Boot From iSCSI Storage Using Existing Ethernet Adapters

netBoot/i provides the ability to boot Windows and Linux Servers and Desktops from iSCSI storage.

With netBoot/i, lower cost blade / diskless servers and desktops are now supported in iSCSI environments. Using standard Ethernet adapters, netBoot/i offers an iSCSI boot solution without requiring specific iSCSI HBA hardware.

Servers and desktops can now leverage the benefits of iSCSI disaster recovery. Diskless operation of servers, virtual machines and desktops allows network management tasks to be consolidated and streamlined while data security is significantly improved. netBoot/i enables rapid bare metal deployment, increases utilization of storage resources and virtualizes operating system data storage.

netBoot/i includes a Windows software initiator and all the necessary administration tools to set up a network boot environment over iSCSI.



Key Benefits

  • Leverages iSCSI disaster recovery capabilities
  • Fast server provisioning
  • Supports lower cost blade / diskless servers and desktops
    • Uses standard Ethernet NICs - no requirement for iSCSI HBA
  • Increases utilization of storage resources
  • Enables rapid bare metal deployment
  • Reduced power consumption and cooler operation



How Does netBoot/i Work?

  • Any machine that requires network boot operation requests a small bootstrap from a netBoot/i Server
  • The netBoot/i server assigns a pre-defined iSCSI target to the requesting machine
  • Depending on the configuration, the requesting machine can either boot from iSCSI or copy a boot volume, located on iSCSI storage, to the local hard disk.

For a detailed overview please read the following technical brief: How Does netBoot/i Work?



Features

  • Enables boot from iSCSI of Windows Server 2008, 2003 and Vista SP1, Windows XP Pro, Windows Server 2000, 2000 Professional, SLES and RHEL
  • Tools to ease integration into Active Directory for Windows boot from SAN images
  • Works with Microsoft’s Sysprep utility to assist in duplication of prepared master images
    • Sysprepped images can be booted from iSCSI storage
  • Boot virtual machines from iSCSI
  • Can use included SystemCopy or 3rd-party tools to copy disk partition to iSCSI LUN
  • WinPE-based utilities provide:
    • Client Deployment Tool – allows iSCSI Target connectivity and off-line file access to local system via bootable CD-ROM or PXE boot image
    • winMigr8 migration tool – allows quick, hardware-independent (2008, Vista SP1) migration of existing boot-from-SAN to new hardware or virtual machines
  • Client and iSCSI target configurations in netBoot/i Manager can be cloned for rapid setup of similar iSCSI boot clients
  • Write filter option for shareable, read-only images. (Requires Microsoft Volume License key)
  • Supports CHAP authentication
  • Supports target redirection
  • Conforms to the latest iSCSI draft
  • All server side services included:
    • netBoot/i service provides for configuration / assignment of iSCSI target to client
    • Network boot services: PXE, TFTP


Supported Platforms

netBoot/i Service / Daemon:

  • Windows Server 2000/2003/2008
  • Windows 2000 Pro
  • Windows XP Pro / Vista
  • Suse Linux Enterprise Server
  • OpenSUSE
  • Redhat Enterprise Linux

Clients (PXE-compliant Network Adapter required):

  • Windows Server 2003/2008 (32-bit / x64)
  • Windows XP Pro / Vista Enterprise SP1 (32-bit / x64)
  • Windows 2000 Server
  • Windows 2000 Pro
  • Suse Linux Enterprise Server / OpenSUSE
  • Redhat Enterprise Linux


Solutions
netBoot/i or winBoot/i? Which one do you need?

Support for XP Embedded

Overview
Links

FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions about netBoot/i
Supported iSCSI Targets
Tech Papers

iSCSI boot Knowledge Base
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Related Products
winBoot/i iSCSI boot - supports Windows Server 2003 and 2008 using the Microsoft iSCSI initiator.