Using netboot.xyz to Install Linux System on Oracle Free Tier Machine (x86, ARM)

 This post is to sum up the steps using netboot.xyz package to install Linux system into Oracle Free Tier machine, either x86 or ARM architecture. 

Create Your Oracle VM and create local vnc console

Download netboot.efi

Download netboot.efi file. 

• x86_64:https://boot.netboot.xyz/ipxe/netboot.xyz.efi
• arm64:https://boot.netboot.xyz/ipxe/netboot.xyz-arm64.efi

root@ubuntu-arm-test:~# cd /boot/efi
root@ubuntu-arm-test:/boot/efi# wget https://boot.netboot.xyz/ipxe/netboot.xyz-arm64.efi^C
root@ubuntu-arm-test:/boot/efi#
root@ubuntu-arm-test:/boot/efi# ls
EFI netboot.xyz-arm64.efi

Enter into BIOS and Run netboot.xyz arm64 efi file

Using up/down arrow key to move your selection to Boot Manager then Enter

Choose EFT Internal Shell

Press ESC key to skip startup.nsh, you will get into Shell>

Since netboot.xyz-arm64.efi has been put into /boot/efi folder, you will be able to find it using ls command. You can directly run this efi file from shell.

Or you can boot EFI from Boot Maintenance Manager - Boot From File 

File Explorer:

File Explorer

iPXE Shell

After started netboot.xyz, you an run iPXE shell:

The commands in the following figure can be used, and you can use them in combination to complete your custom system installation.

Some common commands of ipxe shell

chain、dhcp、kernel、initrd、config、sanboot、autoboot、set、boot、goto

You can add after the corresponding command to --help get more help for the command, go and try it.

Notes:

• If ARM uses netboot.xyz to install CentOS, the kernel will not be downloaded. Just download it manually;
• x86_64 CentOS cannot install a version greater than 7.2 because of insufficient memory.

References

• 甲骨文ARM VNC 安装 Windows ARM系统 Oracle ISO 裸机系统部署平台
• How to Use UEFI Interactive Shell and Its Common Commands
• CXT裸机系统部署平台（自定义安装任意系统）
• How to run Windows 10 Server ARM64