✎ sanboot:win2k8_iscsi_install - Etherboot/gPXE Wiki

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====== Installing Windows Server 2008 to an iSCSI target =====

To install Windows Server 2008 to an iSCSI target, you must first configure your system to attempt to boot via iSCSI, and fall back to booting from DVD-ROM if the iSCSI boot fails.  The exact procedure for doing this will vary depending on your computer's BIOS.

===== Configuring the BIOS boot order =====

Enter your BIOS setup screen.  (Typically, this will require you to press a key such as DEL or one of the function keys F1-F12 immediately after rebooting the system.)

Configure your BIOS to attempt booting in the following order:

  - Boot using gPXE.
  - Boot from DVD-ROM.

===== Configuring gPXE for iSCSI boot =====

Place the following lines in ///etc/dhcpd.conf//:

  option space gpxe;
  option gpxe-encap-opts code 175 = encapsulate gpxe;
  option gpxe.keep-san code 8 = unsigned integer 8;
  
  filename "";
  option root-path "iscsi:my.target.dns.name::::iqn.2007-08.name.dns.target.my:iscsiboot";
  option gpxe.keep-san 1;

where //my.target.dns.name// is the DNS name (or IP address) of your iSCSI target, and //iqn.2007-08.name.dns.target.my:iscsiboot// is the iSCSI target IQN that you wish to boot from.

You will probably need to restart your DHCP server for the changes to take effect:

    root@chipmunk# /etc/init.d/dhcpd restart

===== Starting the installation =====

Place the Windows Server 2008 DVD-ROM in the drive, and switch on the computer.  You should see it attempt to boot via iSCSI, fail, and then boot from the DVD-ROM.  Once you reach the point of selecting an installation disk drive, you should see your iSCSI disk appear in the list:

**Note:** If you get the message "//This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu.//" or "//Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation.//", do the following: Create a new partition on the disk and format it. Then exit the setup and try again after a reboot. More information can be found in [[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/KB933925|this article.]]

{{ :screenshots:win2k8_iscsi_install.png?800x600 |Windows Server 2008 installation disk selection}}

===== Completing the installation =====

Continue the installation as normal.  Your computer will reboot a few times during installation; you can safely leave it unattended during this time.

Congratulations on successfully installing Windows Server 2008 to an iSCSI target!

{{ :screenshots:win2k8_iscsi_boot.png?800x600 |Windows Server 2008 booted from an iSCSI target}}


==== What to do if the installation can't find the iSCSI disk. ====

  - Ensure the iSCSI target is working by connecting it with existing os. To make your life easy, You can unset the password for the iSCSI target for testing.
  - Reboot the into gPXE, then press <code>Ctrl-B</code> to get the command line.
  - In the command line, type <code>dhcp net0</code> You'll see response which is like: <code>DHCP (net0 xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx)... ok</code>
  - In the command line, type <code>set keep-san 1</code>
  - And in command line, type <code>sanboot iscsi:my.target.dns.name::::iqn.2007-08.name.dns.target.my:iscsiboot</code> If you see something like "Preserving connection to SAN disk." in response, You are on the half way.
  - In the command line, type <code>exit</code>
  - Go on with the installation above.

**NOTE:** If you are installing vista, be sure to read the NOTE in [[sanboot:winvista|Vista install guide]] to save your time.
Trace: • winpe • sanboot • socideas • 2006 • winbootibft • appnoted
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