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Chapter 3: Installing Broadcom Boot Agent Driver Software
44
Overview
The AT-2973SX, AT-2973T, AT-2973T/4, and AT-VNC10S NetXtreme II
Family adapters support Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). Multi-
Boot Agent (MBA) is a software module that allows your network computer
to boot with the images provided by remote servers across the network.
The Broadcom MBA driver complies with PXE 2.1 code.
The MBA module operates in a client/server environment. A network
consists of one or more boot servers that provide boot images to multiple
computers through the network. The Broadcom implementation of the
MBA module has been tested successfully in the following environments:
Linux Red Hat PXE Server. Broadcom PXE clients are able to
remotely boot and use network resources (NFS mount, and so forth)
as well as 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 adapter driver interface specification (NDIS2) interface to the
upper layer protocol stack. This allows computers 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 Server 2003 (SP1 and older)
system running RIS to initialize and install Windows Server 2003 and
prior operating systems. To extend the functions beyond basic network
connectivity when loading an operating system through RIS, see
“Using the NetXtreme II Monolithic Driver” on page 50.
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,
Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. To extend the
functions beyond basic network connectivity when loading an
operating system through WDS, see
“Using the NetXtreme II
Monolithic Driver” on page 50.
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.
To extend the functions beyond basic network connectivity when
loading an operating system through ADS, see
“Using the NetXtreme
II Monolithic Driver” on page 50.