Blancco PXE boot via Ubuntu kernel switch_root

Blancco's own kernel freezes on Dell Precision towers during PXE boot.
Workaround: boot Ubuntu kernel via GRUB chainload, download Blancco's
666MB squashfs rootfs + 132MB kernel modules over HTTP, mount overlay
filesystem, and switch_root into Blancco's userspace.

- Add blancco-init.sh: custom initramfs init script for switch_root approach
- Add blancco-preferences.xml: pre-configured with network share for reports
- Update playbook: build initramfs, deploy Ubuntu kernel/modules, config
- Update prepare-boot-tools.sh: add HTTP modules to GRUB EFI build
- Add UEFI HTTP Boot support to dnsmasq config
- iPXE menu chains to grubx64.efi (replaces sanboot of ISO)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

playbook/blancco-init.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Blancco PXE Loader - init script for custom initramfs
+# Boot chain: iPXE -> GRUB EFI -> Ubuntu kernel + this initramfs -> switch_root to Blancco
+#
+# Blancco's own kernel freezes on Dell Precision towers during PXE boot.
+# Workaround: boot Ubuntu kernel, download Blancco rootfs (squashfs), mount
+# overlay filesystem, and switch_root into Blancco's userspace.
+
+export PATH=/bin:/sbin
+
+echo ""
+echo "============================================"
+echo "  Blancco PXE loader"
+echo "============================================"
+echo ""
+
+mount -t proc proc /proc
+mount -t sysfs sysfs /sys
+mount -t devtmpfs devtmpfs /dev 2>/dev/null
+mkdir -p /tmp /run
+
+echo "[1/4] Loading NIC drivers..."
+for mod in /lib/modules/*.ko; do
+    insmod $mod 2>/dev/null
+done
+sleep 2
+
+echo "  Waiting for network interface..."
+IFACE=""
+COUNT=0
+while [ $COUNT -lt 30 ]; do
+    for i in /sys/class/net/*; do
+        ifname="${i##*/}"
+        if [ "$ifname" != "lo" ] && [ -d "$i" ]; then
+            IFACE=$ifname
+            break 2
+        fi
+    done
+    COUNT=$((COUNT + 1))
+    sleep 1
+    echo -n "."
+done
+echo ""
+
+if [ -z "$IFACE" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: No network interface found!"
+    exec sh
+fi
+
+echo "  Interface: $IFACE"
+ip link set $IFACE up
+sleep 2
+
+SERVER=10.9.100.1
+ifconfig $IFACE 10.9.100.250 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
+sleep 1
+echo "  IP: 10.9.100.250"
+
+echo "[2/4] Downloading Blancco rootfs (666MB)..."
+wget -O /tmp/airootfs.sfs http://$SERVER/blancco/arch/x86_64/airootfs.sfs 2>&1
+if [ ! -s /tmp/airootfs.sfs ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: Failed to download rootfs!"
+    exec sh
+fi
+echo "  OK ($(wc -c < /tmp/airootfs.sfs) bytes)"
+
+echo "[3/4] Mounting rootfs..."
+mkdir -p /run/lower /run/upper /run/work /run/newroot
+
+losetup /dev/loop0 /tmp/airootfs.sfs
+mount -t squashfs -o ro /dev/loop0 /run/lower
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: squashfs mount failed!"
+    exec sh
+fi
+
+insmod /lib/modules/overlay.ko 2>/dev/null
+mount -t tmpfs -o size=50% tmpfs /run/upper
+mkdir -p /run/upper/upper /run/upper/work
+
+mount -t overlay overlay -o lowerdir=/run/lower,upperdir=/run/upper/upper,workdir=/run/upper/work /run/newroot
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: overlay mount failed!"
+    exec sh
+fi
+
+echo "[4/5] Installing kernel modules (132MB)..."
+wget -O /tmp/kmod.tar.gz http://$SERVER/blancco/kmod.tar.gz 2>&1
+if [ -s /tmp/kmod.tar.gz ]; then
+    cd /run/newroot
+    gunzip -c /tmp/kmod.tar.gz | tar xf -
+    rm -f /tmp/kmod.tar.gz
+    cd /
+    echo "  OK"
+else
+    echo "  WARNING: Failed to download kernel modules"
+fi
+
+echo "[5/6] Switching root to Blancco..."
+mkdir -p /run/newroot/run /run/newroot/proc /run/newroot/sys /run/newroot/dev /run/newroot/tmp
+
+echo "[6/6] Downloading Blancco config..."
+wget -O /run/newroot/albus/config.xml http://$SERVER/blancco/config-clean.xml 2>&1
+wget -O /run/newroot/albus/preferences.xml http://$SERVER/blancco/preferences.xml 2>&1
+if [ -s /run/newroot/albus/config.xml ]; then
+    echo "  config.xml: $(wc -c < /run/newroot/albus/config.xml) bytes"
+else
+    echo "  WARNING: Failed to download config.xml"
+fi
+if [ -s /run/newroot/albus/preferences.xml ]; then
+    cp -f /run/newroot/albus/preferences.xml /run/newroot/albus/preferences.save
+    echo "  preferences.xml: $(wc -c < /run/newroot/albus/preferences.xml) bytes"
+else
+    echo "  WARNING: Failed to download preferences.xml"
+fi
+
+# Pre-configure X.org to use modesetting driver (generic KMS, works with all GPUs)
+mkdir -p /run/newroot/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
+echo "  X.org: forcing modesetting driver"
+cat > /run/newroot/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-failsafeDriver.conf << 'XEOF'
+Section "Device"
+    Identifier "Failsafe Video Device"
+    Driver "modesetting"
+EndSection
+XEOF
+
+# Enable SSH for remote debugging
+echo "  Enabling SSH (root:blancco)..."
+sed -i 's/^#*PermitRootLogin.*/PermitRootLogin yes/' /run/newroot/etc/ssh/sshd_config 2>/dev/null
+cat > /run/newroot/etc/rc.local << 'RCEOF'
+#!/bin/bash
+echo 'root:blancco' | chpasswd
+ssh-keygen -A 2>/dev/null
+IFACE=$(ls /sys/class/net/ | grep -v lo | head -1)
+ip addr add 10.9.100.250/24 dev "$IFACE" 2>/dev/null
+/usr/bin/sshd
+RCEOF
+chmod +x /run/newroot/etc/rc.local
+
+ln -sf /usr/lib/systemd/system/rc-local.service /run/newroot/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/rc-local.service 2>/dev/null
+cat > /run/newroot/etc/systemd/system/pxe-debug.service << 'SVCEOF'
+[Unit]
+Description=PXE Debug SSH
+After=systemd-networkd.service
+Wants=systemd-networkd.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+RemainAfterExit=yes
+ExecStart=/etc/rc.local
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+SVCEOF
+ln -sf /etc/systemd/system/pxe-debug.service /run/newroot/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/pxe-debug.service
+
+mount --move /proc /run/newroot/proc
+mount --move /sys /run/newroot/sys
+mount --move /dev /run/newroot/dev
+
+echo "  Starting Blancco..."
+exec switch_root /run/newroot /sbin/init

playbook/blancco-preferences.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!-- FASDHFOSGHSVASLGHASDLASDFUILEFHLKJDKLFJGKLXCJGHFKLJDGHKLFJ -->
+<root>
+  <blancco type="albus-preferences" version="4.14"/>
+  <version>
+    <generation>7</generation>
+    <major>14</major>
+    <minor>0</minor>
+  </version>
+  <integrity>WrE8qdGzoKMVy403SVha6O6JOdYlerKbbjyLSWo20NI=</integrity>
+  <configuration dect="3.14.0" imported="false">
+    <processes type="array" key="process">
+      <process>workflow</process>
+      <process>auto</process>
+      <process>semi</process>
+      <process selected="true">manual</process>
+    </processes>
+    <hardware_tests type="array" key="test" enabled="false">
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="true" threshold="60">battery</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="true">cpu</test>
+      <test enabled="false" mandatory="false" auto="true" passes="0">memory</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="true">motherboard</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" threshold="50" duration="600">battery_discharge</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">bios_logo</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" threshold="80" duration="180">cpu_stress</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">display</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" formfactor="compact" language="us">keyboard</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">microphone</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" targets="">network</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" tests="R">optical_devices</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">sound</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">pointing_devices</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">sim_presence</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">speaker</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">touchscreen</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false" tests="R">usb_ports</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">webcam</test>
+      <test enabled="true" mandatory="false" auto="false">wifi</test>
+    </hardware_tests>
+    <layouts type="array" key="layout">
+      <layout selected="true">us</layout>
+      <layout>be</layout>
+      <layout>br</layout>
+      <layout>ca</layout>
+      <layout>ch</layout>
+      <layout>ch_fr</layout>
+      <layout>cn</layout>
+      <layout>de</layout>
+      <layout>dk</layout>
+      <layout>es</layout>
+      <layout>fi</layout>
+      <layout>fr</layout>
+      <layout>gb</layout>
+      <layout>hu</layout>
+      <layout>it</layout>
+      <layout>jp</layout>
+      <layout>kr</layout>
+      <layout>latam</layout>
+      <layout>nl</layout>
+      <layout>no</layout>
+      <layout>pl</layout>
+      <layout>pt</layout>
+      <layout>ru</layout>
+      <layout>se</layout>
+      <layout>sk</layout>
+    </layouts>
+    <locales type="array" key="locale">
+      <locale selected="true">en_US</locale>
+      <locale>de_DE</locale>
+      <locale>es_ES</locale>
+      <locale>fr_FR</locale>
+      <locale>hu_HU</locale>
+      <locale>it_IT</locale>
+      <locale>ja_JP</locale>
+      <locale>ko_KR</locale>
+      <locale>pl_PL</locale>
+      <locale>pt_BR</locale>
+      <locale>ru_RU</locale>
+      <locale>sk_SK</locale>
+      <locale>zh_CN</locale>
+      <locale>zh_TW</locale>
+    </locales>
+    <erasure_standards type="array" key="standard">
+      <standard enabled="true" id="afssi_5020" name="Air Force System Security Instruction 5020"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="aperiodic_random" name="Aperiodic random overwrite"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bsi_vs" name="BSI-2011-VS"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bsi_gs" name="BSI-GS"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bsi_gse" name="BSI-GSE"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bsi_gsk" name="BSI-GSK"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bl_ssd" name="Blancco SSD Erasure"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="bruce_schneier" name="Bruce Schneier's Algorithm"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="cesg_higher" name="CESG CPA - Higher Level"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="dod" name="DoD 5220.22-M"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="dod_ece" name="DoD 5220.22-M ECE"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="extended_firmware" name="Extended Firmware Based Erasure"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="firmware" name="Firmware Based Erasure"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="hmg_higher" name="HMG Infosec Standard 5, Higher Standard"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="hmg_lower" name="HMG Infosec Standard 5, Lower Standard"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="ieee_clear" name="IEEE 2883-2022 Clear"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="ieee_purge" name="IEEE 2883-2022 Purge"/>
+      <standard enabled="false" id="nist_pc" name="NIST 800-88" pattern="0x00" pattern_type="static"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="nist_clear" name="NIST 800-88 Clear" pattern="0x00" pattern_type="static"/>
+      <standard selected="true" enabled="true" id="nist_purge" name="NIST 800-88 Purge"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="nsa" name="NSA 130-1"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="ncsc" name="National Computer Security Center (NCSC-TG-025)"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="navso" name="Navy Staff Office Publication (NAVSO P-5239-26)"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="opnavinst" name="OPNAVINST 5239.1A"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="peter_gutmann" name="Peter Gutmann's Algorithm"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="rcmp_tssit" name="RCMP TSSIT OPS-II"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="random_byte_3x" name="Random Byte Overwrite (3x)"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="crypto_erase" name="Sanitize Cryptographic Erasure"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="tcg_crypto_erase" name="TCG Cryptographic Erasure"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="us_army" name="U.S. Army AR380-19"/>
+    </erasure_standards>
+    <verification_standards type="array" key="standard">
+      <standard enabled="true" id="all_bytes_same" name="All bytes the same" pattern="0x00"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="all_ones" name="All ones"/>
+      <standard selected="true" enabled="true" id="all_sectors_same" name="All sectors the same"/>
+      <standard enabled="true" id="all_zeros" name="All zeros"/>
+    </verification_standards>
+    <network>
+      <enabled>true</enabled>
+      <dhcp>true</dhcp>
+      <sshd>false</sshd>
+      <looping>false</looping>
+      <address></address>
+      <mask></mask>
+      <gateway></gateway>
+      <dns1></dns1>
+      <dns2></dns2>
+      <vlan></vlan>
+    </network>
+    <network_security>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <certificate>false</certificate>
+      <protocols type="array" key="protocol">
+        <protocol selected="true">peap</protocol>
+        <protocol>tls</protocol>
+      </protocols>
+      <identity encrypted="false"></identity>
+      <password encrypted="false"></password>
+    </network_security>
+    <network_share>
+      <username encrypted="false">blancco</username>
+      <password encrypted="false">blancco</password>
+      <domain></domain>
+      <hostname>10.9.100.1</hostname>
+      <path>blancco-reports</path>
+      <protocols type="array" key="protocol">
+        <protocol selected="true">smb</protocol>
+      </protocols>
+    </network_share>
+    <proxy>
+      <proxy_address encrypted="false"></proxy_address>
+      <proxy_port encrypted="false"></proxy_port>
+      <proxy_username encrypted="false"></proxy_username>
+      <proxy_password encrypted="false"></proxy_password>
+    </proxy>
+    <mc>
+      <username encrypted="false"></username>
+      <password encrypted="false"></password>
+      <hostname></hostname>
+      <port></port>
+      <timeout>20</timeout>
+      <validate_remote_certificate>true</validate_remote_certificate>
+    </mc>
+    <workflow offline="false" default="false"></workflow>
+    <erasure>
+      <drive_self_test type="short">false</drive_self_test>
+      <max_simultaneous_erasures>50</max_simultaneous_erasures>
+      <remove_hidden_areas>false</remove_hidden_areas>
+      <preserve_recovery_partition>false</preserve_recovery_partition>
+      <store_erasure_progress>false</store_erasure_progress>
+      <remapped mandatory="false" threshold="0">false</remapped>
+      <action_if_not_possible>interrupt</action_if_not_possible>
+      <fail_on_remapped_sectors>false</fail_on_remapped_sectors>
+      <fail_on_erasure_errors threshold="5">true</fail_on_erasure_errors>
+      <fail_on_read_errors threshold="5">true</fail_on_read_errors>
+      <verification>10</verification>
+      <enforced_rules type="array" key="rule">
+        <rule enabled="false" name="enforced_standard" standard_id="bl_ssd" target="ssd"/>
+        <rule enabled="true" name="fallback_nist_standard" standard_id="nist_purge" fallback_id="nist_clear"/>
+      </enforced_rules>
+      <fail_on_failed_self_test>false</fail_on_failed_self_test>
+      <fail_on_low_erasure_speed threshold="1">false</fail_on_low_erasure_speed>
+      <fail_on_timeout threshold="1">false</fail_on_timeout>
+      <use_write_same>true</use_write_same>
+      <allow_secure_erase_enhanced>true</allow_secure_erase_enhanced>
+      <allow_secure_erase_normal>true</allow_secure_erase_normal>
+      <allow_nvme_format_crypto_erase>true</allow_nvme_format_crypto_erase>
+      <allow_nvme_format_user_data_erase>true</allow_nvme_format_user_data_erase>
+      <allow_scsi_format_unit>true</allow_scsi_format_unit>
+      <allow_sanitize_block_erase>true</allow_sanitize_block_erase>
+      <allow_sanitize_crypto_erase>true</allow_sanitize_crypto_erase>
+      <allow_sanitize_overwrite>true</allow_sanitize_overwrite>
+      <allow_tcg_block_erase>true</allow_tcg_block_erase>
+      <allow_tcg_crypto_erase>true</allow_tcg_crypto_erase>
+      <allow_tcg_overwrite>true</allow_tcg_overwrite>
+      <allow_tcg_reset_write_pointers>true</allow_tcg_reset_write_pointers>
+      <allow_tcg_unmap>true</allow_tcg_unmap>
+    </erasure>
+    <fingerprint>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <location>67000</location>
+    </fingerprint>
+    <bootable_report>
+      <enabled>true</enabled>
+    </bootable_report>
+    <format_disk>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <type>ntfs</type>
+    </format_disk>
+    <spin_down_idle_disk>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+    </spin_down_idle_disk>
+    <raid>
+      <show_logical_disks>false</show_logical_disks>
+      <enable_passthrough>true</enable_passthrough>
+      <kill_logical_disks>true</kill_logical_disks>
+    </raid>
+    <hotplug>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <timeout>30</timeout>
+    </hotplug>
+    <external_device_service>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <port>80</port>
+      <https_port>443</https_port>
+      <hardware_tests type="array" key="test" enabled="false">
+        <test enabled="true" passes="1">memory</test>
+        <test enabled="true">cpu</test>
+        <test enabled="true" threshold="60">battery</test>
+        <test enabled="true" threshold="50" duration="600">battery_discharge</test>
+        <test enabled="true">display</test>
+        <test enabled="true">keyboard</test>
+        <test enabled="true">pointing_devices</test>
+        <test enabled="true">webcam</test>
+      </hardware_tests>
+    </external_device_service>
+    <license>
+      <provider>bios</provider>
+      <provider_report>bios</provider_report>
+      <edition>Enterprise Volume Edition</edition>
+      <offline></offline>
+      <mode>Drive Eraser</mode>
+    </license>
+    <image>
+      <description></description>
+      <creation_date>2025-03-10</creation_date>
+    </image>
+    <customer_data>
+      <business_location></business_location>
+      <customer_license>General Electric Company</customer_license>
+      <erasure_person></erasure_person>
+      <erasure_provider></erasure_provider>
+      <business_name></business_name>
+    </customer_data>
+    <settings>
+      <gui>
+        <erasure_console>local</erasure_console>
+        <erasure_view>list</erasure_view>
+        <show_removable_devices>false</show_removable_devices>
+        <show_san_devices>true</show_san_devices>
+        <ssd_erasure_exception>true</ssd_erasure_exception>
+        <report_view locked="true">standard</report_view>
+        <erasure_settings locked="false"/>
+        <show_customer>false</show_customer>
+        <show_operator>false</show_operator>
+        <show_partitions>false</show_partitions>
+        <screensaver locked="false">
+          <timeout>30</timeout>
+          <show_exceptions>false</show_exceptions>
+        </screensaver>
+        <hexviewer>
+          <autostart>false</autostart>
+        </hexviewer>
+        <mc_monitor>false</mc_monitor>
+        <drive_selection_percentage>5</drive_selection_percentage>
+        <reconfigure_controller_mode>
+          <timeout enabled="false">30</timeout>
+          <default_focus_on_proceed>true</default_focus_on_proceed>
+        </reconfigure_controller_mode>
+        <disable_sid_block_authentication>
+          <timeout enabled="true">0</timeout>
+          <default_focus_on_proceed>false</default_focus_on_proceed>
+        </disable_sid_block_authentication>
+        <scale_factor>100</scale_factor>
+        <clear_tpm>
+          <timeout enabled="true">0</timeout>
+          <default_focus_on_proceed>false</default_focus_on_proceed>
+        </clear_tpm>
+        <accessibility>
+          <available>false</available>
+          <enabled>true</enabled>
+          <key_echo>true</key_echo>
+          <speaking_rate>80</speaking_rate>
+        </accessibility>
+        <sound_level>70</sound_level>
+        <input_method>
+          <enabled>false</enabled>
+          <jp>false</jp>
+          <kr>false</kr>
+        </input_method>
+      </gui>
+    </settings>
+    <custom_fields type="array" key="custom_field">
+      <custom_field type="input" mandatory="true" locked="false" per_drive="false" show_in_editor="false" pattern="" hint="">
+        <name>custom_field_1</name>
+        <title>GERITM Number</title>
+        <value></value>
+      </custom_field>
+      <custom_field type="input" mandatory="true" locked="false" per_drive="false" show_in_editor="false" pattern="" hint="">
+        <name>custom_field_2</name>
+        <title>Device Name</title>
+        <value></value>
+      </custom_field>
+      <custom_field type="input" mandatory="true" locked="false" per_drive="false" show_in_editor="false" pattern="" hint="">
+        <name>custom_field_3</name>
+        <title>Device Serial Number</title>
+        <value></value>
+      </custom_field>
+      <custom_field type="input" mandatory="false" locked="true" per_drive="false" show_in_editor="false" pattern="" hint="">
+        <name>custom_field_4</name>
+        <title>Version</title>
+        <value>EVE_20250310</value>
+      </custom_field>
+    </custom_fields>
+    <exclude_verification_ranges type="array" key="exclude_verification_range"/>
+    <report>
+      <per_drive>false</per_drive>
+      <auto_backup>true</auto_backup>
+      <extensions type="array" key="extension">
+        <extension selected="true">xml</extension>
+      </extensions>
+      <utc_offset>0</utc_offset>
+      <network_info>true</network_info>
+      <custom_signature>
+        <enabled>false</enabled>
+        <label></label>
+      </custom_signature>
+      <drive_life_estimation>false</drive_life_estimation>
+    </report>
+    <wireless>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <ssid encrypted="false"></ssid>
+      <password encrypted="false"></password>
+      <key_mgmt>WPA-PSK</key_mgmt>
+      <scan_ssid>0</scan_ssid>
+    </wireless>
+    <cd_eject>
+      <after_boot>true</after_boot>
+      <after_erasure>false</after_erasure>
+      <after_report>false</after_report>
+      <at_shutdown>false</at_shutdown>
+    </cd_eject>
+    <system_shutdown>
+      <after_erasure>false</after_erasure>
+      <after_successful_erasure>false</after_successful_erasure>
+    </system_shutdown>
+    <system_restart>
+      <after_erasure>false</after_erasure>
+      <after_successful_erasure>false</after_successful_erasure>
+    </system_restart>
+    <device_enrollment_detection>
+      <persistent_software>false</persistent_software>
+    </device_enrollment_detection>
+    <vnc_remote>
+      <enabled>false</enabled>
+      <mode>viewer</mode>
+      <repeater_hostname></repeater_hostname>
+      <port>5900</port>
+      <password encrypted="false"></password>
+    </vnc_remote>
+    <nvme_over_fabrics enabled="false" type="array" key="connection"/>
+    <adapters type="array" key="adapter"/>
+  </configuration>
+</root>
+<!-- JFLKHGDJLKFHGJCXLKGJFLKDJKLHFELIUFDSALDSAHGLSAVSHGSOFHDSAF -->

playbook/pxe_server_setup.yml

@@ -136,7 +136,13 @@
           dhcp-option=6,8.8.8.8
           enable-tftp
           tftp-root={{ tftp_dir }}
+          # HTTP Boot clients (UEFI) identify with vendor class "HTTPClient"
+          dhcp-vendorclass=set:httpboot,HTTPClient
+          dhcp-option-force=tag:httpboot,60,"HTTPClient"
+          dhcp-option-force=tag:httpboot,66,""
+          dhcp-boot=tag:httpboot,http://10.9.100.1/blancco/grubx64.efi
           dhcp-boot=ipxe.efi
+          log-dhcp
 
     - name: "Create TFTP directory"
       file:
@@ -445,24 +451,86 @@
         - blancco
         - memtest
 
-    - name: "Create TFTP blancco directory for GRUB boot"
-      file:
-        path: "{{ tftp_dir }}/blancco"
-        state: directory
-        mode: '0755'
+    # --- Blancco PXE boot via Ubuntu kernel + switch_root ---
+    # Blancco's own kernel freezes on Dell Precision towers. Workaround:
+    # Boot Ubuntu kernel, download Blancco rootfs, overlay mount, switch_root.
 
-    - name: "Symlink Blancco boot files to TFTP (GRUB loads via TFTP)"
-      file:
-        src: "{{ web_root }}/blancco/{{ item }}"
-        dest: "{{ tftp_dir }}/blancco/{{ item }}"
-        state: link
-        force: yes
-      loop:
-        - vmlinuz-bde-linux
-        - intel-ucode.img
-        - amd-ucode.img
-        - config.img
-        - initramfs-bde-linux.img
+    - name: "Build Blancco PXE initramfs"
+      shell: |
+        set -e
+        WORK=$(mktemp -d)
+        mkdir -p "$WORK"/{bin,lib/modules,lib64,sbin,usr/share/udhcpc}
+
+        # Busybox (static)
+        cp /bin/busybox "$WORK/bin/" 2>/dev/null || apt-get install -y busybox-static >/dev/null && cp /bin/busybox "$WORK/bin/"
+        for cmd in sh awk cat chmod echo grep gunzip ifconfig ip ln losetup ls mkdir mknod mount reboot route sed sleep switch_root tar udhcpc umount wget cpio; do
+            ln -sf busybox "$WORK/bin/$cmd"
+        done
+
+        # NIC drivers (common server NICs)
+        KVER=$(uname -r)
+        KMOD="/lib/modules/$KVER/kernel/drivers/net/ethernet"
+        for drv in intel/e1000e/e1000e.ko.zst intel/igb/igb.ko.zst broadcom/tg3.ko.zst broadcom/bnx2.ko.zst broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_en.ko.zst broadcom/b44.ko.zst; do
+            if [ -f "$KMOD/$drv" ]; then
+                zstd -d "$KMOD/$drv" -o "$WORK/lib/modules/$(basename ${drv%.zst})" 2>/dev/null
+            fi
+        done
+
+        # Overlay module
+        OVMOD="/lib/modules/$KVER/kernel/fs/overlayfs/overlay.ko.zst"
+        if [ -f "$OVMOD" ]; then
+            zstd -d "$OVMOD" -o "$WORK/lib/modules/overlay.ko" 2>/dev/null
+        fi
+
+        # Init script
+        cp "{{ usb_root }}/playbook/blancco-init.sh" "$WORK/init"
+        chmod +x "$WORK/init"
+
+        # Build CPIO
+        cd "$WORK"
+        find . | cpio -o -H newc 2>/dev/null | gzip > "{{ web_root }}/blancco/kexec-initrd.img"
+        rm -rf "$WORK"
+        echo "Built kexec-initrd.img: $(stat -c %s '{{ web_root }}/blancco/kexec-initrd.img') bytes"
+      args:
+        creates: "{{ web_root }}/blancco/kexec-initrd.img"
+
+    - name: "Copy Ubuntu kernel for Blancco PXE boot"
+      copy:
+        src: "/boot/vmlinuz-{{ ansible_kernel }}"
+        dest: "{{ web_root }}/blancco/vmlinuz-ubuntu"
+        remote_src: yes
+        mode: '0644'
+
+    - name: "Build Ubuntu kernel modules tarball for Blancco"
+      shell: |
+        set -e
+        KVER=$(uname -r)
+        tar czf "{{ web_root }}/blancco/kmod.tar.gz" -C / "lib/modules/$KVER"
+        echo "Built kmod.tar.gz: $(du -h '{{ web_root }}/blancco/kmod.tar.gz' | cut -f1)"
+      args:
+        creates: "{{ web_root }}/blancco/kmod.tar.gz"
+
+    - name: "Deploy Blancco config and preferences (null-stripped)"
+      shell: |
+        # Strip null bytes from config.img files and deploy
+        if [ -f "{{ web_root }}/blancco/config.img" ]; then
+            WORK=$(mktemp -d)
+            cd "$WORK"
+            cpio -id < "{{ web_root }}/blancco/config.img" 2>/dev/null
+            tr -d '\000' < config.xml > "{{ web_root }}/blancco/config-clean.xml"
+            rm -rf "$WORK"
+        fi
+        # Deploy preferences from playbook (pre-configured with network share)
+        cp "{{ usb_root }}/playbook/blancco-preferences.xml" "{{ web_root }}/blancco/preferences.xml"
+      args:
+        creates: "{{ web_root }}/blancco/config-clean.xml"
+
+    - name: "Create Samba user for Blancco reports"
+      shell: |
+        id blancco 2>/dev/null || useradd -r -s /usr/sbin/nologin blancco
+        echo -e "blancco\nblancco" | smbpasswd -a -s blancco 2>/dev/null
+      args:
+        creates: /etc/samba/smbpasswd
 
     - name: "Check for WinPE deployment content on USB"
       stat:

prepare-boot-tools.sh

@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ PYEOF
                 grub-mkstandalone \
                     --format=x86_64-efi \
                     --output="$OUT_DIR/blancco/grubx64.efi" \
-                    --modules="linux normal echo net efinet tftp chain sleep" \
+                    --modules="linux normal echo net efinet http tftp chain sleep all_video efi_gop" \
                     "boot/grub/grub.cfg=$GRUB_CFG" 2>/dev/null
                 echo "    Built grubx64.efi ($(du -h "$OUT_DIR/blancco/grubx64.efi" | cut -f1))"
             else