"TFTP...." followed by "PXE-E32: TFTP open timeout"

SYMPTOM

When being started, the PXE client comes up with the PXE copyright message and completes the DHCP phase, but then displays:

TFTP....

After a while, the following error message is displayed:

PXE-E32: TFTP open timeout

Depending on the PXE client's system setup boot device list configuration, the PC then either stops or tries to boot from the next boot device in the system setup boot device list.

CAUSE

The "PXE-E32" error indicates that the PXE did not get a reply from the TFTP server when sending a request to download its boot file. Possible causes for this problem are:

1. There is no TFTP server
2. The TFTP server is not running
3. TFTP and DHCP/BOOTP services are running on different machines, but the next-server (066) option was not specified

RESOLUTION

Make sure that a TFTP server is set up and running. When the TFTP service is running on a different machine than the DHCP or BOOTP service, you need to add option 066 (next-server) to the DHCP/BOOTP server configuration, and set this option's value to the IP address or "resolvable hostname" of the TFTP server. When option 066 (next-server) is not defined, the PXE client assumes that the TFTP service is running on the same machine from which it received its DHCP/BOOTP configuration information.

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