[Solved] Guide for Setting Up a PXE Boot Server with Debian 12?

Setting up a PXE boot server on Debian 12 can seem complex, but breaking it down into steps makes it manageable. Here’s a quick overview of the key steps:

1. Install and Configure DHCP: Use dnsmasq or isc-dhcp-server to handle DHCP. You’ll need to configure it to point to your TFTP server and boot file.
2. Set Up TFTP: Install tftpd-hpa and place your boot files (like pxelinux.0) in the TFTP directory. Make sure the permissions are correct.
3. Prepare Boot Images: Download the netboot files for Debian or whatever OS you’re deploying and place them in the appropriate directory.
4. Serve OS Files: You can use NFS, HTTP, or FTP to serve the OS files needed for installation. NFS is common, but HTTP can be faster and easier to set up.
5. Firewall and Network Configurations: Ensure your firewall isn’t blocking DHCP, TFTP, or HTTP/NFS traffic. Also, check your network settings to make sure everything can communicate properly.

For a detailed guide, I recommend checking out the Debian Wiki or searching for community tutorials that match your exact setup. They often provide the specific configuration files you’ll need to modify. Good luck!

I set up a PXE boot server on Debian 12 a while back. It's not too difficult if you're familiar with networking basics. You’ll need to install dnsmasq for the DHCP/TFTP server, and then configure it to point to your boot files. There are a few guides out there, but they’re mostly piecemeal.

There’s a lot of information out there, but it can be a bit scattered. The key steps involve setting up dnsmasq or isc-dhcp-server for DHCP, configuring TFTP to serve the boot files, and then setting up the NFS or HTTP server for the OS files. I found it helpful to follow a few different guides to get it all working.

PXE booting on Debian 12 requires some specific configurations, especially with dnsmasq or isc-dhcp-server for DHCP and TFTP. You also need to prepare the boot image and OS files. There are some good resources online, but they often miss small details. If you’re new to this, be prepared to troubleshoot as you go.

I recently set up a PXE boot server on Debian 12, and the process was fairly straightforward once I got the hang of it. You’ll need to configure a DHCP server (dnsmasq works well) and a TFTP server to serve your boot files. Then, set up either NFS or HTTP to serve the OS installation files. I didn’t find a single guide that covered everything perfectly, but combining a few resources worked for me. Make sure your firewall settings are correct, as they can block the PXE traffic.