HELP-PXE install FreeBSD with windows pxe server? External links Options

[HAAIN]

Hey, this is my first post here. Yay!

Now that's over, on to the problem.

So I have a problem, i cant seem to figure out how to use PXE to install FreeBSD, or anything.
Here's my setup: modem--router--laptop--ethernet---desktop
The laptop has vista and i want freebsd on the desktop
I am out of cd/dvd and this is the only other way, i think.
I need SEVERE help.
I've read some stuff about needing a nfs, dhcp, and tftp stuff.
I dont know what to do.
Please let me know if i need to post other stuff, i probably do, i dont know what though.

TKS

[sanbarrow]

do you have a USB-enclosure in which you could plugin the disk from the desktop ?

Then you could install FreeBSD to the USB-disk used from the notebook - or install it inside a VM.
FreeBSD migrates easy from system to system

[HAAIN]

do you have a USB-enclosure in which you could plugin the disk from the desktop ?

Then you could install FreeBSD to the USB-disk used from the notebook - or install it inside a VM.
FreeBSD migrates easy from system to system

No i don't have a HD enclosure. I do have an external USB HD, I could put it on there and then just migrate it to the system and boot from that, couldn't I? How would I use the laptop to install FreeBSD onto that? I didnt know I could do that will inside the windows environment.

[sanbarrow]

You could attach the desktop-disk inside a USB-enclosure to the notebook.
Then boot the notebook into a FreeBSD-install CD. You would then partition the disk attached via USB and make a FreeBSD slice and install a minimal base-system into it.
Then put the disk back into the desktop and boot into single user mode - you must then specify root device as ufs:ad0s1a for IDE or da0s1a for SCSI/USB.
Then change two or three lines in /etc/fstab - to do this just call "ee /etc/fstab" and you should be done.

If you do not have such an enclosure you could do the install inside a VM and then clone the virtual disk to the desktop disk ... oops - you again need to unplug the disk from the desktop ... hmmm ...

Oh dear - without a USB2IDE adapter your original plan was better ...
Can't you serve the 2.88 MB setup floppy image via pxe ?

[Nuno Brito]

Does it really need to be FreeBSD?

I'd say go first with Ubuntu before dwelving into the rest of *nix compatible world..

Besides, Ubuntu already brings included a nifty tool to create your very own ubuntu-usb-pendisk (or external USB HDD).

You can create it easily.

Boot the Ubuntu DVD at some computer with DVD drive, when the liveCD boots up select:

System --> Administration --> USB startup disk creator

Then you only need to use the mouse to select the source folder from where to copy the ubuntu files and select the target pendisk (don't forget to plug it before the liveCD starts running).


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Last but not least, Ubuntu plays very nice with Vista and will even import your current desktop settings and ease your life when it comes to install restricted codecs or adding support for your computer hardware.

It will also prepare the dual boot process and this way you would be able to keep the original OS as a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

[sanbarrow]

Nuno - you really want to try to convince a FreeBSD user of Ubuntu ?

Why would a BSD user want to step back into the chaos Of Linux ?

[was_jaclaz]

Nuno - you really want to try to convince a FreeBSD user of Ubuntu ?

Why would a BSD user want to step back into the chaos Of Linux ?

Sometimes Nuno, of course in good faith and in the spirit of trying to help as much as he can , falls into "deviating from OP question" and into "fanboyism". , i.e. he may not consider the fact that a user asking about booting FreeBSD may actually want to boot FreeBSD (and NOTHING else).

On the other hand, sanbarrow sometimes reads a bit too fast, in this particular case, the OP left many doors open (and even a number of windows):

So I have a problem, i cant seem to figure out how to use PXE to install FreeBSD, or anything.

Besides the above, from the kind of info the OP supplied, and by using I-CHING (as reknown NOT very accurate ), I can nonetheless guess that OP is not a "hard-boiled" FreeBSD user.

However BOTH of you competely missed the "main" part of the question, how to setup a TFTP and PXE server, for which it might be advised to read here:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1961



jaclaz

[Nuno Brito]

Jaclaz is right as usual.

Nevertheless, I cannot conform to the simplistic term fanboy and I respectfully present here my request for a better denomination.

Especially because I work with windows from virtualbox under ubuntu running from a macbook all day long so I'm clearly a fan of too many things..

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But back on topic, I was only wondering why FreeBSD as a choice?

Ulli, would you care to start a new topic explaining the advantages and reasons to use this OS on the desktop instead of Ubuntu from a desktop user perspective?