PXE Server Preparations

1. Provide the image from BFB file. Run:

   # mlx-mkbfb -x <BFB>

   For example: 

   # mlx-mkbfb -x DOCA_v1.1_BlueField_OS_Ubuntu_20.04-5.4.0-1017.17.gf565efa-bluefield-5.4-2.4.1.3-3.7.1.11866-1-aarch64.bfb

   mlx-mkbfb is a Python script that can be found in BlueField release tarball under the /bin directory or in the BlueField Arm file system /usr/bin/mlx-mkbfb.

2. Copy the 2 dumped files, dump-image-v0 and dump-initramfs-v0 into the PXE server tftp path.

3. In the PXE server create a boot entry. For example: 

   /var/lib/tftpboot/grub.cfg
   
   set default=0
   set timeout=5
   menuentry 'Bluefield_Ubuntu_20_04_From_BFB' --class red --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
      linux (tftp)/ubuntu2/dump-image-v0 ro ip=dhcp console=hvc0 console=ttyAMA0
      initrd (tftp)/ubuntu2/dump-initramfs-v0
   }

4. Define DHCP. 

   /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
    
   allow booting;
   allow bootp;
    
   subnet 192.168.100.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
     range 192.168.100.10 192.168.100.20;
     option broadcast-address 192.168.100.255;
     option routers 192.168.100.1;
     option domain-name-servers <ip-address-list>
     option domain-search <domain-name-list>;
     next-server 192.168.100.1;
     filename "/BOOTAA64.EFI";
   }
    
   # Specify the IP address for this client.
   host tmfifo_pxe_client {
     hardware ethernet 00:1a:ca:ff:ff:01;
     fixed-address 192.168.100.2;
   }
   subnet 20.7.0.0 netmask 255.255.0.0 {
     range 20.7.8.10 20.7.254.254;
     next-server 20.7.6.6;
     filename "/BOOTAA64.EFI";
   }

   

PXE Sequence

1. Connect to the BlueField console via UART or RShim console.
2. Reboot Arm.
3. Interrupt the boot process into UEFI menu.
4. Access the Boot Manager menu.
5. Select the relevant port to PXE from.