Please help me understand how PXE boot works. I do not have DHCP scope options set. There is a WDS service running on the SCCM site server. PXE is working fine but I want to know how. I've always thought a network boot used DHCP. Some articles say don't configure DHCP options or use WDS, just install a PXE service point. What is the way and how does it work in directing the client to the server where there is PXE configured? Guess what I'm asking is what are the steps the computer takes after you initiate a network boot?

In order for PXE boot to work you will need to have both a WDS Server and a PXE Service Point configured on the server. DHCP has to be configured in order for a client to receive an IP adress in the same range as the SCCM server, otherwise it won't receive a boot image. First the client sends out a DISCOVER message to contact a local DHCP server. It then receives an IP adress and then receives a boot image from the WDS server.Website: www.danielclasson.com | LinkedIn: Daniel Classon

PXE Boot files in RemoteInstall folder explained http://henkhoogendoorn.blogspot.com/2012/02/pxe-boot-files-in-remoteinstall-folder.html It mentions: When using DHCP Options for PXE Boot, Option 66 and 67 are needed. Option 66 must be the IP-address of your WDS server, Option 67 must be SMSBoot\x86\wdsnbp.com (which is the first file needed during the PXE Boot process). Best practice is however to place IP helpers on your switches for routing over multiple vlan's. When testing only on a specific subnet DHCP scope options is the best way I think.My blogs: Henk's blog and Virtuall | Follow Me on: Twitter | View My Profile on: LinkedIn

The Wikipedia page for PXE is quite good in explaining PXE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preboot_Execution_Environment.Jason | http://blog.configmgrftw.com | Twitter @JasonSandys