https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe

iPXE for the Raspberry Pi
https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe

ipxe pxe raspberry-pi raspberrypi uefi

Last synced: 10 days ago
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iPXE for the Raspberry Pi

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe
• Owner: ipxe
• Created: 2019-10-30T16:36:27.000Z (over 5 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2024-02-27T01:49:04.000Z (12 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-11-19T21:35:56.828Z (3 months ago)
• Topics: ipxe, pxe, raspberry-pi, raspberrypi, uefi
• Language: Makefile
• Homepage: http://ipxe.org
• Size: 43.9 KB
• Stars: 196
• Watchers: 16
• Forks: 38
• Open Issues: 10
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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README

        
piPXE - iPXE for the Raspberry Pi

=================================

[![Build](https://img.shields.io/github/workflow/status/ipxe/pipxe/Build)](https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe/actions?query=workflow%3ABuild+branch%3Amaster)

[![Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/ipxe/pipxe)](https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe/releases/latest)

piPXE is a build of the [iPXE] network boot firmware for the

[Raspberry Pi].

Quick start

-----------

1. Download [sdcard.img] and write it onto any blank micro SD card

using a tool such as `dd` or [Etcher].

2. Insert the micro SD card into your Raspberry Pi.

3. Power on your Raspberry Pi.

Within a few seconds you should see iPXE appear and begin booting from

the network:

![Screenshot](screenshot.png)

Building from source

--------------------

To build from source, clone this repository and run `make`.  This will

build all of the required components and eventually generate the SD

card image [sdcard.img].

You will need various build tools installed, including a

cross-compiling version of `gcc` for building AArch64 binaries.

Fedora build tools:

    sudo dnf install -y binutils gcc gcc-aarch64-linux-gnu \

                        git-core iasl libuuid-devel make \

                        mtools perl python subversion xz-devel

Ubuntu build tools:

    sudo apt install -y build-essential gcc-aarch64-linux-gnu \

                        git iasl lzma-dev mtools perl python \

                        subversion uuid-dev

How it works

------------

The SD card image contains:

* Broadcom [VC4 boot firmware]: `bootcode.bin` and related files

* [TianoCore EDK2] UEFI firmware built for the [RPi3] platform: `RPI_EFI.fd`

* [iPXE] built for the `arm64-efi` platform: `/efi/boot/bootaa64.efi`

The Raspberry Pi has a somewhat convoluted boot process in which the

VC4 GPU is responsible for loading the initial executable ARM CPU

code.  The flow of execution is approximately:

1. The GPU code in the onboard boot ROM loads `bootcode.bin` from the SD card.

2. The GPU executes `bootcode.bin` and loads `RPI_EFI.fd` from the SD card.

3. The GPU allows the CPU to start executing `RPI_EFI.fd`.

4. The CPU executes `RPI_EFI.fd` and loads `bootaa64.efi` from the SD card.

5. The CPU executes `bootaa64.efi` (i.e. iPXE) to boot from the network.

Licence

-------

Every component is under an open source licence.  See the individual

subproject licensing terms for more details:

* 

* 

* 

[iPXE]: https://ipxe.org

[Raspberry Pi]: https://www.raspberrypi.org

[sdcard.img]: https://github.com/ipxe/pipxe/releases/latest/download/sdcard.img

[Etcher]: https://www.balena.io/etcher

[VC4 boot firmware]: https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/tree/master/boot

[TianoCore EDK2]: https://github.com/tianocore/edk2

[RPi3]: https://github.com/tianocore/edk2-platforms/tree/master/Platform/RaspberryPi/RPi3