> > > Alternatively you can divide one AHDI partition in two or more
> > > NetBSD partitions with disklabel(8).
> > Unfortunately, the install procedure is not quite friendly in this area.
> > You have to use ed(1) as an editor... An alternative is to install a
> > bare-bones system into your swap area and run disklabel from there.
> > Note that the 'chg_pid' program is reversable. As long as you write
> > down what id was originally found, you are always able to restore
> > the original situation.
> 
> This all sounds too complicated to me :-) I have freed up from another
> machine an old harddisk and will use that ... as it has nothing on it
> I should safeguard me from potential mistakes ! I particularly refer to the 
> fact that the install procedure will wipe ALL data off the HD in question
> not only the reformated partitions :-( 
The INSTALL document doesn't say that! It contains a warning that it is _wise_
to make a backup of the existing filesystems, in case you do the wrong thing.
The installation will only touch the partitions you tell it to touch...

> 
> > > > The INSTALL File talks about compatibility with Linux ... what exactly ?
> > > ??? Did you read that in the BUGS section? :-)
> > I didn't get that either ;-) I have never looked into the compatibility code.
> > I don't know how compatible linux-68k and linux-i386 are, but if they are
> > compatible (exept for processor type of course ;-) ), it shouldn't be
> > too hard to get it to work.
> 
> I think basically it is but I have yet been able to run any binaries from an
> i386 dist. or easily compile a wide range of i386 source so I dont know where
> that leaves this statement :-/ 
The compat_linux option does not emulate an i386. It emulates the systemcall
interface. What I wanted to say is: if the systemcall interface of linux-m68k
matches that of linux-i386, the emulation will be easily made to work on
NetBSD/Atari. But _only_ for linux-m68k binaries.
>                           
> > > > Will I be able to mount ext2 and minix partitions ??
> > > Yes, if you write the drivers for those filesystems.
> > There were rumours about ext2 support, no time-frame was mentioned however.
> 
> >From the same question in linux mailing lists it seems that this would be a 
> tall order since it has changed in structure with all recent kernel patches !
> 
> Nothing available to mount GEM,DOS or Minixfs filesystems ?? What about floppy
> drives ..
You can mount all GEM/DOS filesystems from NetBSD/Atari. Just use the 
'-t msdos' flag to mount. It doesn't matter if they are on floppy or
harddisk.

Leo.