Cisco switch configuration for Netboot

Question

Level 1

9 points

Cisco switch configuration for Netboot

I remember reading something a while back about having to "enable" or "disable" something on the ports of a Cisco switch in order for Netboot to work. The clients could not establish an IP address quickly enough or something like that...

does anyone know about this?

thanks.

---
eric

Posted on Aug 16, 2005 1:04 PM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Aug 17, 2005 4:54 PM in response to Eric Tsai

Here's what an Apple engineer told me:

PortFast on, Speed and Duplex Auto, Trunking off, PaGP off

I haven't tested it on our Cisco switches so I can't say he's correct. Hope it helps, though. Please let me know if it does or doesn't, as we have a similar issue with NetBoot through our Ciscos.

Cheers.

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Answer 2

Eric Tsai Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 24, 2005 8:29 PM in response to varjak paw

I think that was it. enabling portfast it worked for cisco 2900 series switches we had configured 2 years ago running netboot/netinstall with a G5 10.3 server and panther clients. but the school installed new switches and since then the netboots/netinstalls have not been working. i assume once we get portfast enabled again things will go smoothly...

thanks.

---
eric

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Aug 25, 2005 11:15 AM in response to Eric Tsai

If you would, please post back and let me know for sure once you try it. That way I'll have solid information when I go to our own network admins.

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Aug 26, 2005 1:28 PM in response to varjak paw

Yes, please post back as I am interested in the results as well.

Thanks,
Mark

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Answer 5

C.Moser

Level 2

244 points

Oct 26, 2005 9:34 AM in response to Mark Helman

Please tell me the result... i'm having speed problems!
Xserve is connected to Switch 3950 GB and then through 2950 with GB. The clients have 100Mbp ports.
When i try to start netinstall the average speed on the server is around 5MB/s or less... it takes ages to clone a mac (the image is around 16GB).
If i try directly on a GB port it takes around 40min and the average speed on the server is around 12Mb sec....

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