Re: Netbooting NetBSD on an iMac G3 350 MHz?

[Flavio Donadio <flavio%donadio.com.br@localhost>]

Georg,


Disclaimer: I never used netboot.

It seems feasible. The only two 350MHz models of the iMac (the first  
slot-loading models and the Summer 2000 revision) are supported by  
NetBSD, as seen on the Model Support Page (http://www.netbsd.org/ports/macppc/models.html#imac 
):

iMac, iMac DV (Slot Loading)(1.5)
G3/350, 400

iMac (Summer 2000)(1.5)
G3/350, 400, 450, 500
Two reports that the Firmware Update 4.1.9 causes ATA4-related  
problems in (1.5.2)

Both use OpenFirmware version 3, which should be fine and easier to  
use than older versions, I think...

The "Diskless NetBSD HOW-TO" macppc-specific introduction page (http://www.netbsd.org/docs/network/netboot/intro.macppc.html 
) seems pretty straight forward and there's even a link to an iMac- 
specific netbooting tutorial, but it seems outdated (it uses NetBSD  
1.4 and an older iMac model):
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/tech/netbsd_imac.shtml

It isn't something that should have changed much, though.

The page also states that "all NetBSD-supported Power Macs can boot  
over their built-in network interface." So, you shouldn't have  
problems netbooting the iMac.

The FAQ has some information on common netboot problems: http://www.netbsd.org/ports/macppc/faq.html#netboot-probs 
 . It might be of help if you encounter problems.


Cheers,
Flavio


On 15/06/2009, at 19:03, Georg Schwarz wrote:

> Has anyone experience with netbooting an iMac G3 350 MHz? I've got  
> one such model whose CD-ROM seems to be broken.
> Can I expect netbooting NetBSD to work on that machine?
>
> --
> Georg Schwarz    http://home.pages.de/~schwarz/
> georg.schwarz%freenet.de@localhost  +49 151 11559652