iPXE Boot Server Selection Across WANs Using DNS SRV Records
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying servers in edge locations or across wide area networks without a local boot server or provisioning software suite is impractical due to the need for customization and management overhead, especially when multiple servers are involved.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an iPXE client in firmware that uses a wide area network communication protocol to query a DNS server for iPXE boot image servers, determine suitable network properties, and select the most appropriate server for booting, allowing deployment with default settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a boot server is placed in the same subnet as edge computers, then network boot performance is improved, but deployment complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces DNS servers as intermediaries between edge computers and boot image servers. Instead of requiring direct communication within the same subnet, the DNS server mediates the discovery process by resolving service names to IP addresses, enabling cross-subnet boot operations while maintaining automated discovery and reducing deployment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the boot infrastructure into separate components: edge computers, DNS servers, and boot image servers can be located in different subnets. This segmentation allows flexible deployment where boot image servers don't need to be in the same subnet as edge computers, reducing deployment complexity while maintaining functionality through DNS-mediated discovery
2Ease of operation
If provisioning software suite manages edge computers across numerous locations, then centralized management is improved, but network complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the DNS server perform multiple functions: it serves as both the standard domain name resolution service and the boot image server discovery mechanism. This universal use of DNS across different locations and networks simplifies the provisioning infrastructure by eliminating the need for location-specific boot servers or specialized provisioning software at each site
3Reliability
If custom configuration is applied to each server, then boot performance and reliability are improved, but deployment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables edge computers to automatically discover and configure themselves by querying DNS servers for boot image server locations. Each computer independently performs the discovery and configuration without requiring manual customization, achieving reliable boot operations while eliminating the time and complexity associated with individual server configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The DNS servers are pre-configured with information about boot image server locations before edge computers need to boot. This preliminary setup of DNS records enables automated discovery and configuration, allowing servers to reliably boot without manual customization while significantly reducing deployment time
Data Source
AI summary
A computer program product and method include the operations of loading an iPXE client that is stored in firmware, transmitting a query over a wide area network to a DNS server that requests the location of iPXE boot image servers that store a boot image for use by the computer, and receiving a DNS SRV record from the DNS server. The DNS SRV record identifies an Internet Protocol address for each of a plurality of iPXE boot image servers that are outside a subnet that includes the computer. The operations further include determining one or more network properties of network communication, such as latency, between the computer and each iPXE boot image server, identifying the iPXE boot image server having the most suitable value of network property(ies), such as latency, for obtaining the boot image, and booting the boot image obtained from the identified iPXE boot image server.