On 11 November 2011 01:23, Dan White <ygor@comcast.net> wrote:
On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote:

> On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote:
>> I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of various flavors with RHEL5
>>
>> I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be PXE-booted/net-installed
>>
>> I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more evidence.
>>
>> When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and then, maybe, it will proceed.
>
> I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run
> spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port.  Disabling that
> (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps.

OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other part ?

When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says:
-----------------------
Error downloading kickstart file:

Unable to download the kickstart file.  Please modify the
kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an
iteractive installation.

http://<IP of cobbler server>/cblr/svc/op/ks/system/<system name from Cobbler>

Hi Dan,

if it is spanning-tree that causes the problem, then I can confirm that I have seen the port go down again after successfully PXE'ing only to start the whole spanning-tree timeout again once it reconfigures the interface ready for downloading an OS. And I do seem to recall that I only saw this behaviour on HP kit (I work for an IBM/HP house).

Dylan
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