Overview - D-Link DGE-560SX User Manual

3.2.1 Overview

D-Link NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet adapters support Preboot Execution Environment (PXE),
Remote Program Load (RPL), and Bootstrap Protocol (BootP). Multi-Boot Agent (MBA) is a
software module that allows your networked system to boot with the images provided by
remote systems across the network. The Broadcom MBA driver complies with the PXE 2.1
specification and is released with both monolithic and split binary images. This provides
flexibility to users in different environments where the motherboard may or may not have
built-in base code.
The MBA module operates in a client/system environment. A network consists of one or more
boot systems that provide boot images to multiple systems through the network. The
Broadcom implementation of the MBA module has been tested successfully in the following
environments:
 ®
Linux Red Hat
use network resources (NFS mount, and so forth) and to perform Linux installations.
In the case of a remote boot, the Linux universal driver binds seamlessly with the
Broadcom Universal Network Driver Interface (UNDI) and provides a network
interface in the Linux remotely-booted client environment.
 ®
Intel APITEST. The Broadcom PXE driver passes all API compliance test suites.

MS-DOS UNDI. The MS-DOS Universal Network Driver Interface (UNDI) seamlessly
binds with the Broadcom UNDI to provide a network device driver interface
specification (NDIS2) interface to the upper layer protocol stack. This allows systems
to connect to network resources in an MS-DOS environment.

Remote Installation Service (RIS). The Broadcom PXE clients are able to
remotely boot to a Windows 2000 Server or a Windows Server 2003 (SP1 and older)
system running RIS to initialize and install Windows Server 2003 and prior operating
systems.

Windows Deployment Service (WDS). For Windows Server 2003 SP2, RIS was
replaced by WDS, which offers a Broadcom PXE client to install Windows operating
systems, including Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Automated Deployment Service (ADS). The Broadcom PXE client can connect to
a Windows Server 2003 system and run a deployment agent that allows one to
perform some administrative functions, including, but not limited to, deploying a
Windows Server 2003 image.
®
PXE Server. Broadcom PXE clients are able to remotely boot and
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D-Link DGE-560SX User Guide