is from M$, ISC, or maintained by Simon Kelly doesn't matter. 1. The cobbler host can run a DHCP server and *manage* it. Please take a look of https://github.com/cobbler/cobbler/tree/master/templates/etc So, you can set up for example, dnsmasq, and mask the M$ DHCP anytime that you prefer. 2. dnsmasq gives you the ability to proxy just a range, the rest it can be authoritative. This is a powerful feature that I often take advantage of. I highly encourage you to review (in the following order): a. http://www.thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/docs/dnsmasq-man.html b. http://www.thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/docs/dnsmasq.conf.example Once understood well, the M$ nightmare will be behind you. 3. If you prefer and more familiar with ISC DHCP, look at how to configure it for selected MAC addresses for static IP address assignment. I never care of who runs the DHCP server or what brand it is. > [...] > > > > > cobbler hides some details, but my first hand > > experience has indicated that I still need to know *really* well > > the tools that it attempts to integrate to master cobbler. > > > > You use image booting only if > > > > 0. The OS (e.g. MS Windows) is not amenable for PXE > booting via cobbler > > (yet) > > 1. You need fast start-up, e.g. your environment is > > like AWS EC2 or a virtual server hosting provider's > > uch as linode's > > [...] > 1a: PXE is impossible because the Microsoft folks have the > network completely boogered up. You should be able to. Once you run your own DHCP server, and have adjusted the relevant template properly, these M$ folks' deeds are completely irrelevant to you. > > Do a cobbler system getks --name=... Can you see the > > rendered kickstar file? > > Answering this from home. I did not try that, but I > did use a browser to check the URL that it claims is no-good > and it comes up just fine. Also, I can get to the > kickstart from the Cobbler web interface. I believe > that is equivalent to the command line getks, yes ? Correct. I live in the CLI world 95% of the time. Much quicker, and besides, I can do remote debugging that way, also in CLI mode, again, much quicker. rpdb2 if you are interested. [...] HTP -- Zack _______________________________________________ cobbler mailing list [email protected] https://lists.fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
