Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Extensions => TCE Talk => Topic started by: Logist on March 01, 2013, 07:58:14 AM

Title: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 01, 2013, 07:58:14 AM
Some of you know it: repurpose.vmwarecloud.at

some of us would like to PXE boot it!

This thread i will update with the solution once we figure it out. Now is there anyone out there that has this working in a sense: You go to the web page, you get the iso you just generated, you PXE boot it!

how?

i buy beers all night for the one who figures this or has this figured out :)

let me just say that it seems loading the extensions via ftp, nfs, initfr, anyway i can think of does not work. and of course during boot the CDE folder on the iso does not get read if you staight up boot it via grldr loader using this:

title vmview to 0xFF
pxe keep
map --mem (pd)/iso/8371bbd9c33f3dfbac2d1e7d305ac1c1.iso (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
chainloader (0xff)


now im not an expert so i may be missing something.. so please help :)


cheers!
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Rich on March 01, 2013, 10:19:23 AM
Hi Logist
Have you read the Wiki on netbooting?
http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:netbooting
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: sebus on March 02, 2013, 03:07:25 AM
Do not force iso boot (as it might not work)
Use a normal way (not any slower):

   LABEL TinyCore
        MENU LABEL TinyCore
   kernel tinycore/vmlinuz
   append initrd=tinycore/core.gz cde vga=791 nozswap

edit:
For the ones that need to have everything spelled out: with help of ezremaster
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 02, 2013, 03:29:54 AM
Do not force iso boot (as it might not work)
Use a normal way (not any slower):

   LABEL TinyCore
        MENU LABEL TinyCore
   kernel tinycore/vmlinuz
   append initrd=tinycore/core.gz cde vga=791 nozswap

I doubt cde would load like that over pxe - unless perhaps if the necessary files would be packed into an additional initrd which would be appended to core.gz.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: ixbrian on March 02, 2013, 09:51:24 AM
If you are trying to include extensions directly in the initrd you might want to try out ezremaster.  It supports either adding extensions in to the initrd or even extracting them in to the initrd.   It was designed to make a remastered ISO image but if you are netbooting or something you can just pull the initrd out of the created ISO image and then use this initrd for netbooting. 
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: sebus on March 03, 2013, 03:53:58 AM
Ofcourse it works as am I doing it this way (yes, with help of ezremaster)
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 03, 2013, 01:36:38 PM
I have a rough draft of how to make your own .tcz up in the wiki.  I prefer the dynamic remaster over standard remaster and have an example of what to assemble specifically for VMware View.

*PLEASE* bear in mind that the licensing of VMware View client for Linux does NOT appear to allow redistribution and therefore that builder should be in violation.

EDIT: Except he's probably under special license as he's an employee and this is likely a part of a tasked project.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 03, 2013, 02:59:46 PM
Ofcourse it works as am I doing it this way (yes, with help of ezremaster)
If your core.gz is the result of static remastering adding whatever is required, then yes, of course it should work, only that you omitted mentioning so.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 04, 2013, 03:53:27 AM
Hrm ok i am playing with this now. It still wont load the cde folder. Funny it works if I PXE boot and have the CD also in the drive then it loads the cde. *this i found out by accident of course at first i thought yay its working! then i saw the CD in the drive i was like oh F***.. *
but cant seem to get it to load all from PXE.

so in order to see the cde folder i need to use ezremaster to pack it into inside initrd? Hrm how, if i boot up this generated image, it throws me straight into view client and ok i can access appbrowser. but when i run it doesent load the list of all the apps that are there, so that i could make another iso, this time with the cde folder included in the core.gz i take it?

i did make myown.gz and append it to core.gz during boot but i did it without ezremaster and in cmdline. put in the path to where should it extract as per wiki instructions the extensions but still no go.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 04, 2013, 04:04:55 AM
Funny it works if I PXE boot and have the CD also in the drive then it loads the cde.
not unexpected ;)
Quote
i did make myown.gz and append it to core.gz during boot but i did it without ezremaster and in cmdline. put in the path to where should it extract as per wiki instructions the extensions but still no go.
After booting like that, can you locate the extensions?
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 04, 2013, 05:09:17 AM
I tried the way on wiki first: the putting it all toghether part
using tmp/opt/tce path and putting the cde folder that comes with the generated iso there.

the extensions were there, they copied to the location specified but did not load.

then this : http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,14421.0.html

so instead ob above path, supposedly use /tmp/builtin/optional

now the extensions again did copy AND it seems some of them but not all installed since this time I can see them in the /usr/local/tce.installed as well. Only its not booting to the ui and the vmware client like it does otherwise. still stops at prompt. so something is worng when installing from /tmp/builtin/optional . because i get some errors even if i go to the folder and run tce-load *.tcz ,

which may be the wrong way but i figured id try it like that and it still stays in the prompt. and manually running startx just stays at prompt.

it really i mean.. damn its frustrating :) maybe theres some windows thing something i could pxe boot instead ? :DD but i do wanna make this work with this client specialy since update is coming supposedly which will include new client i hope.

Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 04, 2013, 05:16:32 AM
because i get some errors even if i go to the folder and run tce-load *.tcz ,
Code: [Select]
tce-load -i *.tcz
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 04, 2013, 05:19:22 AM
sorry i did  use tce-load -i *.tcz

without the [ thou ill try that
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 04, 2013, 05:25:10 AM
Oops...   :o
No, that was a typo!   :P
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 04, 2013, 06:07:32 AM
Wonder if repurpose got a takedown request as I haven't been able to peek at it all weekend.

EDIT: more likely server failure and likely a tasked project.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 04, 2013, 08:01:35 AM
Figured it was a typo but, i learned when getting help from someone who knows more than you do its never good idea to be a smart a** :)

anyhow.. damn i just noticed as well the site is down.. maybe there will be an update , maybe its all over :/

Surely someone out there has a PXE bootable vmware view client set up? anyway any os i guess it doesent matter. I want students to power on the computer then everything else happens over pxe  :)
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on March 04, 2013, 11:55:39 AM
Wonder if repurpose got a takedown request as I haven't been able to peek at it all weekend.
Due to this thread I had tried to check that site and it was down a couple of days ago.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 04, 2013, 04:02:11 PM
Surely someone out there has a PXE bootable vmware view client set up? anyway any os i guess it doesent matter. I want students to power on the computer then everything else happens over pxe  :)

In the works but I will not post the client itself.  So far, my system works pretty well but just need to make it easier for others to use.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: sebus on March 05, 2013, 05:03:02 PM
You can get 1.5 client itself here (http://blog.mbentley.net/2012/06/vmware-view-client-1-5-0-for-ubuntu-and-debian-i386amd64/) or 1.7 here (http://www.ubuntuupdates.org/package/canonical_partner/lucid/partner/base/vmware-view-client)
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: Logist on March 06, 2013, 07:59:04 AM
yeah it is no problem for me to get the client separate, as long as the rest is.. at least step by step instructions of some sort or how to 
thanks.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 06, 2013, 08:07:58 PM
... at least step by step instructions of some sort or how to 
In the works.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 10, 2013, 02:37:25 PM
btw, Fabian did make one post a while ago: http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,13485.msg74916.html#msg74916

I totally forgot he had actually posted about it and there's another post on a blog somewhere where he made the announcement about http://repurpose.vmwarecloud.at/
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on March 30, 2013, 12:02:36 PM
Looks like Fabian got the site back up.

Pending submission approval, I've created an extension that will make a VMware View Client extension (with the caveat that the generated extension is not licensed for distribution).

Also, check out http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:VMware_View (http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:VMware_View) and http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:dynamic_multimaster (http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:dynamic_multimaster)

PM if you'd like a link to my extension before it's posted.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: ctuagent on April 03, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
I have been able to get mine to boot using:
initrd=tinyurl/core.gz tftplist=myserver:/cde/onboot.lst
But it doesn't load the vmware view client it only loads my logo. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on April 03, 2013, 09:31:18 PM
I have been able to get mine to boot using:
initrd=tinyurl/core.gz tftplist=myserver:/cde/onboot.lst
But it doesn't load the vmware view client it only loads my logo. Any thoughts?
Which core.gz?  Original or a remaster?  What's the contents of onboot.lst?  Should tftp://myserver/cde/ contain all the relevant extensions to solve dependencies?

Note that if you made an ISO with the site then extract core.gz from the ISO, it is not the original but likely includes the logo since the site added it to core.gz.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: ctuagent on April 04, 2013, 09:48:33 AM
Its the core.gz from the iso created by the website.
The contents of the onboot.lst is as follows
Xlibs.tcz
Xprogs.tcz
Xvesa.tcz
fltk-1.10.tcz
wbar.tcz
flwm_topside.tcz
Xlibs.tcz
Xprogs.tcz
Xvesa.tcz
fltk-1.10.tcz
wbar.tcz
kmaps.tcz
openbox.tcz
vmware-view-client-1.5.0-kiosk.tcz
vmware-view-client-1.5.0-kiosk.tcz.list
rdesktop.tcz
libnotify.tcz
zenity.tcz
hicolor-icon-theme.tcz
bash.tcz

Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: ctuagent on April 04, 2013, 03:57:30 PM
I am trying a different way

My setup uses a Windows server and WDS that has been modified using syslinux files. Reference: http://www.deployvista.com/Home/tabid/36/EntryID/126/language/sv-SE/Default.aspx

I also added memdisk from the syslinux download to my boot folder

I then modified the default boot entry to be:
LABEL TinyCore
 
MENU Default
 
KERNEL tinycore/memdisk
 
initrd tinycore/tinycoreviewv3.iso.gz

append iso

The iso is straight from the website and has been gzip ed.
It gets to where it needs to load extensions, it spins then goes to a command prompt.
Any thoughts
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on April 04, 2013, 04:28:21 PM
http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php/MEMDISK#Linux
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: ctuagent on April 05, 2013, 02:43:40 PM
I am a novice @ linux, can you further clarify what I should do tinypoodle?
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: tinypoodle on April 05, 2013, 04:29:04 PM
I think this whole thread has quite a lot of hints and pointers from the start.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on April 05, 2013, 08:15:20 PM
I think this whole thread has quite a lot of hints and pointers from the start.

Agreed.  I generally prefer to load everything in the initrd payload(s) as it allows universal portability (PXE, ISO or HDD/USB load).

ctuagent, going back to my original response, if tftp://myserver/cde/optional/ contains the .tcz files you listed that were in your onboot.lst, it should just work.  The leading issue I've seen is a lack of read permission for other (versus user and group).
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: kingmoocow on October 09, 2013, 11:46:04 AM
Reviving this in hopes that someone can point me to some step by step instructions for converting the repurpose site's Vmware View image into a PXE bootable package; or just tell me what I'm doing wrong with my current gz...

I know someone mentioned ezrepackage, but I'm not sure how to get out of the View client to get back to the app loader; so - in search for another option, I tried what this guy says: http://sirlagz.net/2011/05/17/how-to-remaster-tiny-core-linux/

I basically mounted my repurpose ISO, copied the files out, unsquashed the files from /cde/options, unpacked core.gz, moved the contents of squash-root into the unpacked core.gz, and then repacked it as a single tc.gz.

Then, loaded it onto my pxe server:
LABEL linux
        MENU LABEL VDI Test ReBuild
        kernel repack/bzImage
        append initrd=repack/tc.gz

So - it boots, but comes to a tc@box:~$ prompt, and stops.  I can't figure out how to get it to boot to the GUI/autolaunch the VView client.
Thanks!
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: kingmoocow on October 10, 2013, 01:10:36 PM
Also tried this - it seemed like a logical way for it to work since it didn't involve breaking the original ISO down, so it should just work...
LABEL linux
        MENU LABEL VDI Test ISO
        kernel memdisk
        append iso
#       initrd iso/tinycore-current.iso
        initrd netboot/tc-custom.iso

loading tinycore-current.iso works perfectly, but loading the image I got from Repurpose boots up right to tc@box:~$ again.

If I boot straight off the native (custom) ISO though, it boots right to Vmware View.  So - the image should be good.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: genec on October 12, 2013, 11:23:31 AM
http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php/MEMDISK#INT_13h_access:_Not_all_images_will_complete_the_boot_process.21

http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:dynamic_multimaster#vmware_view_client
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: kingmoocow on October 14, 2013, 08:15:19 AM
Thanks, I'll dig in more to the multimastering.
Title: Re: TinyCore Builder for VMware View - PXE boot ?
Post by: steveumbal on November 22, 2013, 05:57:40 PM
Finally I got a working PXE image ... well I prepared it a month ago but wasn't unable to connect to the Virtual Desktops ... untill I realized that I need to add the "nameserver" in the dhcp options.
I built the TC pxe boot image from other pxe systems I use in my lan adding the tc files from the iso created with the "repurpose.vmwarecloud.at" service.
To make it work I made this folder structure:

the tftp folder "tinyvw" with inside

- [boot] with pxelinux.cfg and core.gz and the other file needed
- [tmp] with all tc file inside another folder [tce]
- tcz.lst  (the full path file list to load - e.g.: tinyvw/tmp/tce/Xlibs.tcz)

All works well but unfortunately lacks the usb redirection (to be the perfect View solution).