OS Boot Over Network

[L.E.D]

So... I want to experiment with linux, mainly Ubuntu and Elementary OS. How ever I don't want to install either of these on my computer. Is it at all possible that I could use a networked drive as a OS drive that the system would see on bootup. I think iSCSI has a play in here some where but I am a complete noob when it comes to this side of computers. Any suggestions are welcome and I thank you all in advance!

[Lotus]

If you have a spare hard drive you can just install it on that and select which HDD to boot to on boot. Alternative, if you have space on your primary, you can set up a dual boot pretty easily. I just did that this last week.

[L.E.D]

If you have a second hard drive, or have space on your primary, you can set up a dual boot pretty easily. I just did that this last week.

 

I know that can be done really easy, and I have done it before. But my main goal is to try to change my system as little as possible. Plus I thought if I could do it over the network it would be a fun thing to learn.

[PokémonTrainerFour]

I know that can be done really easy, and I have done it before. But my main goal is to try to change my system as little as possible. Plus I thought if I could do it over the network it would be a fun thing to learn.

idk but you could make a bootable USB

[L.E.D]

idk but you could make a bootable USB

 

I appreciate the reply, but I am trying to do this over the network just as a learning experience. Thanks though

[Noxxx]

I don't think such protocol exists, but how about a virtual solution?

Some solutions let you start a virtual machine on a server, then view and control it on a remote client.

Example: QEMU or VMWare

[Mojo-Jojo]

What you're looking for is Thin Client, a way of running an OS and Applications from a server. Ubuntu does support this, but you'll need the support for it on your system (PXE)

[L.E.D]

I don't think such protocol exists, but how about a virtual solution?

Some solutions let you start a virtual machine on a server, then view and control it on a remote client.

Example: QEMU or VMWare

 

 

What you're looking for is Thin Client, a way of running an OS and Applications from a server. Ubuntu does support this, but you'll need the support for it on your system (PXE)

 

Thanks for input, I think something like proxmox on another machine might solve my issues... I might look into that. 

[CWP]

Expanding on what JvHummel said, you will need to run your own DHCP server (the ones found in most routers are not sufficient, except for the Linux-based 3rd-party firmware), a TFTP server to serve the initial files (pxelinux.0, the config file, vmlinuz, initrd/initramfs; these are small-ish files just to kick start the system long enough for it to reach to...), and an NFS server to serve the remainder of the OS (depends on what the distribution support).

 

I am sure if you Google PXE (or diskless) + the OS distribution of your choice, you will come across a wiki or a howto guide that is specific to that distribution, along with any pitfalls you might need to be aware of. However, most of them will require this set of services to make it work over the network.