Managed boot agent adds Windows CE tools and support
Staff | Date: Apr 14, 2004 | Comments: 1
emBoot announced a major new release of its managed boot agent (MBA) for network booting. The company says "MBA on Disk" version 5.0 (MBAoD 5.0) includes support for newer media types, tools for Windows CE .NET, multiple "preboot execution environment" (PXE) server management, a Universal Packet Driver that works with all Network Cards, and other tools that simplify network booting.
According to emBoot, MBAoD is a network boot client that is launched from removable media instead of firmware, and helps administrators utilize network boot in single-use situations, or whenever it advantageous to not change the client's hardware or BIOS configuration.
emBoot says MBAoD 5.0 adds support for removable media drives, such as CompactFlash, DiskOnChip, and DiskOnModule, in addition to floppy and CD. Another new feature, PXEWINCE, provides a single stage PXE bootstrap loader for Windows CE .NET that simplifies the Windows CE .NET network boot process by eliminating the need for an intermediary DOS image, and the large amount of memory that it required.
To help solve the management of PXE clients in networks with multiple PXE servers, MBAoD 5.0 adds a feature known as PXE Server Directory Service (PXESDS), emBoot says. PXESDS enables specifying which PXE server a client will boot from, and thus eliminates the need to configure and maintain that client's boot-related files on other than the designated PXE server.
MBAoD 5.0 also includes a new feature know as Dynamic UNDI Binding, which allows MBAoD to support clients with NICs that are not supported natively by MBAoD, according to emBoot. Additionally, emBoot says MBAoD 5.0 adds a Universal DOS packet driver, offering single driver, universal support for all NICs -- including Gigabit NICs from Intel, Broadcom, and others when used in PXE network boot.
