VMware ESX 4.0 - INSTALLATION GUIDE UPDATE 1 Installation Manual page 33

Figure 5-2 shows the flow of the interaction between the components if you are using PXELINUX without
gPXE. The scripts depot and the media depot are optional. You do not need them if you are performing an
interactive installation with installation media that is stored locally on a DVD or USB.
Figure 5-2. Overview for PXE Booting the ESX Installer Using PXELINUX without gPXE
DHCP server
TFTP server
TFTP server
scripts depot
media depot
In the case presented in this document, PXE works as follows:
1 The target ESX host (the PXE client) is booted.
2 The target ESX host makes a DHCP request.
3 The DHCP server responds with the IP information and provides information about the location of a TFTP
server.
4 When the client receives the information, it contacts the TFTP server asking for the file the DHCP server
told it to ask for (in this case, the network boot loader).
5 The TFTP server sends the network boot loader, and the client executes it.
VMware, Inc.
Give me an IP
UDP
IP & TFTP
Give me the
network boot loader
UDP
pxelinux.0
Give me kernel
and ramdisk
UDP
kernel and ramdisk
Give me a script
TCP
ks.cfg
Give me media
TCP
RPMs
Chapter 5 Booting the ESX Installer
ESX target host
Installer
starts
ESX host
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