How to image computers | PXE | USB Drive

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to image computers using PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) and USB drives. This process is essential for IT specialists and support services when deploying operating systems across multiple machines efficiently. By following this guide, you will be able to create bootable USB drives and configure PXE booting for network installations.

Step 1: Prepare Your USB Drive

To start, you’ll need a USB drive that you can format and use as a bootable device.

1. Select a USB Drive:

   • Ensure your USB drive has enough storage (at least 8 GB is recommended).

2. Format the USB Drive:

   • Connect the USB drive to your computer.
   • Open the disk management tool on your operating system (e.g., Disk Management in Windows).
   • Right-click on the USB drive and select 'Format'.
   • Choose the FAT32 file system for compatibility.
   • Complete the formatting process.

3. Make the USB Drive Bootable:

   • Use a tool like Rufus or UNetbootin to create a bootable USB drive.
   • Select the ISO file of the operating system you want to install.
   • Start the process and wait for it to finish.

Step 2: Set Up PXE Booting

Once the USB drive is ready, you can configure PXE booting on your network.

1. Access Your DHCP Server:

   • Log into your DHCP server settings. This could be a router or a dedicated server.

2. Configure DHCP Options:

   Set the DHCP options to point to your PXE server. You will typically need to set the following

   • Option 66: TFTP server name (the IP address of the server).
   • Option 67: Boot file name (usually something like pxelinux.0).

3. Set Up TFTP Server:

   • Install and configure a TFTP server on your machine (for example, Tftpd32 or Tftpd64).
   • Place the necessary boot files (like pxelinux.0) and the kernel image in the TFTP server's root directory.

4. Configure the PXE Server:

   • Ensure your PXE server has the correct configuration files for the operating system you intend to deploy.
   • Verify that the network settings allow for communication with client machines.

Step 3: Booting the Client Computer

With everything set up, you can now boot the client computer using PXE.

1. Access BIOS/UEFI Settings:

   • Restart the client computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, DEL, or ESC).

2. Enable Network Boot:

   • Locate the Boot options and enable 'Network Boot' or 'PXE Boot'.
   • Adjust the boot order to prioritize network booting before the hard drive.

3. Save and Exit:

   • Save the changes in BIOS/UEFI and exit. The computer should now attempt to boot from the network.

4. Select Installation Options:

   • Once booted, follow the on-screen prompts to install the operating system.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to image computers using PXE and USB drives. By preparing a bootable USB drive and configuring PXE booting, you can efficiently deploy operating systems across multiple machines. For next steps, consider exploring advanced configurations for network installations or experimenting with different operating systems. Happy imaging!