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Difficulty: MediumOS Installation and Upgrade Methods

A systems administrator is configuring a new computer to install Windows 11 across a local network using Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). Place the steps of the PXE network boot sequence in the correct chronological order from first to last.

  1. 1The client system broadcasts a DHCP DISCOVER request containing PXE option extensions.
  2. 2The DHCP server offers an IP address along with DHCP Option 66 (TFTP server name) and Option 67 (bootfile name).
  3. 3The client connects to the TFTP server to download the network bootloader file into RAM.
  4. 4The bootloader executes and loads the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) image.

Answer

The correct order begins with the client broadcasting a DHCP DISCOVER request with PXE extensions, receiving network parameters along with TFTP server location (Option 66) and bootfile name (Option 67) from DHCP, downloading the bootloader via TFTP, and finally executing the bootloader to launch WinPE.
The PXE boot protocol relies on standard sequential network operations: broadcasting a network discovery request with PXE options, receiving addressing along with DHCP Options 66 (TFTP server) and 67 (bootfile name), establishing a TFTP connection to download the bootloader, and executing the bootloader to start the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Initiate network discovery
The client broadcasts a DHCP DISCOVER frame flagged with PXE options.
Without an operating system installed on local media, the NIC firmware must broadcast to find network configuration and boot server locations.
2
Receive boot server configuration
The DHCP server responds with an IP address offer including Option 66 (TFTP Server Hostname/IP) and Option 67 (Bootfile Name).
The client needs to know where the boot files reside and which specific filename to request.
3
Retrieve bootloader file
The client establishes a TFTP session with the specified boot server and downloads the network bootloader (such as bootmgr.efi).
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is used because of its minimal protocol overhead suitable for firmware-level execution.
4
Launch pre-installation environment
The downloaded bootloader executes and loads the WinPE image into memory.
WinPE provides the minimal Windows engine, storage drivers, and networking support required to execute automated or manual OS installation scripts.

Key Concept

PXE Network Installation Sequence
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

OS Installation and Upgrade Methods

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