ERPXE Community

Hi all I am new here so would like to introduce myself.
I am a UK IT consultant working for GlaxoSmithKlyne and Fujitsu UK.
My main specialist field is server bios and framebuffer with a bit of notebook tpm and general pc know-how.
I have a few pxe servers running in various depots with homebrew software and general diags tools on them.
I am new to the idea of deploying win7 over them so have been looking at available methods of reliably performing this task.
Fog just doesn't do it for me, although it works I want something I can ask my staff to use and keep updated.
There is no way in this world I would consider putting anything other than Unix / Linux on my servers so please don't suggest a windows server to me.
My staff would love that as they all think they are expert and would break it very quickly.

I am playing at the moment with a home network served by a dell lappy of which I have about 30 at my disposal for experimental purposes.
I have installed fog on one of them which is working but as I said above, too complex for the idiots I work with.
I am against a stumbling block with my next task.
Trying to install ERPXE with Ubuntu 14.04 desktop version, I think the issue is with Apache, the latest version as downloaded with apt-get does not have a conf.d file which the instructions refer to.
Apache is working as when I input 10.0.0.1 into browser I get the Apache index page, all else seems to be fine.
Client will not log on to host I believe this folder to be the one where the fault is.
Am I right?
Is there a known workaround?
Could it be updated to the instruction page?

There are instructions in Ubuntu website:
https://help.ubuntu.com/14.04/serverguide/httpd.html

"conf-available: this directory contains available configuration files.
All files that were previously in /etc/apache2/conf.d should be moved to /etc/apache2/conf-available."

Configuration page in our WiKi updated to include Ubuntu 14.04 changes:
http://erpxe.org/Ubuntu_installation_instructions

Hi RaveMaker and thanks for the reply.
Maybe I am missing something , I have seen the links you refer too which are about moving the conf.d file.
Since this is a new install there is no conf.d file to be moved.

IT WOULD BE SAD TO SEE THIS PROJECT FAIL ALONG WITH SO MAY OTHERS THAT HAVE BIT THE DUST BECAUSE THEY CANNOT OR WILL NOT UPDATE THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.
Technology moves along constantly and updates are instigated to keep up with the fast pace of change, if you can't keep up with those moving around you your project will fail.
I need something that works from the box and sorry to say this is not it.
I have opened your box, followed your instructions to the letter, is it to much to expect it to work having completed this process?
After 5 failed attempts I give in and move on, I brought this matter to your attention yesterday and today your pages still read the same information.
Sorry but this is just not good enough in today's world I need quick solutions as I am expected to supply quick solutions.
Building a PXE server is not rocket science and the time I have spent messing with this and Fedora / Ubuntu I could have compiled my own as I have done until now.
I will check back in a week or two and see if you are still here and how things are moving along and I wish you good luck and success but my boat is sailing without you on board.
Bye for now.

I'm sorry to hear that but I think the issue is that you do not understand the instructions.

ERPXE has an 'erpxe-httpd.conf' file that should be placed under /etc/apache2/conf.d/
In Ubuntu 14.04 /etc/apache2/conf.d was replace with /etc/apache2/conf-available so you need to place the file there and restart the Apache server.
The exact command is:

cp /tftpboot/bin/setup/erpxe-httpd.conf /etc/apache2/conf-available/

That's it.. definitely not rocket science.

Still I do not think this is your issue since Apache only affects HTTP plugins and there are not many of those.
If you are trying to PXE boot and you don't get the ERPXE menu screen then the issue is somewhere else.
Maybe your DHCP config or you TFTP config...
If you can post a screenshot/quote of your error maybe I can be of further assistance.

Good luck

Thank you for your response, as I had asked in my first post could that instruction be update to the relevant page, replacing the wrong one.
In that event I would know I have I done it correctly and looked elsewhere for my fault instead of wading through pages of irrelevant information.
I had figured out the correct file to copy to while floundering around but should not have needed to had your info been updated in the first instance.
As I have eluded I am looking for explicit instructions for idiots to follow, I have a work force of engineers to supervise who need to build their own servers, deploy win7 locally among other things.
My experience in PXE is vast and outdated, I am still in memdisk days and need to update myself before I can instruct others and do this quickly.
I am trying to compile an idiots guide to PXE booting with appropriate links to say copy and paste the info on "this page" with the knowledge it will be current and working.
They will not have time nor experience of the process I am doing on their behalf
Sorry to be a pain to you but this important to me.
I am still here while exploring other avenues and am now bugged by this.
I came to the same conclusion as yourself and wonder if perhaps I should edit the "/etc/default/tftpd-hpa"

TFTP_USERNAME="tftp"
TFTP_DIRECTORY="/tftpboot/"
TFTP_ADDRESS="0.0.0.0:69"
TFTP_OPTIONS="-m /tftpboot/erpxe.remap -vvvvv -s"

Is this a stock script and correct as is?

That should work without any changes.
I would recommend using enterprise Linux such as CentOS instead of Ubuntu.
The setup process is a lot simpler and most changes are backwards compatible.

If you insist on using Ubuntu let's start with a little troubleshooting:
- Disable firewall - - Check firewall status - - Make sure your /tftpboot is accessible to all users: - Verify DHCPd settings (if this is your DHCP server): Also make sure tftpd-hpa is up and running.
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/install-co ... ian-howto/

I still think that if you are looking for something stable and simple to use go with CentOS.

Please post your error if you are still having issues installing ERPXE

Unfortunately for me Ubuntu was not my choice especially not a desktop environment, it's sluggish and bloated.
When this project was first discussed it was behind (to me) closed doors at director level, why they call me a consultant I do not know.
I never get consulted, I get told to make it work.
The original plan was to use windows with virtual box running a linux system to deploy windows, I resigned and told them to find some other sucker to sort that one out.
Each engineer has to build this onto a laptop that he / she will use, as and when required on a local basis, doing away with large and costly server units at HQ.
We settled on using a linux desktop and a PXE boot maintaining one classroom (that's what we call them) at a time, I reinstated myself.
I was then told that desktop would be either Ubuntu latest version, or Mint, latest version no if's or but's about that one, my direct boss is a woman who knows what she wants and she wants pretty.
I did try to play with Fedora but drew a line under that when I got nowhere, while typing this I have downloaded Centos and will check back later when installed and tried.

Hi guys I am back again, got called away to sort some other issues out so this little project got put on hold.
Got back to my head scratching this afternoon and couldn't believe what was happening.
By total accident I discovered nothing wrong the setup I have been using, it's the lappy's that are at fault.
I plugged my netbook in and it went straght into ERpxe with an f12. plugged in one of the company laptops and it hung, so did all of the other 20+.
A bios upgrade needed I think, not sure yet but now I know I can work around it and get down to the serious stuff of getting win7 pushed over with ERpxe.
A big thank you for updating the instruction page, really pleased to see that done.
Now to look around your wonderful site and find the plugins and iso's etc I want.
Thanks for your help thus far and if I get stuck again I know where to come.
Cheers for now.