Master PXE Network Boot: Fast, Automated Linux Installations

PXE Efficient Batch Network Installation

1. Deployment

PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) is an Intel‑developed network boot technology that works in a client/server mode, allowing a client to download boot images and install files or an entire OS from a remote server.

Advantages of PXE batch deployment:

Scalability: install multiple servers simultaneously

Automation: install OS and configure services automatically

Remote: no need for CD, USB, or other installation media

Prerequisites for building a PXE network:

Server: DHCP service for address allocation and locating the boot program; TFTP service for boot program download.

Client: NIC supports PXE, motherboard supports network boot.

(1) Set up PXE remote installation server

1. Prepare Linux installation source

systemctl stop firewalld systemctl disable firewalld setenforce 0 sed -i 's/SELINUX=enforcing/SELINUX=disabled/g' /etc/selinux/config

Publish the installation source via FTP and create a YUM repository.

mkdir /media/cdrom mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom dnf -y install vsftpd mkdir /var/ftp/euler cp -rf /media/cdrom/* /var/ftp/euler vim /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf anonymous_enable=YES

systemctl start vsftpd

2. Install and enable TFTP service

TFTP is provided by the tftp-server package; edit /etc/xinetd.d/tftp to set disable = no and start the service.

dnf -y install tftp-server vim /etc/xinetd.d/tftp

3. Prepare Linux kernel and initramfs

Copy vmlinuz and initrd.img from the installation CD (directory images/pxeboot) to the TFTP root.

cd /media/cdrom/images/pxeboot cp vmlinuz initrd.img /var/lib/tftpboot cd /media/cdrom/isolinux cp ldlinux.c32 libcom32.c32 /var/lib/tftpboot/

4. Prepare PXE boot program

Install syslinux and copy pxelinux.0 to the TFTP root.

dnf -y install syslinux cp /usr/share/syslinux/pxelinux.0 /var/lib/tftpboot

5. Install and enable DHCP service

Configure DHCP to assign IP addresses and point clients to the PXE boot file.

dnf -y install dhcp vim /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf systemctl start dhcpd systemctl enable dhcpd

Key DHCP options include the TFTP server address (netx‑server) and the boot file name (filename).

6. Configure boot menu

Create the directory /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg and edit the default file with appropriate kernel and initrd entries.

mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg vim /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

(2) Verify PXE network installation

After the PXE server is ready, boot a client (bare metal or virtual machine). Ensure the BIOS boot order is set to Network. The client will obtain an IP via DHCP, download pxelinux.0 via TFTP, and follow the boot menu.

Selecting “auto” proceeds to the graphical installer; “linux text” starts a text‑mode installer; “linux rescue” enters rescue mode.

2. Implement Kickstart unattended installation

PXE removes the need for physical media, but manual language, keyboard, and source selection remain. Using a Kickstart answer file automates these steps.

(1) Edit Kickstart file

url --url="ftp://192.168.10.101/euler"
lang zh_CN.UTF-8
keyboard us
network --bootproto=dhcp --device=ens160 --activate
authselect --enableshadow --passalgo=sha512
selinux --enforcing
rootpw --iscrypted j9T46wHHCdZ1EXPI8G8Ms9rE20JnYOkuLkXzyrq4nbwS98
timezone Asia/Shanghai
autopart --type=lvm --fstype=ext4
bootloader --location=mbr
clearpart --all --initlabel
%packages --nocore
@^minimal-environment
kernel
grub2
efibootmgr
%end
%post
systemctl disable firewalld
# enable root SSH login if needed
%end
reboot

Place ks.cfg in the FTP directory and reference it from the PXE boot menu.

(2) Enable batch unattended installation

Add the ks=... parameter to the default boot menu to point to the Kickstart file.

vim /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

Now each PXE‑booted client will automatically install Linux according to the Kickstart configuration without manual intervention.