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Installation and initial Configuration

1. Install required Packages

sudo apt update -yy
sudo apt upgrade -yy
sudo apt install dhcpd isc-dhcp-server netplan.io tftpd-hpa nginx

2. Configure DHCP Server

2.1 Configure DHCPd

Edit Configuration File /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

option architecture-type code 93 = unsigned integer 16;

# DNS Search Domain and Nameservers
option domain-name "pxe.example.local";
# Note: Using Google DNS (8.8.8.8) so clients can reach the internet.
# If you use 172.16.128.254, clients will fail unless you set up Bind9.
option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8;

# Lease Times
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;

ddns-update-style none;

subnet 172.16.128.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    # DHCP Client Range
    range 172.16.128.100 172.16.128.199;

    # Gateway and Next Server
    option routers 172.16.128.254;
    next-server 172.16.128.254;

    # Check if the client is ALREADY running iPXE
    if exists user-class and substring(option user-class, 0, 4) = "iPXE" {
        
        # If yes, send them to the Nginx script
        filename "http://172.16.128.254/boot.ipxe";
        
    } else {
        
        # If no, send the binary (TFTP)
        filename "undionly.kpxe"; # Default Legacy
        
        # Architecture overrides
        if option architecture-type = 00:07 { filename "ipxe.efi"; }
        if option architecture-type = 00:09 { filename "ipxe.efi"; }
        if option architecture-type = 00:06 { filename "ipxe.efi"; }
    }
}

2.2 Configure isc-dhcp-server

Edit Configuration File /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server

# Path to Configuration File from Step 2.1
DHCPD4_CONF=/etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

# Space-delimited List of Interfaces where the DHCP Server should listen on
# Example for multible Interfaces: "eth0 eth1 wifi1"
INTERFACESv4="eth0"

3. Configure Netplan

Netplan is used to configure the local Interfaces on the Device which hosts the DHCP/iPXE Server

3.1 Disable Conflicting Services

The Default Network Configuration Services might interfere with Netplan

sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl stop dhcpcd
sudo systemctl disable dhcpcd

3.2 Enable networkd

sudo systemctl enable systemd-networkd
sudo systemctl start systemd-networkd

3.3 Edit Configuration File /etc/netplan/network.yaml

network:
  version: 2
  renderer: networkd
  ethernets:
    eth0:
      addresses:
        - 172.16.128.254/24
      nameservers:
        addresses:
          - 172.16.128.254
      ignore-carrier: true

  wifis:
    wlan0:
      dhcp4: true
      access-points:
        "your-wifi":
          password: "your-wifi-password"

With this File, the Interface eth0 gets a static IP 172.16.128.254 and the Wifi interface wlan0 is set to dhcp with the specified Wifi your-wifi and Password your-wifi-password

3.4 Update Permissions for /etc/netplan/network.yaml

sudo chmod 600 /etc/netplan/network.yaml

3.5 Apply Configuration

sudo netplan generate
sudo netplan apply

3.6 Restart isc-dhcp-server

After configuring netplan, we need to restart isc-dhcp-server

sudo systemctl restart isc-dhcp-server
sudo systemctl status isc-dhcp-server

4. Configure TFTP Server

The TFTP Server will serve the Bootloader

4.1 Ensure default Configuration File

Edit Configuration File /etc/default/tftp-hpa

TFTP_USERNAME="tftp"
TFTP_DIRECTORY="/srv/tftp"
TFTP_ADDRESS=":69"
TFTP_OPTIONS="--secure --create"

4.2 Restart TFTP Server

sudo systemctl restart tftpd-hpa

5. Configure NGINX

NGINX will serve the actual OS Images, Drivers, Firmware and Configuration Files

5.1 Edit Configuration File

Open /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

server {

  listen 80;
  root /var/www/html;

  server_name _;

  location / {
    autoindex on;
    try_files $uri $uri/ =405;
  }
}

5.2 Restart NGINX

sudo systemctl restart nginx

6. Bootloader and Scripts

6.1 Download Bootloaders

cd /srv/tftp
sudo wget http://boot.ipxe.org/undionly.kpxe
sudo wget http://boot.ipxe.org/ipxe.efi

6.2 Create Boot Script

Edit/Create File /var/www/html/boot.ipxe

#!ipxe

# --- Global Settings ---
set timeout 10000       # 10 seconds timeout
set menu-default shell  # Default to shell

# --- The Menu ---
:start
menu iPXE Boot Server (Nginx Edition)
item --gap --             -------------------------
item shell                Drop to iPXE Shell
item reboot               Reboot Computer
item --gap --             -------------------------
item netinfo              Show Network Info
choose --timeout ${timeout} --default ${menu-default} selected || goto shell

# --- Actions ---
goto ${selected}

:shell
echo Dropping to shell...
shell
goto start

:reboot
reboot

:netinfo
ifstat
echo Press any key to return...
prompt
goto start

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