PXE solution needed

**FastAndFurious** · May 12th, 2009, 07:44 AM

I need to build a PXE server. I need it to push a Win or Linux image to HP Thin Clients so they can RDP to Terminal server or use View client to VM View server. I don't want it to install anything, just load the image on the flash so when the TC is shutdown, all info is erased.

I was planning on using RHEL 5.3 as the server, but the word came down that they do NOT want a linux server on the network (currently running 8 ESX 3.5 servers which IS Red Hat

) so now I have to make it with Win 2K3 and some PXE software. Any suggestions? I see that there are a lot of choices, but don't have a lot of time to install, test, and uninstall. Thank you

**NooNoo** · May 13th, 2009, 06:41 AM

Are you allowed to get 2008? See here

**FastAndFurious** · May 13th, 2009, 07:07 AM

That is good to know NooNoo, but 2008 is not yet approved for Marine Corps.

**NooNoo** · May 13th, 2009, 07:15 AM

this might help then - wdsutil I mean, not 2k8 bit

**FastAndFurious** · May 18th, 2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

this might help then - wdsutil I mean, not 2k8 bit

Thank you NooNoo, I have the WDS up and running, not working yet, but it is installed. I will keep this post updated as I figure things out.

**NooNoo** · May 18th, 2009, 12:19 PM

Look forward to it.

**FastAndFurious** · May 20th, 2009, 08:07 AM

Alright, I have been researching this now for a couple days and am still lost.

I have a Server 2003 box with WDS and DHCP installed on it. I want to push a OS to our thin clients so they can connect to our Terminal Server. My first step is to pick that OS to deploy to the thin clients. I don't care if it is Linux or Windows, I just want to make this thing work, will pick which ever one I can get to work first.

For Linux I have chosen (not set in stone) Thinstation. For Windows I can't use Vista, it would have to be XP. Though all the reading online I have found that if I was using Vista it would be very easy since the Vista dvd has a boot.wim file on it. XP setup seems to be much more complicated. From what I have found on Thinstation, I will need to be running WDS and PXELINUX on the Server 2003 box? This link seems that it would be very helpful, I just do not know enough about WDS and DHCP to figure it out.

This was much easier when I was allowed to use RHEL, I added DHCP and TFTP and configured a couple files and was able to push things. Then the boss came down and changed his mind about allowing me to have a Linux server on the network. I am so lost right now.