Chapter 10. Setting Up an Installation Server
10.1. PXE Installation Overview
Preboot Execution Environment, or PXE, is a techonology that allows computers to boot directly from resources provided over the network. Installing Fedora over the network means you don't have to create media, and you can install to multiple computers or virtual machine simultaneously. The process involves a number of components and features working together to provide the resources required.
Most modern computers have the capability to network boot. Typically, a function key pressed during boot will bring up a boot selection menu. In environments designed for unattended administration, systems will often be configured to first attempt booting from the network, then boot from local storage, and the installation server is configured to only offer the installation when required. Your computer's manual will provide specific instructions on setting boot priorities.
When a system requests an address during network booting, the DHCP server also provides the location of files to boot. A network should have only one DHCP server.
Because the pre-boot environment is very simple, files must be provided in a very simple way. Trivial File Transfer Protocol, or TFTP, provides the system with the bootloader required to continue the installation process.
Because the job of booting an operating system is too complex for the pre-boot environment, a bootloader is used to load the kernel and related files. It also provides configuration information to the installer, and can offer a menu to select from different configurations.
The kernel is the core of any Linux operating system, and the initramfs provides the kernel with required tools and resources. These files are also provided by tftp.
