How To Set Up iVentoy in Linux Systems

Installing and configuring iVentoy on Linux provides a powerful PXE boot solution with a web-based management interface. This guide outlines the complete process from download to upgrade, ensuring a clean and reliable setup.

Download and Extract iVentoy

• Download the iVentoy Linux package:
  wget https://github.com/ventoy/PXE/releases/download/v1.0.37/iventoy-1.0.37-linux-x86_64-free.tar.gz
• Extract the archive:
  tar -xf iventoy-1.0.37-linux-x86_64-free.tar.gz
• Delete the tarball:
  rm -f iventoy-1.0.37-linux-x86_64-free.tar.gz

Note on Permissions: If extracted with sudo, reset ownership:
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/iventoy-1.0.37

Directory Layout Overview

Directory	Description
data	Contains license files and system configuration data.
doc	Technical documentation.
iso	Place your bootable ISO files here.
lib	Internal library files needed by iVentoy. Do not modify.
log	Application log files for troubleshooting.
user	User files, third-party software, and auto-install scripts.

Managing ISO Files

Copy ISO files into the iso directory. Subdirectories can be created for organization.

Important: Avoid Unicode characters or spaces in directory names or ISO filenames.

Using Symbolic Links

• Link a single ISO:
  ln -s /path/to/debian.iso ~/iventoy-1.0.37/iso/
• Link a directory:
  ln -s /path/to/linux ~/iventoy-1.0.37/iso/
• Link the entire iso folder:
  rmdir ~/iventoy-1.0.37/iso
ln -s /path/to/external/iso_folder ~/iventoy-1.0.37/iso

Firewall & Ports

Ensure firewall rules allow required ports:

Port	Protocol	Description
67/68	UDP	DHCP Server Port
4011	UDP	DHCP Proxy Server Port
69	UDP	TFTP Server Port
26000	TCP	GUI HTTP Server Port
16000	TCP	PXE Service HTTP Server Port
10809	TCP	NBD Server Port
3260	TCP	iSCSI Server Port
12049	TCP	NFS Server Port

Applying Rules in UFW

sudo ufw allow 67/udp
sudo ufw allow out 68/udp
sudo ufw allow 69/udp
sudo ufw allow 4011/udp
sudo ufw allow 26000/tcp
sudo ufw allow 16000/tcp
sudo ufw allow 10809/tcp
sudo ufw allow 3260/tcp
sudo ufw allow 12049/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Note: UFW allows outgoing traffic by default, so port 68 may not need explicit rules.

Running the iVentoy Service

Navigate into the folder and start the service:

cd iventoy-1.0.37
sudo bash iventoy.sh start

• Start: sudo bash iventoy.sh start
• Stop: sudo bash iventoy.sh stop
• Status: sudo bash iventoy.sh status

Accessing the Web GUI

• Local: http://127.0.0.1:26000
• Remote: http://<SERVER_IP>:26000

Use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox for compatibility.

Start the PXE Service

In the Web UI, select your server IP, configure IP pool range, choose DHCP mode (ProxyNet recommended), and click the Green Start Button.

Linux Persistent Auto-Start

To auto-start PXE engine with saved settings:

sudo bash iventoy.sh -R start

Note: You must have configured settings in the Web GUI at least once.

How to Upgrade iVentoy

Warning: Never overwrite an existing installation folder.

• Stop current instance:
  cd iventoy-1.0.36 && sudo bash iventoy.sh stop
• Download and extract new version:
  wget https://github.com/ventoy/PXE/releases/download/v1.0.37/iventoy-1.0.37-linux-x86_64-free.tar.gz
tar -xf iventoy-1.0.37-linux-x86_64-free.tar.gz
• Migrate configuration:
  cp ~/iventoy-1.0.36/data/config.dat ~/iventoy-1.0.37/data/
• Move ISO files and scripts:
  cp -a ~/iventoy-1.0.36/iso/. ~/iventoy-1.0.37/iso/
cp -a ~/iventoy-1.0.36/user/. ~/iventoy-1.0.37/user/
• Start new service:
  cd iventoy-1.0.37 && sudo bash iventoy.sh start

By following these steps, you can deploy and maintain iVentoy on Linux systems with stability and efficiency, ensuring smooth PXE boot operations and reliable upgrades.