Allied Telesis AT-2973T/4, AT-2973SX manual Overview

Chapter 3: Installing Broadcom Boot Agent Driver Software

Overview

The AT-2973SX, AT-2973T, and AT-2973T/4 NetXtreme II Family adapters support Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). Multi-Boot Agent (MBA) is a software module that allows your network computer to boot with the images provided by remote servers across the network. The Broadcom MBA driver complies with PXE 2.1 code.

The MBA module operates in a client/server environment. A network consists of one or more boot servers that provide boot images to multiple computers through the network. The Broadcom implementation of the MBA module has been tested successfully in the following environments:

Linux Red Hat PXE Server. Broadcom PXE clients are able to remotely boot and use network resources (NFS mount, and so forth) as well as perform Linux installations. In the case of a remote boot, the Linux universal driver binds seamlessly with the Broadcom Universal Network Driver Interface (UNDI) and provides a network interface in the Linux remotely-booted client environment.

Intel APITEST. The Broadcom PXE driver passes all API compliance test suites.

MS-DOS UNDI. The MS-DOS Universal Network Driver Interface (UNDI) seamlessly binds with the Broadcom UNDI to provide a network adapter driver interface specification (NDIS2) interface to the upper layer protocol stack. This allows computers to connect to network resources in an MS-DOS environment.

Remote Installation Service (RIS). The Broadcom PXE clients are able to remotely boot to a Windows Server 2003 (SP1 and older) system running RIS to initialize and install Windows Server 2003 and prior operating systems. To extend functionalities beyond basic network connectivity when loading an operating system through RIS, see “Using the NetXtreme II Monolithic Driver” on page 48.

Windows Deployment Service (WDS). For Windows Server 2003 SP2, RIS was replaced by WDS, which offers a Broadcom PXE client to install Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. To extend functionalities beyond basic network connectivity when loading an operating system through WDS, see “Using the NetXtreme II Monolithic Driver” on page 48.

Automated Deployment Service (ADS). The Broadcom PXE client can connect to a Windows Server 2003 system and run a deployment agent that allows one to perform some administrative functions, including, but not limited to, deploying a Windows Server 2003 image. To extend functionalities beyond basic network connectivity when loading an operating system through ADS, see “Using the NetXtreme II Monolithic Driver” on page 48.

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