Altiris Imaging of Windows Guest through PXE disconnects after a short time

[Mark Fleming]

Using Virtualbox 2.0.0 on Windows XP SP3 host, attempting to image a Windows XP SP3 Guest (Though no OS yet installed) using an Altiris PXE Server.

PXE server is on the local network. I created a virtual network interface through VirtualBox, and bridged it with my existing LAN connection.

Booting the VM from network successfully finds the PXE server. It successfully loads the DOS PXE OS, and begins imaging. Network speed is very slow, and eventually the imaging fails due to 'corrupt image or partition'.

I have tried the following steps: (Altiris KB articles: ​https://kb.altiris.com/display/1n/kb/article.asp?aid=17448&n=9&s=) Unfortunately they make no difference.

Thought the VM will boot successfully to PXE through the bridged network connection, it seems that the speed is too slow or that the connection gets too many errors to successfully download the image file.

[michaln]

Please attach a VM log file from a failed imaging attempt.

You could also try using the other emulated NIC (PCnet vs. E1000).

[Mark Fleming]

Failed Altiris PXE image attempt

[Mark Fleming]

Thanks for the reply.

I have attached the log file from a failed attempt.

I have tried using all four of the adapters. The PC-Net ones both boot to PXE and start imaging (but stop as per the problem). The E1000 ones are not able to find the PXE server. Our PXE server uses the UNDI driver... so I thought the E1000 ones would have been able to see that? Anyway, I'm happy to get it imaging using any of the drivers...

[aeichner]

Please reopen if still relevant with a recent VirtualBox release.