Dell PowerEdge 6650

Preboot eXecution Environment

The Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) is an industry standard client/server interface that allows networked computers that are not yet loaded with an operating system to be configured and booted remotely. A PXE capable NIC will have the following:

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which allows the client to receive an IP address to gain access to the network servers.
A set of application program interfaces (APIs) that are used by the client's Basic Input/Output Operating System (BIOS) or a downloaded Network Bootstrap Program (NBP) that automates the booting of the operating system and other configuration steps.
A standard method of initializing the PXE code in the PXE ROM chip.

The PXE process consists of the client notifying the server that it uses PXE. If the server uses PXE, it sends the client a list of boot servers that contain the operating systems available. The client finds the boot server it needs and receives the name of the file to download. The client then downloads the file using Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and executes it, which loads the operating system. If a client is equipped with PXE and the server is not, the server ignores the PXE code, preventing disruption in the DHCP and Bootstrap Protocol (BP) operations.

How to Enable PXE on Integrated NICs

IMPORTANT - More Information NOTE: On systems that support PXE on the integrated NIC, it is recommended that the integrated NIC be used for PXE, and not an add-in NIC.

IMPORTANT - More Information NOTE: The screen shots below are generic representations of a Dell PowerEdge system BIOS. The implementation on the PowerEdge 6650 is the same.

Enabling PXE on Integrated NICs

Step 1: Ensure the system is running the latest BIOS. The latest BIOS can be found at http://support.dell.com.

Step 2: Boot the system and enter the BIOS.

This is a picture of the PowerEdge BIOS

Step 3: Navigate to the Integrated Devices or Network Devices section of the BIOS. BIOS setup screens may vary in layout one to the other; consult your system documentation for where to find the PXE setup for the integrated NIC.

This is a picture of the PowerEdge BIOS

Step 4: The settings for the integrated NIC may vary slightly from system model to system model, but are usually something like, 'On with PXE' or 'On without PXE' and 'Off'. Set to 'Enabled with PXE'.

This is a picture of the PowerEdge BIOS

IMPORTANT - More Information NOTE: The NIC or UNDI does not need to be added to the Boot Entry List; this is done dynamically when the F12 key is pressed during boot.

Step 5: Connect the integrated NIC enabled for PXE. (There may be two integrated NICs in a system; choose one to enable and associate it by the MAC address displayed in BIOS Setup. The MAC address should be printed on a label by the connector, or inside the system on the connector.) Reboot the system.

Step 6: Press F12 when prompted during boot.

This is a picture of a PowerEdge POST screen with PXE enabled