===== Tiny Core Linux over HTTP =====

This application note describes how [[http://tinycorelinux.com/|Tiny Core Linux]] can be HTTP-booted using the gPXE network bootloader.

==== Overview ====
Although Tiny Core Linux comes with PXE netboot support, HTTP booting is attractive because it is more flexible.  Only a HTTP server is required (rather than a full DHCP + TFTP setup).  HTTP also works well over the internet.

Tiny Core Linux is "the core needed to boot into a very minimal X desktop typically with wired internet access".  From there you can load applications on-demand from the internet.  It's a great starting point for a custom thin-client or for one-off Linux sessions without big downloads upfront.

==== Preparing to HTTP boot ====
Download the latest Tiny Core Linux ISO image:

  wget http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/release/tinycore_1.2.iso

Mount the ISO:

  mount -o loop tinycore_1.2.iso /mnt

Copy kernel and initramfs to a web-accessible directory:

  cp /mnt/boot/{bzImage,tinycore.gz} /var/www

Create a gPXE script for easy booting:

  cat >/var/www/tinycore.gpxe
  #!gpxe
  kernel http://example.org/bzImage
  initrd http://example.org/tinycore.gz
  boot
  ^D

==== Booting a client machine ====
Boot gPXE and enter the following command at the shell (Ctrl+B):

  dhcp net0
  chain http://example.org/tinycore.gpxe

Tiny Core Linux should download via HTTP and boot.

==== Going further... ====
You may want to add kernel command-line arguments like this in ''tinycore.gpxe'':

  kernel http://example.org/bzImage lang=en kmap=us