How to boot diskless server from iSCSI SAN

TheR_ · 03-14-2010, 04:39 PM

There has been a year since this post and there is got to be something new http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ght=iscsi+boot

I am booting my virtualization servers from USB key and it works OK. But only recently I have found, that diskless servers can boot from iSCSI target server. I realize that this could make another step to further improve reliability of the system.

I haven't tried yet but one way is to install boot from network (which includes DHCP, TFTP) and may or may not work over 10Gb NIC cards. And it looks filed with troubles.

On the other side is there any opensource sw (like Double-take flex) which makes boot from CD or USB key and than start server software from iSCSI server.

by
TheR

bheinsius · 03-21-2010, 09:22 AM

I boot my server using iSCSI boot with an Intel PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter. No PXE, nu USB stick required.
Works well except in compination with XEN, the XEN kernel does want to boot from it, see my post at https://www.centos.org/modules/newbb...24043&forum=37
I get no response on this problem, looks like I'm the only one on this world that wants to do this.

TheR_ · 03-22-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheinsius

I boot my server using iSCSI boot with an Intel PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter. No PXE, nu USB stick required.
Works well except in compination with XEN, the XEN kernel does want to boot from it, see my post at https://www.centos.org/modules/newbb...24043&forum=37
I get no response on this problem, looks like I'm the only one on this world that wants to do this.

I didn't just get your idea. You write that you are able to boot from iscsi without pxe or usb stick. But nothing about how.

Are you using modified NIC ROM? How do initialy boot machine?

by
TheR

bheinsius · 03-22-2010, 05:20 PM

Yes, I use modified NIC ROM: Intel® iSCSI Remote Boot, see http://www.intel.com/support/network...boot/index.htm
Workts perfectly, except for the Xen part :-(

Blue_Ice · 12-21-2010, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheinsius

Yes, I use modified NIC ROM: Intel® iSCSI Remote Boot, see http://www.intel.com/support/network...boot/index.htm
Workts perfectly, except for the Xen part :-(

Sorry to revive this thread, but I am looking into this one as well. Actually I am looking into the same solution as the OP (dhcp and tftp).

But I might have an idea why bheinsius' is not able to boot his system from iscsi. Are you referring to the right initrd as this should contain the Xen modules as well as the iscsi libs.
At least I already know that you need to create your own initrd when you want to boot Xen dom0 from iscsi.

I know how to setup the dhcp and tftp part, but I still need to figure out how to build the initrd. I know that it is distro depended. I want to use Debian Squeeze, because of Xen 4.0. Links, documents and short explanations are more then welcome. If not, I will have something to do over the holidays... :-)