Re: NIC identification with PXE?

On May 27, 2005, at 12:15 PM, Geert Stappers wrote:
> On Fri, May 27, 2005 at 04:53:38PM +0100, John Connett wrote:
>> We use PXE and Etherboot to install FreeBSD 4 systems.  Until recently
>> all of these systems used Intel EtherExpressPro1000 82540EM NICs so 
>> all
>> that was necessary was to have the DHCP server reply with the
>> "e1000.zpxe" file.
>> Now systems that use Broadcom Tigon 3 5721 NICs are being introduced
>> which require the "tg3.zpxe" file.
>> Is there a mechanism by which the DHCP server can automatically
>> determine the model of NIC that is being used so that it can reply 
>> with
>> the matching file?  We use a custom DHCP server which can be modified 
>> if
>> necessary.
> ....
> Looking forward to your report where you tell how you solved this
> (off-topic) problem.

I don't think this request was very off-topic, even for 
etherboot-developers.

It might have been more illuminating if it was sent to etherboot-users, 
but right now the split between the lists is somewhat artificial.  I 
think most of the implementors and major contributors to Etherboot read 
both lists.

John, thank you very much for your question, and for the work and 
thought you put into it.  It is thought provoking questions like yours 
that encourage us to improve our software and our documentation.

Marty



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