Table of Contents

Diskless Linux Workstation

We need a server with DHCP and TFTP.

TFTP

In Debian Etch we have at least three DHCP server: tftpd, tftpd-hpa and atftpd. The first one is not suitable because PXELINUX requires that the TFTP server supports the “tsize” TFTP option. The second has a BSD with advertising clause license. So we went with atftpd, which is also the preferred TFTPD at Debian Popularity Contest.

We changed the home directory for TFTPD, choosing /boot/tftp. See the command line in /etc/inetd.conf.

DHCP

Kernel

-> Device Drivers -> Network device support -> Ethernet (1000 Mbit)
New SysKonnect GigaEthernet support
CONFIG_SKGE

-> Networking -> Networking support (NET [=y]) -> Networking options -> TCP/IP networking (INET [=y])

IP: kernel level autoconfiguration
CONFIG_IP_PNP

IP: DHCP support
CONFIG_IP_PNP_DHCP

IP: BOOTP support
CONFIG_IP_PNP_BOOTP

-> File systems -> Network File Systems

NFS file system support
CONFIG_NFS_FS

Root file system on NFS
CONFIG_ROOT_NFS

-> File systems
Kernel automounter version 4 support (also supports v3)
CONFIG_AUTOFS4_FS

Riferimenti web

Confronto HD/NFS

Client

NFS server

Environment

Startup time NFS server trafic
HD NFS RX bytes TX bytes
KDM login 48“ 1' 14” 7.241.290 75.199.395
Desktop ready 12“ 27” 4.353.668 36.226.306
Total 1' 00“ 1' 41” 11.594.958 111.425.701
OpenOffice 13“ 28”