PXE Boot problems with HP 250 G8 Notebook

[Hans-KNE]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'm trying to boot my laptop via PXE. For this I have configured the network card as the first boot device in the BIOS (IPv4). When I then turn on my notebook, the following happens:

1. The notebook starts the PXE boot and receives an address via the DHCP server. The DHCP server also sends additional DHCP options (subnet, DNS, option 60). The notebook displays the assigned IP address on the screen.
2. Via option 60, the notebook (the UEFI PXE client) detects that a PXE service is available on the same server.
3. The notebook now contacts the PXE service on port 4011 on the server to request further information for the network boot.
4. In its response, the PXE service transmits various DHCP options as well as a name for the Network Bootstrap Program and an address for the TFTP server.
5. After the notebook has received the answer, nothing more happens. The notebook displays no message. Furthermore, The notebook does not start with the download of the Network Bootstrap Program via TFTP.

I have booted other HP computers via PXE (UEFI BIOS) with success with the exact same server configuration (DHCP, PXE-Service). So, I think that the problem is located in the UEFI BIOS of the HP 250 G8 notebook. 

My question: Is there a way to configure the BIOS so that I get more messages (debug messages)? Or does HP provide a "debug"-BIOS?

I really need to solve this problem because we plan to buy more HP notebooks.

[CharlieItuah1]

Hi, look at these tips and resources and see if it will work out for you.

Configuring PXE Boot Servers for UEFI
"The defacto PXE configuration is typically setup for 16-bit x86 legacy BIOS images, so adding UEFI support requires changes to server config files.

You can also refer to Intel's UEFI PXE Boot Performance Analysis whitepaper for an overview of the UEFI PXE boot process, and tips for optimizing boot time on Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms."

HP BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU) - HP Client Management Solutions 

You may also download BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU)
https://ftp.hp.com/pub/ softpaq/sp81501-82000/sp81841. exe

Then run this command. There is also 64-bit version of BCU.
C:\SWSetup\sp81841\ BIOSConfigUtility.exe /GetConfig:config.txt

Look for PXE and UEFI differences in the BIOS config files on your HP 250 G8 Notebook.

From Intel UEFI PXE Boot Performance Analysis

This diagram should help as well/

[Hans-KNE]

Hi,

thank you for your reply. I am aware of the documents and links you included in your answer.

This is not a server configuration problem. As I stated in my initial question I have booted many other HP computers (like the HP Z2 Tower G5 workstation) with UEFI BIOS and the same server configuration successfully. So, the problem is located within the UEFI BIOS of the HP G8 Notebook. Unfortunatetly (as I mentioned in my initial question), the UEFI BIOS hangs after it receives the last PROXY DHCP (PXE-Service) package from the server and there are no error messages or other messages on the screen of the notebook. 

Is there a tool to activate debug messages in the BIOS? I am stuck in analyzing the problem further without more messages from the UEFI BIOS of the HP notebook.

[CharlieItuah1]

I found some resources which should help you out.

https://www.seabios.org/Debugging

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/boot-parameters-to-enable-debuggin...

[Hans-KNE]

Thanks again for your reply.

The resources you mentioned are not related to my problem. The MS article describes debugging the boot process, not the BIOS. The other article is for the seabios but not the HP BIOS.