Many Thanks thedude_,
Yes, I have been using Altiris to deploy ESX 2.5.x using both http and ftp, I must say the http is slower but works fine. Yet to try ESX3.0.
You are spot on, the Altiris solution creates a 2gb dos partition in which it copies the loadlin boot disk files along with ks.cfg file etc and then reboots and makes a network connection to the http or ftp server to fetch the ESX source files.
It works a treat! no problems, when I saw the information on your appliance i got very excited and the first thing that came to mind was if it can accomodate deploying ESX and VM's it would be great!.
I will begin with downloading the appliance and start looking at it with a view to making it work for ESX and VM deployments.
I'll keep everyone informed of my progress and for sure will be posting questions on some of the low level Linux stuff as I am not a fully fledged Linux expert....long way to go.
Thanks.
MP