Chapter 6. Using iPXE to reduce provisioning times

Procedure

1. Enable the TFTP and HTTPboot services on your Capsule:

   # satellite-installer \
   --foreman-proxy-httpboot true \
   --foreman-proxy-tftp true

2. Install the ipxe-bootimgs package on your Capsule:

   # satellite-maintain packages install ipxe-bootimgs

3. Copy iPXE firmware to the TFTP directory.

   • Copy the iPXE firmware with the Linux kernel header:

     # cp /usr/share/ipxe/ipxe.lkrn /var/lib/tftpboot/

   • Copy the UNDI iPXE firmware:

     # cp /usr/share/ipxe/undionly.kpxe /var/lib/tftpboot/undionly-ipxe.0

4. Correct the SELinux file contexts:

   # restorecon -RvF /var/lib/tftpboot/

5. Set the HTTP URL.

   • If you want to use Satellite Server for booting, run the following command on Satellite Server:

     # satellite-installer \
     --foreman-proxy-dhcp-ipxefilename "http://satellite.example.com/unattended/iPXE?bootstrap=1"

   • If you want to use Capsule Server for booting, run the following command on Capsule Server:

     # satellite-installer --foreman-proxy-dhcp-ipxe-bootstrap true

1. Virtual machine starts.
2. iPXE retrieves the network credentials, including an HTTP URL, by using DHCP.
3. iPXE loads the iPXE bootstrap template from Capsule.
4. iPXE loads the iPXE template with MAC as a URL parameter from Capsule.
5. iPXE loads the kernel and initial RAM disk of the installer.

Procedure

1. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Hosts > Templates > Provisioning Templates.
2. Search for the Kickstart default iPXE template.
3. Click the name of the template.
4. Click the Association tab and select the operating systems that your host uses.
5. Click the Locations tab and add the location where the host resides.
6. Click the Organizations tab and add the organization that the host belongs to.
7. Click Submit to save the changes.
8. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Hosts > Operating systems and select the operating system of your host.
9. Click the Templates tab.
10. From the iPXE template list, select the Kickstart default iPXE template.
11. Click Submit to save the changes.
12. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Hosts > All Hosts.
13. In the Hosts page, select the host that you want to use.
14. Select the Operating System tab.
15. Set PXE Loader to iPXE Embedded.
16. Select the Templates tab.
17. In Provisioning Templates, click Resolve and verify that the iPXE template resolves to the required template.
18. Click Submit to save host settings.

1. Host powers on.
2. PXE driver retrieves the network credentials by using DHCP.
3. PXE driver retrieves the PXELinux firmware pxelinux.0 by using TFTP.
4. PXELinux searches for the configuration file on the TFTP server.
5. PXELinux chainloads iPXE ipxe.lkrn or undionly-ipxe.0.
6. iPXE retrieves the network credentials, including an HTTP URL, by using DHCP again.
7. iPXE chainloads the iPXE template from your Templates Capsule.
8. iPXE loads the kernel and initial RAM disk of the installer.

Procedure

1. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Hosts > Templates > Provisioning Templates.

2. Search for the required PXELinux template:

   • PXELinux chain iPXE to use ipxe.lkrn
   • PXELinux chain iPXE UNDI to use undionly-ipxe.0
3. Click the name of the template you want to use.
4. Click the Association tab and select the operating systems that your host uses.
5. Click the Locations tab and add the location where the host resides.
6. Click the Organizations tab and add the organization that the host belongs to.
7. Click Submit to save the changes.
8. On the Provisioning Templates page, search for the Kickstart default iPXE template.
9. Click the name of the template.
10. Click the Association tab and associate the template with the operating system that your host uses.
11. Click the Locations tab and add the location where the host resides.
12. Click the Organizations tab and add the organization that the host belongs to.
13. Click Submit to save the changes.
14. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Hosts > Operating systems and select the operating system of your host.
15. Click the Templates tab.
16. From the PXELinux template list, select the template you want to use.
17. From the iPXE template list, select the Kickstart default iPXE template.
18. Click Submit to save the changes.
19. In the Satellite web UI, navigate to Configure > Host Groups, and select the host group you want to configure.
20. Select the Operating System tab.
21. Select the Architecture and Operating system.

22. Set the PXE Loader:

    • Select PXELinux BIOS to chainboot iPXE (ipxe.lkrn) from PXELinux.
    • Select iPXE Chain BIOS to load undionly-ipxe.0 directly.