Writing a Legacy PXE Bootloader

The author shares their experience in developing a legacy PXE bootloader, reflecting on their past attempts at creating an operating system. They express a preference for 32-bit legacy booting over modern 64-bit UEFI systems due to nostalgia for older machines. The author aims to streamline their development process by utilizing PXE, which allows for network booting without physical media. They detail the setup of a test environment, including the need for a BOOTP/DHCP and TFTP server, and the challenges faced in finding suitable software for Windows. After researching the relevant protocols, the author decided to create their own server to facilitate the boot process. They also address potential conflicts with existing DHCP servers by isolating their test machine on a separate network. The author successfully writes a simple "Hello World" binary and prepares it for network booting, noting the advantages of a larger NBP size compared to traditional boot sectors. They provide insights into the configuration of their boot server and the testing process, which involves monitoring DHCP and TFTP communications. The initial tests show promise, although there are some connection issues that need to be resolved. The author emphasizes the importance of using tools like hex editors for debugging low-level programming and expresses enthusiasm for continuing their project.