In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about deploying Windows operating systems using HEIMDAL's iPXE feature. This enables our HEIMDAL Dashboard users to effortlessly deploy Windows operating systems within their network.
1. Introduction
2. Activation and Access
3. Configuring the iPXE Server
4. Connecting Endpoints to the iPXE Server
INTRODUCTION
iPXE includes the following key functionalities:
- Repository Management: easily manage your OS image repository through Network Settings;
- Image Management: upload and manage images of different Windows operating system instances;
- iPXE Server Promotion: promote and manage a hostname to function as an iPXE server;
- Inheritance Feature: inherit repository settings from your reseller.
To use the Network OS Deployment feature, you need to have the Infinity Management licensing option enabled and then, just simply enable the submodule in Network Settings -> Network OS Deployment tab by checking the corresponding tick box. Additionally, we're offering an opt-in Inherit Reseller Repository functionality. Corporate customers will find this option greyed out unless their reseller has enabled the Repository distribution functionality from their Network Settings.
IMPORTANT
Currently, the Network Windows OS Deployment (IPXE functionality) can deploy Windows 10 or older Windows operating systems. Unfortunately, Windows 11 is NOT supported due to the problems related to Secure Boot required by Windows, but not by IPXE.
ACTIVATION AND ACCESS
When activated, corporate customers gain access to all ISO files uploaded by the reseller (Source: Inherited) as well as those they upload themselves (Source: Owner). However, they can only edit and delete the OS images that they have uploaded themselves.
The ability to use the Network OS Deployment feature is strictly tied to having a repository of optical disc images of OS instances. You can build the repository by uploading valid ISO files. Post pressing the Upload OS Image button, a modal window is displayed and you will be allowed to select an ISO file from your machine, import/upload it, and add a description (friendly name).
Once the upload button is pressed, the selected .iso file starts uploading to the cloud. It's important to keep the browser page open until the upload is finished, otherwise the upload will be stopped. The upload time is limited to 2 hours. If the upload takes more than 2 hours, the user will be logged out to inactivity.
As soon as you build your OS Images Repository, you can, from the Active Clients -> Standard View, choose one machine and designate it as an iPXE deployment server (Select what action to take drop-down list -> Add iPXE Server). You can also edit - Config iPXE Server or delete - Remove iPXE Server, machines that had already been designated as iPXE servers.
IMPORTANT
The device designated as an iPXE server will continue to function as an iPXE server despite hostname changes (unless the Remove iPXE Server command is applied to the hostname).
CONFIGURING THE iPXE SERVER
After clicking Add iPXE Server or when editing a previously selected iPXE server, a modal window will appear. In this window, you can configure the iPXE server.
- Check time interval - sets the time in minutes to check for changes;
- Enforce User Authentication - the end user will have to use the set credentials (username and password) to have access to the OS image repository;
- Download Path - sets the default location for downloading ISO files. Make sure that the drive of the selected path has enough free space to accommodate the number of ISO files that are set to be downloaded.
By pressing the Add OS Image button, the user can select from the current available ISO images, sitting on the OS image repository. All the available ISO images are displayed in a grid (there are also options to edit and delete already downloaded ISO images).
Post hitting the Confirm button and syncing the GP (Sync GP button in the agent), on the end users’ endpoints two new services will become active: Heimdal IPXE and Heimdal IPXE Checker.
The Heimdal IPXE directory is downloaded at the Heimdal installation path.
CONNECTING ENDPOINTS TO THE iPXE SERVER
To connect endpoints to the iPXE server so that deployment can begin, follow the steps below:
- Set the correct boot order in Bios: on the client (end-user) endpoints set the boot priority to be the network boot first (make sure you are running EFI Boot. BIOS Boot is NOT supported);
- Initiate connection: make sure that the iPXE Server is turned on and visible within the network. Start the client endpoint;
- Authentication: on the (end-user) client side, enter the username and password if asked;
- Load Windows PE (WinPE), the system will load the Windows Preinstallation Environment.
- Select OS Image.
- Start the Windows setup and proceed with the setup steps.
