DHCP netboot configuration

Global configuration

Access configuration file

The main configuration file is /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

vim /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

Advanced configuration (name + netboot)

In the following scenario you will configure the server to accept only specific clients, use static IP @ and set names.

This configuration also allow NetBoot using PXE technology - check out the end of the file in the "subnet" section:

#### General options ####

## Domain settings
# domain name
option domain-name "myDomain.lan";
# DNS IP @ (replace it by your IP server, Google DNS or your ISP DNS) 
option domain-name-servers XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX, YYY.YYY.YYY.YYY;
# DNS update system (disable)
ddns-update-style none;

## IP lease settings
default-lease-time 7200;
max-lease-time 86400;

## Network settings
# DHCP server name
server-name "dns.myDomain.lan";
# Authoritative server = this is the official DHCP server for the local network
authoritative;
# Subnet-mask
option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;


## Security
# Do not allow unknown clients 
deny unknown-clients;
# Do not forward DHCP request from this server to another one using a different Network Interface
option ip-forwarding off;

# Use this to send dhcp log messages to a different log file 
# you also have to hack syslog.conf to complete the redirection
log-facility local7;

### NetBoot PXE
# Enable network boot using TFTP 
allow bootp;
allow booting;


## Available networks

# Your server can manage many network. Just add new subnet{} instruction

# Main LAN
subnet 172.16.50.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  #### Overall settings
  # You can override the default domain set earlier
  option domain-name "myDomain.lan";
  # Broadcast address
  option broadcast-address 172.16.50.255;
  # Default gateway
  option routers 172.16.50.1;
  # Set the NTP (time server) to use
  option ntp-servers 172.16.50.1;


  #### DHCP range
  # Hint: if the range has only 1 address, and this is a bail (fixed address), then the range won't be used!
  range 172.16.50.5 172.16.50.5;

  #### NETBOOT settings 
  # PXE file to serve.
  #   >> elilo.efi   => for ia64 clients; 
  #   >> pxelinux.0  => for x86
  # These files should be at the root of your TFTP server
  # Note: The file name can be add in the "host" section too. Then, the "host" will override the current setting
  filename "pxelinux.0";
  # set the server that serve this NETBOOT file
  next-server 172.16.50.2;
  # Ensure that the new client (the one boot) is not stealing someone else IP @
  ping-check = 1;
}

Be aware that the "option host-name ..." may be discard by most clients.

Client management

Add new host

Every time you need to install you host you have to:

Edit the configuration file:

vim /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf

Add new host at the end of the file :

host myNewHost {
  hardware ethernet 00:0e:af:31:d1:cc;
  fixed-address 172.16.50.60;
  option host-name "myNewHost";
}

==> Don't forget to the given IP @ must match the DNS server declaration !

Configuration example

This is a configuration example:

#### Managed host and fixed IP @
# FTP server
host ftp {
  hardware ethernet 00:0f:75:af:eb:44;
  fixed-address 172.16.50.2;
  option host-name "ftp";

  ### NetBoot PXE settings
  # dedicated file for the current machine:
  #filename "debian-installer/ia64/elilo.efi";
  # Set the TFTP server
  #next-server 172.16.50.2;
} 


# WEB server
host web {
  hardware ethernet 00:02:0d:31:d1:cc;
  fixed-address 172.16.50.3;
  option host-name "web";
}
# EMAIL server
host mail {
  hardware ethernet 00:02:55:d2:d1:cc;
  fixed-address 172.16.50.4;
  option host-name "mail";
}
# LAPTOP workstation
host laptop {
  hardware ethernet 00:0e:af:31:d1:cc;
  fixed-address 172.16.50.5;
  option host-name "laptop";
}

Take on changes

Restart the DHCP server :

/etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server restart