> I've made several tries at compiling a kernel to run on my Centris 650
> using the recent 4/7/97 snapshot of the system, kernel /usr/src/sys files
> from about 4/9, and running with the Generic #28 (aka #29?) kernel. I
> compiled once with the GENERIC mac config file, following all the
> instructions in the kernel compiling FAQ (maybe not the latest--ca. 11/96
> FAQ), and also with a modified GENERIC config file, but each time the
> resulting kernel will boot and run my system with at least the following
> problems:

Sounds good so far...

>   - During the boot messages (after the Mac desktop has gone to white
> screen), just after the line "checking for core dump..." I get:
> 	Savecore: can't find device 0/0
> 	April 13 22:32:21 centris savecore: can't find device 0/0
> (diff. date each time, of course) then the boot continues normally to the
> login messages.
> 
>   - After login if I try "dmesg" to review and/or print the message from
> above I get:
> 	dmesg: magic number incorrect
> 
>   - If I do "netstat -nr" I get the start of display of routing tables
> (just the headings - Destination, Gateway, Flags, etc) and the following
> message which repeats until I hit control Z:
> 	netstat: kvm_read: bad address
> 

Try taking a look at the Errors section of the FAQ.  I believe that all
three of the above are covered, and inevitably, all three are caused by
your running kernel not being named /netbsd...

> I haven't tried to look for other problems with my kernel and being new at
> this I don't know where to look that would be useful for more clues. Since
> the Generic #28 works without any of above symptoms I suspect I've
> overlooked something in the configuration for the compile or that I have
> some corrupt file(s) in the sources--but wouldn't that be likely to cause
> compiling errors and halt the compile?

No, it sounds like your compile worked just fine...

> My goal is to understand this process and then to customize a kernel for
> this system and also one for an older Mac II with lots less RAM (the Mac II
> has been running a slightly earlier snapshot of NetBSD with the Generic #26
> just fine).
> 
> Any hints or suggestions of things to try, places to look greatly
> appreciated. Any other clues, info needed, I can try to supply to track
> this down.

Like I said above, it's in the FAQ:

http://www.macbsd.com/macbsd/macbsd-docs/faq/

> Reading the port-mac68k mail and archives is a great education. The group's
> sharing of  knowledge and their patience with beginners like me is just
> great.

Yes, it's pretty wonderful, isn't it!

I hope this helps.

Later.

-- 
Colin Wood                                      ender@is.rice.edu
Consultant                                        Rice University
Information Technology Services                       Houston, TX