Installing TFTP server

TODO: {{#todo:Finalize (12.12.13-11:11->MW+)|Michael Welling|oe 4,oe 5,mw,Review,md}}

Background Information

The Trivial File Transfer Protocal, or TFTP, is used to transfer files from machine to machine with less overhead than other protocols. For more information about TFTP, see the following page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivial_File_Transfer_Protocol

Nearly all of the EMAC ARM based systems require a TFTP server to transfer the Linux kernel and file system to the board from a host PC. The boot loader will connect to the server to retrieve specific files and relocate them to SDRAM, which enables them to be programmed onto the target's flash.

Installing a TFTP server on Ubuntu

There are several TFTP server alternatives in Ubuntu. The tftpd or tftpd-hpa packages are recommended for installation.

Installing tftpd

NOTE: This doesn't say anything about distribution (which it must), doesn't explain anything about the permissions, and looks like it was written hastily.

To install the tftpd package, run the following:

sudo apt-get install tftpd

To configure the the TFTP server, create /etc/xinetd.d/tftp with the following contents:

service tftp
{
protocol        = udp
port            = 69
socket_type     = dgram
wait            = yes
user            = nobody
server          = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
server_args     = /tftpboot
disable         = no
}

Run the following to create the TFTP server's base directory:

sudo mkdir /tftpboot
sudo chmod -R 777 tftpboot
sudo chown -R nobody /tftpboot

Once the configuration is complete the xinetd start should be restarted to enable the server:

sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart

The TFTP server is then ready to send/recieve files from /tftpboot.

Notes that the used directory can be changed to your needs by editing the server_args variable in /etc/xinet.d/tftp file.

Installing a TFTP server on Windows

For Window's based systems, EMAC recommends the Tftpd32 server. The installation procedure is typical and should be self explanatory.