Diskless server boot using the Microsoft iSCSI Software target and a regular network card
Jian Yan, the Program Manager for the iSCSI Software Target, has a new blog post on Filecab that describes in details how to configure diskless servers and boot from the Microsoft iSCSI Target 3.3 (which is now available as a free download for Windows Server 2008 R2). This is a great, lengthy post that includes pictures, screenshot and script samples. Here's an outline:
- Overview
- Terminology
- Deployment
- Boot process
- Hardware/Software options
- An iSCSI boot-capable NIC
- An iSCSI boot-capable HBA
- An iSCSI boot loader
- Boot Process
- Pre-boot
- Windows boot
- Various deployment configurations
- Using an iSCSI boot-capable NIC or HBA
- Using a Software boot loader with DHCP and TFTP servers
- Using a Software Boot Loader without DHCP and TFTP
- Step-by-step deployment guide
- Create a Golden Image
- Customize the boot loader script
- Deploy diskless clients using a Golden image
This is highly recommended reading for anyone deploying diskless servers (or anyone about to buy a few servers who wants to save some money on storage :-).