While shopping for shruberries, Tom Samplonius pondered:
> 
> On Wed, 20 Dec 1995, Mauricio Tavares wrote:
> 
> > 	I am planning on installing NetBSD 1.1 in a currently diskless 
> > 3/50.  To do that, I bought a Conner 1.08GB SCSI drive, which I will 
> > install in an external case, and a DB50->Centronics 50 cable.  I will try 
> > to install it from an Exabyte 8200 8mm tape drive.  Here are my questions:
> > 
> > 	o Will the 3/50 be happy with the Exabyte?
> 
>   I don't think so.  I believe 3/x systems can only boot from a QIC 24 or 
> sometimes a QIC 150.  You will probably need to netboot it to install.  
> The boot rom just isn't that smart in the Sun 3 line.
> 
	Oh great.  I've already made the 8mm tapes.  It seems it is time 
for me to find a victim I can borrow a QIC 24/150 tape drive from...

	About netbooting, wouldn't that require, as far as I could gather 
from the guide, that I will need to start the 3/50 from a tape anyway.  
If that is true, shouldn't I simply use the tape to install netbsd in the 
first place?  I am confused.

> > 	o I do not remember seeing much stuff in the install documentation 
> > 	  regarding partitioning a drive before installing NetBSD.  Is it 
> > 	  assumed we are using the default configuration, whatever it 
> > 	  might be?
> 
>   The installation guide is a little thin in this area.  You do need to 
> partition the disk into slices for root, swap and /usr.
> 
	That I understand.  However, if I am not mistaken the a partition 
defaults to 32MB, the b also is 32MB, and so on.  I know that I can 
change that *once* I have a live machine to play with, but how to go 
about doing that *before* having a fully operation netbsd box?

> > 	o The installation docs also mentioned using a terminal connected to
> > 	  the Sun's serial port during the installation process.  Do I *need* 
> > 	  that?  Can't I simply use the machine's screen/keyboard?
> 
>   Sure (well, works for me).  The install recommends run diagnostics.  
> You need the terminal for that.  Also, many Sun 3 owners don't have 
> working keyboards and/or monitors anymore so use a terminal all the time.
> 
	I see.  If I were to run diagnostics, can't I simply slap a null 
modem and a PC/Mac running some comm rpogram in its serial port and set 
it to 9600 8/N/1?

-- 

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| Mauricio Tavares          | "We will attack...                          |
| raub@kushana.aero.ufl.edu |  ...under the cover of daylight!" Rimmer    |
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