It's theoretically possible to do something like this with PXE boot loading up a mini OS. Then that mini OS runs as part of its init scripts a menu system that does what you're talking about. That's basically what jumpstart and kickstart do. On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 8:18 PM, Jason Spatafore wrote: > This may trigger some discussion and I've been researching it for days > now. It sounds like it is "impossible" but I wanted to utilize all my > resources. PLUG is a resource. :) > > So, here's the situation. > > 1. I would like to use a system where servers can be PXEBooted to the > network. > 2. The system needs to be able to boot from image files after being > PXEBooted. For example, image files can/will be .iso (CD-ROM), .usb (USB > Drive Images created with dd), .img for floppy images, and .dvd for DVD > based images. > > Here's how I see the system working. A technician boots to the PXE > environment and is presented a menu...say the menu is asking for an 8 digit > number. The technician inputs the 8 digit number (12345678) and a script of > some kind locates the corresponding image file. The script then determines > the type of image that is used based off the extension. In this example, > let's say the filename is 12345678.iso. The script now knows that it must > use iso9660 for the filesystem. The script then loads that iso file and the > system boots just like it was running from a CD-ROM. > > Now, everything I have read so far states that this is impossible due to > the way systems boot. > > Does anybody have ideas on how to get something like this to work? Can you > boot an ISO file *as if* it was a direct attached CD-ROM drive? Can you do > the same with other image types? > > I am trying to make this simple for our people. For example, I would like > people to be able to just use dd to create the image files. > > Anyway, any help/input is appreciated. Even confirmation that this is > impossible would be nice as I have already come to that conclusion myself > based off all the other items I've read online. > > Thanks ahead of time! > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- James McPhee jmcphe@gmail.com