Administrator's Guide

A sample /etc/bootptab for Next Server boot helper configuration follows:
next-server:\
bf=/opt/ignite/boot/nbp.efi:\
ht=ethernet:\
hn=:\
bs=48:\
dn=xyzco.com:\
gw=15.1.128.1:\
sm=255.255.255.0:\
ds=10.2.1.11
hpuxsysa:\
tc=next-server:\
ha=00306E4A03C2:\
ip=10.4.1.140:\
sa=10.2.1.11:
During DHCP PXE boot, the boot helper server provides the network configuration (IP address,
netmask, gateway, etc.). The boot helper also provides the initial boot loader (nbp.efi ). All
other boot content is taken from the master Ignite-UX server. Thus, this boot helper server requires
no Ignite-UX product content.
Note that the bf option path must match the path where other boot content is located on the master
Ignite server. The bf path must be valid on the boot helper and the Ignite master server.
Make sure the correct server is set and any network routing is configured as described in “Having
the client contact the correct server” (page 55) and “Install remote clients through a network router”
(page 54).
Forwarding boot requests via bootp relay
The HP-UX bootp server has the ability to forward boot requests. With this approach, each subnet
must have a bootp relay boot helper, but that system does not need to have Ignite software
installed. Therefore, there is no need to have multiple systems with the same Ignite software version
on them.
When a client system broadcasts a request for network boot, the bootp relay boot helper will
forward the request to the master bootp server indicated in the bootptab. The master bootp
server will respond to the bootp relay boot helper, which will then forward the response back to
the client system. The master Ignite boot server and master bootp server must be the same system.
The bp option must be specified in the bootp relay boot helper's /etc/bootptab file to forward
boot requests to the master bootp server. The bp value must be the IP address of the master bootp
server. The ip option must not be specified since that value will be provided from the master bootp
server. Often an hm option is also specified so a single bootptab relay configuration may be
58 Complex networks: challenges and solutions