How to Set Up PXE Discovery in DRP¶

This guide walks you through configuring Digital Rebar Platform (DRP) to automatically discover machines through PXE boot.

Prerequisites¶

DRP server installed and running
Administrative access to DRP (UI or CLI)
Machines connected to a network where DRP can serve DHCP

Configuring a Subnet for PXE Discovery¶

Option 1: Using the DRP UI¶

Navigate to the Networking section in the navigation bar
Select the Subnets option
Click the Create button
Complete the subnet form with your network details:
Name: Provide a descriptive name (e.g., "lab-network")
Subnet: Enter your subnet CIDR (e.g., "192.168.122.0/24")
ActiveStart/ActiveEnd: Define the DHCP range (e.g., "192.168.122.10" to "192.168.122.254")
Options: Add required DHCP options (router, DNS, etc.)
Click Save to create the subnet

Option 2: Using the DRP CLI¶

Create a JSON file with your subnet configuration:

cat > /tmp/example_subnet.json << 'EOF'
{
  "ActiveEnd": "192.168.122.254",
  "ActiveLeaseTime": 3600,
  "ActiveStart": "192.168.122.10",
  "Enabled": true,
  "Meta": {
    "icon": "cloud",
    "color": "black",
    "title": "User added"
  },
  "Name": "example-subnet",
  "OnlyReservations": false,
  "Options": [
    {
      "Code": 3,
      "Value": "192.168.122.1"
    },
    {
      "Code": 6,
      "Value": "192.168.122.143"
    },
    {
      "Code": 15,
      "Value": "test.example.com"
    }
  ],
  "Pickers": [
    "hint",
    "nextFree",
    "mostExpired"
  ],
  "Proxy": false,
  "ReservedLeaseTime": 21600,
  "Strategy": "MAC",
  "Subnet": "192.168.122.0/24",
  "Unmanaged": false
}
EOF

Create the subnet in DRP:

drpcli subnets create - < /tmp/example_subnet.json

Configuring Boot Preferences¶

Skip this step if you installed DRP with the --universal flag.

Set the necessary preferences to enable discovery:

drpcli prefs set unknownBootEnv discovery defaultBootEnv sledgehammer defaultStage discover

This command configures DRP to:

Boot unknown machines into the discovery environment
Use Sledgehammer as the default boot environment
Apply the "discover" stage to new machines

Testing Your Configuration¶

Connect a machine to the network where DRP is serving DHCP
Configure the machine to PXE boot (usually through BIOS/UEFI settings)
Start or restart the machine
Verify the machine appears in DRP:
Check the DRP UI under Machines
Or use CLI: drpcli machines list | jq

Troubleshooting¶

If machines aren't being discovered:

Verify network connectivity between DRP and target machines
Check that the subnet configuration matches your network
Ensure the machine is set to PXE boot by examining the server's configuration and console
Review DRP logs for DHCP or PXE boot errors:

drpcli logs get

Next Steps¶

After successful discovery, you can:

Classify discovered machines
Create workflows to provision the machines
Configure machine parameters for customized deployment

UEFI HTTP Boot as an Alternative to PXE Boot¶

For modern systems that support HTTP Boot (a UEFI extension):

Access the UEFI firmware settings during system startup
Navigate to the boot options section
Enable "HTTP Boot" or "UEFI HTTP Boot" option
Set the URL to https://$RS_ENDPOINT:8092/ipxe.efi
Ensure HTTP Boot appears in the boot order before local drives