10. Netboot

Netboot was written by Zurück zu Gero. The main site is at http://www.han.de/~gero/netboot.html.

10.1 Introduction

The following list shows just a few examples of what Netboot can be used for:

• Printer spooler
• Terminal server
• X11 terminal
• Data logging system
• Network-Computer (NC)
• Some more ....

For the bootrom to find the kernel image it uses the BOOTP protocol as defined in RFC 951 and RFC 1533 to get the necessary boot information, and then loads the actual image using the TFTP protocol as defined in RFC 1350 .

The exact specifications for this netboot process can be found http://www.han.de/~gero/netboot/english/spec.html.

10.2 Mailing list

There exists a mailing list devoted to network booting. To subscribe simply send a mail with the line

subscribe netboot

in it's body to majordomo@baghira.han.de

The subject in the mail header doesn't matter. After subscribing to it, you can send messages into the list by writing a mail to netboot@baghira.han.de.

10.3 Netboot useful links

Netboot mailing list archive is at http://www.han.de/~gero/netboot/archive/maillist.html

• 3com drivers at http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic
• Accton drivers at here
• Artisoft
• CNET
• Compaq
• D-Link
• Microdyne
• Many NE2000 PCI cards are based on Realtek chipsets. Get drivers here
• Standard Microsystems Corp
• Surecom
• Thomas Conrad corp
• Winbond
• Xircom

• Webopaedia page on network cards
• Jargon's driver page with many drivers for older network cards.
• Etherboot This is a project similar to Netbot but based on the BSD bootrom code.
• How to make an X Window Terminal out of your old or outdated PC.
• List of jumper settings for various network cards. This page also contains many other good links.
• Freefire is the home page of the Freefire project, which lists many resources for network security issues.