====== iPXE ======

{{ :screenshots:menu_graphic.png?400x300|Screenshot}}

iPXE is the leading open source network boot firmware.  It provides a full PXE implementation enhanced with additional features such as:

  * boot from a web server via HTTP

  * boot from an iSCSI SAN

  * boot from a Fibre Channel SAN via FCoE

  * boot from an AoE SAN

  * boot from a wireless network

  * boot from a wide-area network

  * boot from an Infiniband network

  * control the boot process with a [[:scripting|script]]

You can use iPXE to [[:howto:romburning|replace the existing PXE ROM on your network card]], or you can [[:howto:chainloading|chainload into iPXE]] to obtain the features of iPXE without the hassle of reflashing.

iPXE is free, open-source software [[:licensing|licensed]] under the GNU GPL (with some portions under GPL-compatible licences), and is included in products from several network card manufacturers and OEMs.

{{ :clipart:bootroms.jpeg?350x190 |Some PXE ROMs}}

====== Quick start ======

The easiest way to start experimenting with iPXE is to use the [[http://boot.ipxe.org/ipxe.iso|bootable ISO image]].  Burn the ISO image to a CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM) and boot from it.  You should soon see a welcome banner such as:

    iPXE -- Open Source Network Boot Firmware -- http://ipxe.org
    Features: HTTP iSCSI DNS TFTP AoE FCoE TFTP COMBOOT ELF PXE PXEXT
    
    Press Ctrl-B for the iPXE command line...

{{ :clipart:cdrom.jpeg?200x200|A CD-ROM}}

Press ''Ctrl-B'' at this point, and you should reach the iPXE [[:cmdline|command line]]:

    iPXE>

You can list the network devices that iPXE has detected using the ''[[:cmd:ifstat]]'' command:

    iPXE> ifstat
    net0: 52:54:00:12:34:56 using rtl8139 on PCI00:03.0 (Ethernet) [closed]
      [Link:up, TX:0 TXE:0 RX:0 RXE:0]

and acquire an IP address using the ''[[:cmd:dhcp]]'' command:

    iPXE> dhcp
    DHCP (net0 52:54:00:12:34:56).... ok

You can examine the IP configuration and other DHCP options:

    iPXE> route
    net0: 10.0.0.155/255.255.255.0 gw 10.0.0.1
    iPXE> show dns
    net0.dhcp/dns:ipv4 = 10.0.0.6

You can boot something over the network.  Unlike a traditional PXE ROM, iPXE is able to boot over a wide area network such as the Internet.  If the machine you are testing is connected to the Internet, you can boot the iPXE [[http://boot.ipxe.org/demo/boot.php|demonstration script]]:

    iPXE> chain http://boot.ipxe.org/demo/boot.php

{{ :screenshots:ipxedemo.png?360x200 |iPXE demonstration image}}