Add Boot Images to Syslinux on WDS

There are really only two steps to adding MOST of your own custom boot images to the Syslinux network boot menu.

1. Put the ISO, IMG, or IMA file in the <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86 (and also the x64) directories.
2. Modify the DEFAULT file (no extension) located in <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86\pxelinux.cfg directory (and do the same in x64) to include the menu entries for your boot images.

Note:  Yes, ‘pxelinux.cfg‘ referred to above is a directory name (yes, it has an extension) but it is not a file!

Note:  Entries you add to the DEFAULT file in the <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86\pxelinux.cfg (and the x64) directories will appear in the final boot menu sequentially ordered as they appear in this file.

Example to add an ISO file:

Open the DEFAULT file in notepad and add the following 4 lines:

<

p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>LABEL YOURLABELNAME
MENU LABEL YOURLABELNAME
Kernel memdisk
append iso raw initrd=YOURFILENAME.iso

Of course, replace YOURLABELNAME with whatever you want to call it, and YOURFILENAME is obviously the filename of the ISO you are using.  Note:  these parameters may be case sensitive!

Example to add an IMG or IMA file:

(This is exactly the same except you aren’t adding “iso” to the append statement)

Open the DEFAULT file in notepad and add the following 4 lines:

<

p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>LABEL YOURLABELNAME
MENU LABEL YOURLABELNAME
Kernel memdisk
append raw initrd=YOURFILENAME.iso

Again, replace YOURLABELNAME with whatever you want to call it, and YOURFILENAME is obviously the filename of the ISO you are using.  Note:  these parameters may be case sensitive!

Example to add Memtest86+

1. Start by downloading the latest Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. You want the pre-compiled bootable ISO file.  At the time of this writing, it is at v4.20, and that will of course change over time and along with it, the file name used in these examples.
2. Extract the ISO file (currently mt420.iso) and put it in your <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86 (and x64) directories.
3. Edit the DEFAULT file in <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86\pxelinux.cfg and add these lines to the bottom of the file (or wherever you wish within the file, as entries in this file will appear in the final boot menu sequentially ordered as they are in this file.)

<

p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>LABEL MEMTEST
MENU LABEL ^MEMTEST
Kernel memdisk
append iso raw initrd=mt420.iso

External sources

You may also find some info on making more ISOs work with memdisk at the following site:  PXE Boot Almost Any ISO Image (oitibs.com)

That’s it!

Repeat the process for your favorite utilities, but understand that as mentioned in the note below, you may need to do some very different procedures if your mounted ISO/IMG/IMA isn’t working as expected…

Note:  You can also add other Linux based ‘Live’ images or even full distributions via the <server>\REMINST\Boot\x86\Linux directory, but I won’t cover that here.  They can be added in different formats as well (e.g. not ISO/etc.) and sometimes you’ll want to, as it may not work exactly as intended if you set it up merely as a mounted ISO.  Many utilities based on Linux also have very different and specific integration methods.  For example, GParted and Clonezilla have their own methods of integrating into this system.

Network Boot Guide

• Install WDS (Windows Deployment Services)
  • Add Vista/7 Images to WDS
  • Add Drivers to boot.wim (for Vista/7 Images)
  • Add Drivers to XP Images (with Sysprep.inf)
  • Add XP or Modified Vista/7 Images to WDS
• Install Syslinux
  • Add Boot Images to Syslinux on WDS    <- You are here!
• Troubleshooting Issues

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