PXE boot only works on one computer at a time

[kevindv10]

Hello.

 

I'm getting further with my testing of SCCM 2007 R2 for OSD but have hit a road block. When I have more than one client PC powering up (using unknown computer support), the first computer will recieve an IP address via PXE boot. Any computers powering after the first don't receive an IP address and therefore abort the PXE boot imaging process. Can someone direct me as to how to get around this?

 

The DHCP server is on a different computer running W2003 server as a DC.

 

Thanks.

Edited August 11, 2010 by kevindv10

[wmmayms]

Hello.

 

I'm getting further with my testing of SCCM 2007 R2 for OSD but have hit a road block. When I have more than one client PC powering up (using unknown computer support), the first computer will recieve an IP address via PXE boot. Any computers powering after the first don't receive an IP address and therefore abort the PXE boot imaging process. Can someone direct me as to how to get around this?

 

The DHCP server is on a different computer running W2003 server as a DC.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Hi Kevin

 

They way you describe it makes me think you need to lookover your network infrastructure.

Sound like you have setup a normal port on one of the switches instead of a trunk port..

Also of course make sure that you have enough adresses in your DHCP scoope.

 

Can you describe more in deepth how your network is setup?

 

 

//marcus

[kevindv10]

Hi Kevin

 

They way you describe it makes me think you need to lookover your network infrastructure.

Sound like you have setup a normal port on one of the switches instead of a trunk port..

Also of course make sure that you have enough adresses in your DHCP scoope.

 

Can you describe more in deepth how your network is setup?

 

 

//marcus

 

Hello Marcus,

 

Thanks for the reply. You're correct in that the computers are simply plugged into an existing downstream switch. Nothing special about the ports at all. Are there specific requirements for switches in order to permit multiple PXE boots? I've never played with this before. The DHCP scope has sufficient addresses for these machines.

 

Many thanks.

Kevin

[wmmayms]

If your network looks something like this:

 

Then you need to setup a trunk line between your switches.

You can see it as a way of extending the number of ports on switch1.

 

 

Normally a port can only handle only 1 mac adress. If you connect a switch in a normal port that wont work very well since it is only able to handle 1 mac adress and you might connect alot of computers to your "extra" switch...

 

Hope I made i clearer

 

//Marcus

[kevindv10]

If your network looks something like this:

 

Then you need to setup a trunk line between your switches.

You can see it as a way of extending the number of ports on switch1.

 

 

Normally a port can only handle only 1 mac adress. If you connect a switch in a normal port that wont work very well since it is only able to handle 1 mac adress and you might connect alot of computers to your "extra" switch...

 

Hope I made i clearer

 

//Marcus

 

That's very clear. Thanks. In my scenario however it wasn't the case. Its embarassing to admit, but I rebooted the SCCM server and all my clients began to pull images. If I've learned one thing during this excercise, its that if there is a seemingly inexplicable problem, reboot the server! That's saved me on a couple occassions.

 

Thanks for your efforts Marcus!