Re: 7024-E30 Netboot

[T <bobs%thelibertytree.org@localhost>]

On Sat, 23 Dec 2023 18:53:51 -0000 (UTC), T wrote:

> On Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:04:00 -0000 (UTC), T wrote:
> 
>> On Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:33:29 -0500, Aaron B. wrote:
>> 
>>> Trying again with the E30 I have: Replaced the network adapter with an
>>> 8-Z having an FRU number per the previous thread; SMS sees it and
>>> attempts to boot from it.
>>> 
>>> Through packet capture, I can see (a) it acquiring an address via
>>> BOOTP,
>>> (b) it contacting the TFTP server, and (c) it correctly downloading
>>> the file via TFTP.
>>> 
>>> However it's just stuck on 'Starting software please wait' with no
>>> further activity after that.
>>> 
>>> I've tried the GENERIC kernel in the install directory; the kernel
>>> from the prep sets, uncompressed; and /usr/mdec/boot from the prep
>>> base set.
>>> All cause the same behavior.
>>> 
>>> What's the correct file to use? A kernel, or is there a 2nd stage
>>> bootstrap to send instead?
>> 
>> I'm not sure about the E30, but I have to use the file sysinst_small.fs
>> to get netboot working on my 7248-132 43p. If I try using the GENERIC
>> kernel,
>> it doesn't work. There seems to be a 2MiB size limit on what loads, if
>> it's larger than that, it doesn't boot.
> 
> To add onto this, the 2MiB or less kernel is just needed to bootstrap
> the bootloader, it can be stripped down, bare bones since it only needs
> to be able to interact with boot devices. The TFTP should be sending
> what is a boot disk image to the PReP machine, as found here:
> https://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-9.3/prep/installation/floppy/
> 
> I don't remember if 9.3 sysinst_small.fs works, if it doesn't, you could
> probably use one from a previous version release (like 8.2) that
> generates a smaller kernel size. I compile a stripped down kernel
> specifically for use with the bootloader.
> 
> Once the boot image is loaded, it can then boot a normal GENERIC kernel
> and as far as I have seen, there isn't a size limitation affecting the
> second stage kernel.

The relevant man pages that describe this process:
https://man.netbsd.org/prep/boot.8
https://man.netbsd.org/prep/mkbootimage.8