The secret is BSDP
This is how Apple does it:
The Q&D version
The detailed version w/some 'be careful here' comments
but as I said I am not running a Stock Apple system so some tinkering will be needed
My Goal
First I want to get FreeNAS to duplicate a stock apple netboot / netInstall / NetRestore scheme... FreeNAS already has everything I need to replicate it EXCEPT BSDP: 'Boot Service Discovery Protocol'. BSDP is an Apple specific protocol and is included in Apples implementation of EFI
Even though Apple methodology is completely specific to Apple products
It implemented using completely standard transport protocols
Since all this has been done already before on Linux it not going to be a techno-bomb, a working scheme is known involves some specific tweaks to DHCP and DNS to emulate apples Boot Service Discovery Protocol or BSDP
Then go from there and adjust that scheme to account for the fact it forces net-booting onto a NON apple logic board that may or indeed may not have EFI / UEFI support...
I am convinced it can be done
Using S O M E variation and scripting of iPXE (
netboot.me or whatever.) and some tweaks to DHCP and DNS to emulate apples
Boot Service Discovery Protocol I don't think the stock apple network boot-loader will work but i could be wrong if the 'Hacked-BSDP service' is configed correctly or iPxe can use something else to do the same job... Apple does not Use PXE period... Apple scheme uses BSDP for Netboot services discovery and TFTP for moving the booter, kernal and .KEXT files and NFS for the rest of the bulk. iSCSI is not employed either (well not for netbooting machines at any rate, but maybe it could...???!!!)
How far have I gotten
at this point a friend let me borrow is newly created FreeNAS box since he was out of town for 3 days and he had nothing on it....yet and we tinkered for a few days (Unsuccessfully) but what we DID determine is that we need: a) someone who really knows what iPXE will and will not do (hint hint) and b) someone who knows The down and dirty on apples netboot bootloader (working on that)
Why..?
Before you ask... "Why do this" when there are cheep XServe boxes all over Ebay. The whole idea has NOTHING to do with the fact I am running a Hackintosh rather than a real Mac (for a reasons having to do with the brute horsepower I need and Apple doesn't build the kind of box I need), and then specifically doing it from FreeNAS for a reason that completely esoteric and completely specific to FreeNAS...
When / if successful & done document everything and bake up a unix package that can be installed on top of a fresh FreeNAS install.
FreeNAS is based on FreeBSD UNIX
Mac OS is based on FreeBSD Real TIme UNIX
SoooOOo
Are you in a position to maybe provide some assistance / guidance.
(since iPXE is at the core of Netboot.me)
DO you have an opinion about all this.... as relating to Netboot.me or do you think we are better off to delve further into the stock iPXE distro
Thanx in advance for any assistance, good advice, 'dutch uncle' experience, or good jokes 8-)