PXE Boot won't work over VLANs

[ocb]

We use PXE Boot agent to deploy operative systems to new computers. Our networks are separated in 2 VLANs. On the same VLAN as the DHCP server, everything works, but on the other VLAN, the PXE boot agent will not acquire IP-address. It simply stops. So we have to install OS on only one VLAN.

After Windows is up and running, it obtains ip-addresses any time. It is just when booting with F12 - PXE boot it won't work.

We're using Microsoft DHCP server on a 2003 server, same server as domain controller and DNS.

Any ideas to make new PCs boot on other VLAN?

 

[lerdalt]

Have you added any helper-addresses for your PXE server to your vlan interfaces?

 

[ocb]

How do I do that? On the DHCP server or on the switchws/routers? any examples?

 

[ocb]

PS: Would an installed Windows PC get a DHCP address without helper? Shouldn't all PCs, both uninstalled and installed get error getting DHCP addresses without helper?

 

[burtsbees]

What is doing the routing between the VLANs?

Burt

 

[ocb]

that would be the Cisco switches. I have not any good experiences in changing config on Cisco switches yet. I think I should call my network consultants(an external firm) but I thought maybe I could learn more by studying the net, asking tek-tips etc..

 

[burtsbees]

The switch (assuming layer 3 switch) needs the ip helper-address command...for example, if the IP address of the dhcp server is 10.10.10.6, then...
switch>en
switch#conf t
switch(config)#ip helper-address 10.10.10.6

Burt

 

[ocb]

but again - would any PC get ip address without the correct ip helper? My problem is that only network boot malfunctions, any complete installed PC works fine.

 

[burtsbees]

I see...you mean that BOTH VLANs receive an IP address via dhcp as long as an OS is installed, but without an OS, only one vlan gets an IP address...

Burt

 

[lerdalt]

I'm really trying to remember why we had to do this where I work, it's been almost 2 years since we set it all up. But we not only had to have a helper address for the dhcp servers, but also for the PXE server itself since it was a separate server.

 

[ocb]

So what You mean is that we need to have 2 helper adresses in the routers/switches; one for the DHCP server an one for the server that holds the Landesk OS deployment packages?

To Burtbeeps: Yes - as long there are any OS on the PCs, both VLAN works, but as long as we must deploy the OS, and "boot on LAN", only the VLAN with the DHCP server works.

I try to figure out the difference between operating Windows clients and "F12" - boot on LAN/PXE boot.

The boot on LAN just hangs with the "MAC Address - DHCP -\|/-(rotating line waiting for DHCP to give any IP address)

 

[lerdalt]

Yep, that's what I'm saying. I tried digging yesterday to find our internal documentation that states what all we had to do exactly. All I know right now is on my vlan interfaces I have helpers for the dhcp servers and the PXE imaging server.

Give it a shot, if nothing else it's a quick test.