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===== Making a gPXE-bootable CD/DVD using ISOLINUX =====
gPXE already offers an option to make a bootable iso image via make bin/gpxe.iso, but what if you also want to store files on the disc? Once you've written the <1MB image to the CD, you still have 701MB left, so you might as well put it to good use.

==== You will need ====
SYSLINUX - This is probably available with your distribution. If not, you can get a copy from http://syslinux.zytor.com/

genisoimage or mkisofs - Again, probably included with your distribution. If not, it's available as part of cdrkit: http://www.cdrkit.org/


==== Preparing the Files ====
First, you need to put all the files you want to burn to the CD into a folder. You can make it wherever you like, but for this howto, I'll assume that its in ~/filesToBurn

Next, you need an isolinux.cfg file in the root of the folder. Here's a command to write a simple configuration; consult the SYSLINUX website if you want something more complex:
<code>cat > ~/filesToBurn/isolinux.cfg << EOF
default gpxe
label gpxe
kernel /gpxe.lkr</code>
The reason for the truncated filename will be explained later.

Next, you need to find the isolinux.bin file. Mine was /usr/share/syslinux/isolinux.bin but you can find yours using:
<code>locate isolinux.bin</code>
Once you've found it, copy it to your directory of files to write:
<code>cp /usr/share/syslinux/isolinux.bin ~/filesToBurn/</code> 

==== Creating and installing the gPXE image ====
Enter the source directory (gpxe-*/src) and compile the lkrn image:
<code>make bin/gpxe.lkrn</code>
Copy the image to the directory of files to burn, renaming it to gpxe.lkr:
<code>cp bin/gpxe.lkrn ~/filesToBurn/gpxe.lkr</code>
This is because ISOLINUX only supports [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.3_filename|8.3 filenames]], so gpxe.lkrn would be invalid.
Other files on the CD can still have long file names though.

==== Generating the image ====
Once you're happy that everything's in the right place, generate the .iso image like so:
<code>genisoimage -o gPXEimage.iso -b isolinux.bin -no-emul-boot \
-boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -J ~/filesToBurn/</code>
If that doesn't work, try substituting genisoimage for mkisofs

You should now have an iso image gPXEimage.iso in the current directory, which you can write to a disk using your favourite CD-burning software. You should then be able to both boot gPXE and read files from the CD.

Trace: • debian_and_ubuntu • usermode_howto • qemupxe • derekpryor-proposal • mdeck • stefanha • winbootibft • usermode_ideas • biosmodule • oremanj • vmware • commandline • debian_lenny_iscsi • elf-ebi-initramfs-lnxi-howto • notes • willem • gentoo_iscsi • iscsi_create_via_linux • win2k8_iscsi_install • 2008