300-435 Question 132
Select 3A network engineer is tasked with automating the deployment of multiple bare-metal servers in a remote data center. The servers need to boot over the network and retrieve their operating system image from a central repository. The engineer decides to use iPXE for this purpose. During configuration, which of the following steps are required to successfully configure iPXE for network-based provisioning?
- A
Configure a DHCP server to provide the iPXE boot script or binary location.
- B
Set up a TFTP server to host the iPXE boot script.
- C
Write a custom iPXE script to define the boot parameters and operating system image location.
- D
Enable PXE boot on the servers and configure the boot order to prioritize network boot.
- E
Install the iPXE binary on the local hard drives of all servers.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, D
Explanation
To automate server provisioning using iPXE, you need to configure a DHCP server to provide the boot script or binary location, ensure the servers are set to boot from the network, and create a custom iPXE script to define the operating system image and boot parameters. TFTP is optional, and iPXE does not need to be installed locally, as it operates over the network.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. A DHCP server is necessary to provide network boot information, such as the iPXE boot script or binary location, to the servers.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. iPXE does not strictly require a TFTP server for hosting boot scripts, as scripts can also be retrieved directly via HTTP or other protocols.
- C. Correct.
This is correct. A custom iPXE script is often written to specify the boot parameters and the location of the operating system image, enabling automation.
- D. Correct.
This is correct. Enabling PXE boot and prioritizing network boot in the BIOS or UEFI settings are prerequisites for using iPXE.
- E. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. iPXE is designed to be used as a network boot loader and does not need to be installed on local hard drives.