[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: help requested...




Ok, this is data required for people who want to build/setup networks
where the clients are to be set up for netboot or temporary netboot (i.e.
workstations in a classroom to be used for access to a Linux server,
without installing Linux on them):

1. There is something called netboot, or etherboot. It is a package that
allows one to compile and set up a boot loader that can boot a complete
NFS-root system from a remote server, without using a disk or local
installation. This is relevant to the point, in that there is an option to
make a 'test diskette' that contains a variant of the boot loader. This
can be inserted into the drive of a networked machine, and the machine be
booted from it. The loader is meant to be put into the EPROM on the
network card but noone said you HAVE to do that.

This requires BOOTP to run on the server and other niceties. It is
interesting to know how bad the load gets with a classroom full of X
terminals hanging off a Linux server.

There is a mailing list, accessible at:

netboot@baghira.han.de

To subscribe, send a message with the word 'subscribe' in the subject.
More info is available from listserv at listserv@mitvma.mit.edu for
example (send a message with 'help' in the BODY).

The package is called etherboot-XX.XX where XX are version numbers.

There is also another variation on that theme called napi. I know nothing
about it.

2. The technology that made it possible to make linux-lp is built into the
kernels of systems above 2.0.27. This is why I am not so hot at turning
out a newer version. Look for 'ramdisk support' and 'initial ramdisk'.
Note that I am still using my own version as before. It works great ;)

This technology makes it possible to build a single-floppy system that can
NFS-mount a remote server. This is better than the solution at 1. as it
can also be used stand-alone for text-mode only. 

If anyone is interested in a discussion, please take the cue.

thanks,
	Peter
	(plp@actcom.co.il)

<my sig will be back here as soon as I finish setting up this machine>