"DHCP...." followed by "PXE-E51: No DHCP or proxyDHCP offers were received"

SYMPTOM

When being started, the PXE client comes up with the PXE copyright message, then displays

DHCP....

After a while, the following error message is displayed:

PXE-E51: No DHCP or proxyDHCP offers were received

Depending on the PXE client's system setup boot device list configuration, the PC then either stops or tries to boot from the next boot device in the system setup boot device list.

CAUSE

The "PXE-E51" error indicates that the PXE client did not receive a reply to its DHCPDISCOVER message. Possible causes for this problem are:

1. There is no DHCP or BOOT server
2. The DHCP or BOOTP server is not running
3. The DHCP or BOOTP server is not configured to service your PXE client
4. The DHCP or BOOTP server is located in a different subnet, and no DHCP or BOOTP forwarding mechanisms are in effect

RESOLUTION

Make sure that a DHCP or BOOTP server is setup and running, and that it is configured to service the client. If the DHCP or BOOTP server is located in a different subnet (i.e. PXE client and DHCP or BOOTP server are separated by one or more routers), you must provide a DHCP or BOOTP forwarding mechanism.

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