Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

This article is created to resolve problems encountered during iPXE boot installation/update in Windows Server 2012 Server environment. The instructions for building the Windows Server 2012 based iPXE environment can be found from this KB article.

It is important to be able to pin-point the iPXE process step where an issue occurs. Use the following list of iPXE boot loading steps to locate the exact step:

  1. PXE boot agent loads on client side
  2. PXE client checks network link
  3. PXE client reaches out to DHCP
  4. Server DHCP responds | Possible error: PXE-E51
  5. DHCP scope option 60 (PXEClient) is loaded | Possible error: PXE-53
  6. Client machine gets IP address
  7. Client machine reaches out to next-server / TFTP server address
  8. TFTP boot program is loaded (wdsnbp.com in WDS)
  9. TFTP boot program (wdsnbp.com) responds to client machine
  10. TFTP boot program detects client architecture (e.g. x64)
  11. TFTP boot program (wdsnbp.com) hands out
  12. the gpxelinux.0 boot loader file
  13. undionly.kpxe (or the configured PXE client program in the WDS settings)
  14. gpxelinux
  15. Undionly.
  16. 0
  17. kpxe loads on the client machine
  18. gpxelinux
  19. Undionly.
  20. 0
  21. kpxe / client checks DHCP scope option 66 (Boot server host name
  22. / IP
  23. ) and
  24. loads e.g. IP '10.10.1.1'gpxelinux.0
  25. tries to load '\Boot\x86\boot.ipxe'
  26. Undionly.kpxe / client checks DHCP scope option 67 (Bootfile name)
  27. and
  28. Undionly.kpxe / client loads '\Boot\x86\boot.ipxe'

  29. gpxelinux.0 / client loads the boot menu file called "default" in: \Boot\x86\pxelinux.cfg\default
  30. (as configured in opt 67)
  31. Boot.ipxe loads menu.ipxe file from the HTTP server (IIS) Virtual directory (at http://${server}/Images/menu.ipxe)
  32. HTTP server / IIS looks for the .ipxe MIME type and delivers the menu.ipxe to the client
  33. Blancco PXE boot menu is displayed on the client screen
  34. Boot menu option is selected from the boot menu
  35. by the user (or automatically after timeout)
  36. Boot menu / Client tries to load the selected ISO image from the HTTP server
  37. (IIS)
  38. at e.g: 'http://10.10.1.1/Images/Blancco_5.iso'
  39. HTTP server/ IIS recognizes the .iso MIME type and delivers the Image
  40. Boot menu / Client tries to chain load the memdisk.bin file from the
  41. \Boot\x86\
  42. Images-directory at e.g: 'memdisk.bin'
  43. HTTP server/IIS delivers the memdisk file and the ISO image downloading starts
  44. Blancco.ISO image
  45. completes downloading
  46. loads on the client and Blancco
  47. Drive Eraser
  48. starts booting

When you have a clear vision at which point the error message appears, use the following list of the most common error messages, causes and fixes, to resolve what's the most obvious fix for the problem. You may also contact our Technical Support team regarding the issue by submitting a Support ticket at:https://support.blancco.com 

Note! Remember to add a screenshot/photo picture of the error message from the client computer!

If you find any difficulties in "navigating" to the correct place in Windows Server environment please download the ZIP package below which contains example pictures:
https://download.blancco.com/general/manuals/pxe/ipxe_troubleshooting_pictures.zip


ERROR: 
PXE-E51: No DHCP or proxyDHCP offers were received
CAUSE/FIX: Client computer can't find a DHCP server
a) Check that the network cable is connected and that network connection exists between the client computer and the DHCP server.
b) Check that the DHCP service is running on the server.
c) Check that DHCP server is authorized in Active directory (if AD is used).
d) Check that the DHCP scope is active and running in the same network (same IP range) as the server (check the IP address).
e) Check that the server network card, that hosts the DHCP service, is active and connected to the client network.
f) Check that the DHCP scope is configured properly, including the IP range, DNS, Router and boot server host name.
g) Check that there are no other conflicts or issues between the scope and the server network card.
h) Check the server/Windows firewall settings and make sure UDP port for TFTP/PXE boot (i.e. ports 67 or 69) is allowed for PXE booting. Try disabling the firewall for troubleshooting purposes.
i) Check the server network card settings, including IP, subnet mask, gateway and DNS settings.
j) Reset server network card/IP settings and recreate the DHCP scope if nothing else works.

ERROR:
PXE-E53: No boot filename received
CAUSE/FIX: Server/scope option 60 (PXEClient) is missing in the DHCP settings or WDS -> DHCP -> "Configure DHCP options to indicate that this is also a PXE server" check box is not checked.

ERROR:
CLIENT IP: 10.10.1.2 MASK: 255.255.255.0 DHCP IP: 10.10.1.2
TFTP.
PXE-M0F: Exiting Boot Agent.
CAUSE/FIX: The Client/TFTP server can't find the default TFTP boot program (wdsnbp.com in WDS). Check that wdsnbp.com exists in \RemoteInstall\Boot\x86\ folder and that WDS is properly configured.

ERROR:
Downloaded WDSNBP from 10.10.1.1 WIN-123.test.local
TFTP download failed.
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
CAUSE/FIX: Check the WDS Server -> Boot -> PXE boot policy properties. Make sure "Always continue PXE boot" is selected.

ERROR:
Filename:
Loading DHCP.\Boot\x86\boot.ipxe

/\Boot\x86\boot.ipxe... (can't get IP and nothing happens)Error 0x3d126001 (http://ipxe.org/3d126001)
No more network devices
CAUSE/FIX:
Network connection down between server and client, no DHCP server, or invalid DHCP scopes. Check IP address, network adapter settings, DHCP settings, check that WDS is installed and reboot
ERROR:
Loading TFTP.... (Gets IP, but nothing happens)
CAUSE/FIX: Network connection down between server and client: Check IP address, network adapter settings and reboot
ERROR:
GATEWAY IP: Scope option 66 missing or is not correctly defined in the DHCP scope(s)


ERROR:
WDSNBP started using DHCP Referral.
Contacting Server: 10.10.1.1 (Gateway: 0.0.0.0).
Architecture: x64
Contacting Server: 10.10.1.1.
PXE-E32 TFTP open timeout
TFTP.._TFTP Download: Boot\x86\undionly.kpxe
CAUSE/FIX: Default boot program path is incorrect in WDS and/or server needs a reboot to apply changes. Check/fix the boot program path for WDS (Use CMD in 2008 R2) and reboot the server

ERROR:
TFTP.
PXE-T01: File Not found
PXE-E3B TFTP Error - File Not found
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM
FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.

CAUSE/FIX:
Scope 060 PXE Client configured incorrectly. Default boot program path is incorrect in WDS
ERROR:
TFTP Prefix: \Boot\x89\ (this tells the path is incorrect)
Unable to load configuration file
Boot failed: press a key to retry, or wait for reset
CAUSE/FIX:
Invalid path in DHCP scope 67. Correct path for scope 67 is \Boot\x86\
ERROR:
TFTP Prefix: \Boot\x86\ (correct path)
Unable to load configuration file
Boot failed: press a key to retry, or wait for reset
CAUSE/FIX: Missing default -file in pxelinux.cfg folder, invalid filename, or invalid contents inside the default file (for example empty file). Check that the default file does not have a file extension (for example .txt).
ERROR:
Could not find kernel image: vesamenu.32
CAUSE/FIX: vesamenu.32 file missing in \Boot\x86\ -folder
ERROR:
TFTP Download: Boot\x86\gpxelinux.0 (error may repeat)
CAUSE/FIX: gpxelinux.0 missing in Boot\x86\ folder. Check to see if it is present and that WDS is configured to use that directory.
ERROR:
TFTP Download: Boot\x86\bootprogram.wrong (this tells the path is incorrect)
CAUSE/FIX:
Invalid boot program path in WDS. Check/fix the boot program path for WDS (Use CMD in 2008 R2) and reboot the server if necessary. (Correct boot program path is Boot\x86\gpxelinux.0)
ERROR:
Nothing happens when image is selected from the menu
CAUSE/FIX: Memdisk file is missing in Boot\x86\folder
ERROR:
Unable to load the ISO image after selecting it from the boot menu
CAUSE/FIX:
Missing/invalid web.config, or missing .iso image MIME type in IIS
ERROR:
Loading memdisk...
Could not find ramdisk image:  

a) Scope option 67 (\Boot\x86\boot.ipxe) is missing in the iPXE Policy/Vendor class DHCP options.
a) undionly.kpxe file can't be found in the \Boot\x86\ -folder
c) Wdsutil bootprogram/N12bootprogram for x64 architecture is not set correctly.

ERROR:
http://10.10.1.1/Images/menu.ipxe... No such file or directory (http://ipxe.org/2d0c613b)
CAUSE/FIX: Path for the menu.ipxe file in boot.ipxe file is not set correctly.
a) Check that the menu.ipxe path is correct, e.g.: (http://${server}/Images/menu.ipxe).
b) /Images directory is not properly defined in the HTTP server as virtual directory (IIS: under the default website). Make sure that the /Images folder is added to the HTTP server (IIS: under default website).
c) MIME type for .ipxe missing in IIS under the /images virtual directory. Add .ipxe in IIS MIME types under the /Images virtual directory.

ERROR:
http://10.10.1.1/Images/menu.ipxe... input/output error (http://ipxe.org/1d0c6139)
CAUSE: HTTP Server (IIS) has a problem accessing the .ipxe file or files in general in the /Images folder.
FIX: Check the IIS virtual directory and the MIME type settings.
a) In IIS, click the MIME types under Default Website/images directory. If you get an error about the MIME types, try deleting the conflicting (.ipxe and .ipxe) MIME types under the server/default website MIME types. Double-click the MIME types again under the /images virtual directory to check that you don't get an error.
b) Another way to test if the problem is related to the virtual directory or the MIME types, is to try browsing the virtual directory from IIS by right-clicking the virtual directory -> Manage Virtual Directory -> Browse. Note that the virtual directory browsing must be enabled first in the IIS settings. If you get a MIME type related error, try removing the conflicting MIME types from the higher levels. 

ERROR:
http://10.10.1.2/Images/menu.ipxe...... Connection timed out (http://ipxe.org/4d0c6135)
CAUSE/FIX: Server address in the boot.ipxe file is not set correctly
a) Check and fix the server address in the boot.ipxe file

ERROR:
(after loading image from the boot menu):
http://10.10.1.1/Images/Blancco_5.iso... ok
Could not boot image: No such file or directory (http://ipxe.org/2d0c613b)
No more network devices
Press Ctrl-B for the iPXE command line...
(Reboots)
CAUSE/FIX: .iso MIME type missing in IIS

ERROR:
(after loading image from the boot menu):
http://10.10.1.1/Images/blanccoBlancco_image_filename5.iso
boot: _... ok

/memdisk.. No such file or directory (http://ipxe.org/2d0c613b)
Booting failed, dropping to shell
Type 'exit' to get back to the menu
iPXE>
CAUSE/FIX:
Image path or filename is wrong in /pxelinux.cfg/default Boot menu can't find/load the memdisk file. Check that the server IP address is correct and that the Blancco ISO image filename matches exactly with the ISO file in the \Images\ -folder.
Missing ISO image in /Images/ -folder
HTTP server (IIS) is not running
Images -folder is not added as virtual directory in IIS under the default website
IIS Pass-through authentication missing for the Virtual directory in 2008 Server
IUSR anonymous access or NTFS user rights missing for Images folder in 2003 Server.
ERROR:
TFTP Download: Boot\x86\wdsnbp.com
CAUSE/FIX: wdsnbp.com is defined as the default boot program, WDS installation is corrupted, bad wdsnbp.com file (32/64 bit?) or bad WDS settings. Check/fix boot program path first. If that doesn't fix the issue, uninstall WDS, backup Blancco images and delete all files in the RemoteInstall folder. Reinstall WDS and test PXE boot without Blancco. Then change default boot program path and apply the pxe boot files and images.the memdisk path/filename/extension in the menu.ipxe and in the /Images folder and rename if necessary. 
For example if memdisk.bin file exists in /Images -folder, try changing the line for the memdisk in the menu.ipxe file as: 
chain memdisk.bin iso raw || goto failed