RE: Running a PXE server without full DHCP

Seems weird - you want to have the equivelant of a second DHCP server
sending out options but still using a central DHCP server for the real work?

If you can possibly get the main DHCP server to have some extra options then
you're set, AND it will be easier to maintain.

If you can't do anything with the main DHCP server, then it might be easier
to firewall your pxe clients and deal with the DHCP more locally, that way
its under your control, not central management.

Those extra options like "next-server" and "option-135" are totally ignored
by other dhcp clients, so it won't interfere with them in the slightest.

In short - Keep It Simple.  

..... Or demonstrate PXEs to the people who run the DHCP server, show them
how cool it is :)))



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Donald Teed
Sent: Friday, 29 October 2004 1:46 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: [pxes-devel] Running a PXE server without full DHCP


It was suggested I follow up my question here rather than on the forums.

I've since learned that the term for the thing I'd like to have is a "DHCP
Proxy Server".  Novell Zenworks, Solaris and IBM's AIX offer it, as well as
StorageSoft's PXE Server on Windows (no longer maintained and seems limited
to floppy).

A DHCP Proxy Server can respond to DHCP BOOTP requests without providing the
IP address - it relies on the other main DHCP server to do that.

In our case, at a University, we run a secure DHCP server which is fed a
list of valid MACs that are allowed on our network.  Rather than duplicate
the effort of that configuration on a PXE boot server, we'd rather have it
function as a DHCP Proxy.  It would respond to BOOTP requests, send the
"next-server" information to point to the TFTP server. The main DHCP server
would remain responsible for controlling IP assignment (or whether to not
assign an IP if it is not an authorized client machine).

I'm also aware of Bootpd, but it doesn't offer support for allowing a named
DHCP server to provide the IP.

I have been searching for a way to make ISC DHCP offer the limited proxy
function, or locate an open source DHCP Proxy server, but I don't see one
available as yet.



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