Boot Configuration
The node Configuration File (plnode.txt) contains the network configuration for your node, and a secret key shared by your node and PL. Using this shared key, the communication between PLC and your node is secure during the initial bootstrap. The BootImage contains a minimal OS, consisting of the Linux kernel, a simple root file system, and routines for communicating with PlanetLab Central.
Both the BootImage and configuration file need to be accessible for your PlanetLab node to contact PlanetLab Central. This page describes how to download and write the necessary information to either a CD-ROM or USB flash device. (For creating a bootable USB flash device, options 2 and 3 are equivalent; we recommend option 3 as it requires fewer steps.)
- All-In-One BootImage for CD-ROM
- On the My Nodes link under Nodes to find your machine name.
- Under, Download select "Download ISO image for <hostname>".
- This will generate a Custom ISO image that contains both the BootImage and your nodes plnode.txt configuration.
- Save the Custom ISO image, and burn the Custom ISO image to CD.
- Place the CD in your PlanetLab host and boot it.
- All-In-One BootImage for USB, flat filesystem.
- On the My Nodes link under Nodes to find your machine name.
- Under, Download select "Download USB image for <hostname>".
- If the USB flash device is not partitioned correctly, use parted or fdisk under linux to create a single FAT16 partition that spans the entire device. Mark it as bootable
- Copy the usb image to the bootable partition on the USB disk. If /dev/sdb1 is the partition on your USB stick then:
- Run syslinux on the same partition:
- Configure BIOS to boot from USB media, if necessary.
- Insert USB stick in a USB port on Planetlab host and boot.
- All-In-One BootImage for USB, with MBR, partition table, and filesystem included.
- On the My Nodes link under Nodes to find your machine name.
- Under, Download select "Download partitioned, USB image for <hostname>".
It is not necessary to run any other formatting commands for these images, because they already include a MBR, partition table, and filesystem. They are ready to be raw-written directly to USB stick.
- NOTE: sdX MUST be the direct, USB device. Otherwise the MBR in the image will not be written to the first sector of the device, and it will not boot. This is the most common mistake made.
- Configure BIOS to boot from USB media, if necessary.
- Insert USB stick in a USB port on your Planetlab host and boot.
