Setting up iVentoy on Windows can streamline your boot management and PXE service deployment. This guide provides a structured walkthrough to ensure a clean installation and configuration process.
Download and Extract iVentoy
- Download the latest iVentoy Windows package.
- Extract the ZIP file.
- Important: Ensure there are no Unicode characters or spaces anywhere in the full folder path.
Directory Layout Structure
| Directory | Description |
|---|---|
| data | Contains license files and system configuration data. |
| doc | Technical documentation. |
| iso | Place your ISO files here. |
| lib | Internal library files needed by iVentoy. Do not add or modify files here. |
| log | Application log files for troubleshooting. |
| user | For user files, third-party software, and auto-install scripts. |
Add Your ISO Files
Copy your bootable ISO files directly into the iso directory. You can create subdirectories within this folder to organize your images.
Important: There must be no Unicode characters or spaces in the directory names or ISO filenames.
Using Symbolic Links (Alternative to Copying)
If your ISO files are stored on another drive, you can use symbolic links instead of copying:
- Link a single ISO file:
mklink "D:\iventoy-1.0.37\iso\debian-13.5.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso" "E:\download\debian-13.5.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso" - Link an entire directory:
mklink /D "D:\iventoy-1.0.37\iso\linux" "E:\download\linux" - Link the entire iso folder (recommended for upgrades):
rmdir "D:\iventoy-1.0.37\iso"mklink /D "D:\iventoy-1.0.37\iso" "E:\download\iso"
Replace paths as needed.
Firewall & Ports
Allow iVentoy through the firewall. It uses:
| Port | Protocol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 67/68 | UDP | DHCP Server Port |
| 4011 | UDP | DHCP Proxy Server Port (Proxy/ProxyNet mode only) |
| 69 | UDP | TFTP Server Port |
| 26000 | TCP | iVentoy GUI HTTP Server Port |
| 16000 | TCP | iVentoy PXE Service HTTP Server Port |
| 10809 | TCP | Network Block Device (NBD) Server Port |
| 3260 | TCP | iSCSI Server Port |
| 12049 | TCP | NFS Server Port |
Note: Port 68 is outgoing; others are incoming. In the Windows Firewall popup, click Allow after running iVentoy for the first time.
Run iVentoy
Launch the iventoy.exe application from your folder.
Open the iVentoy Web GUI
iVentoy features a web-based GUI. It should open your default browser automatically. If not, navigate to:
http://127.0.0.1:26000- From another computer:
http://<SERVER_IP>:26000
Use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox to avoid compatibility issues.
Start the PXE Service
In the Web UI, select your local server IP, configure your IP pool range if needed, choose DHCP server mode (ProxyNet recommended), and click the Green Start Button.
Running iVentoy as a Windows Service
iVentoy supports Normal Mode and Service Mode:
- Run
iventoy.exein Normal Mode at least once to save configurations. - Set configuration and click the Green Start Button.
- Click Quit to save network interface configuration into the data folder.
Installing the Service
- Locate
InstallService.batinside the iVentoy folder. - Right-click and select Run as administrator.
- This registers iVentoy as a background Windows service.
Managing the Service via Command Prompt
- Query Service Config:
sc qc iVentoy - Query Current Status:
sc query iVentoy - Start Service:
sc start iVentoy - Stop Service:
sc stop iVentoy
How to Upgrade iVentoy
Important: Never upgrade by extracting a new version directly over your existing folder structure.
- Stop the current instance (
sc stop iVentoyif in Service Mode). - Download and extract the new version into a separate folder.
- Copy
data/config.datfrom the old folder into the new one. - Move or recreate ISO files and custom scripts.
- If using Service Mode, run
InstallService.batin the new folder as administrator.
By following these steps, you can set up and maintain iVentoy on Windows effectively. This ensures reliable PXE boot services and smooth upgrades without configuration loss.