Re: NFS-root install on Multia ??
Bart-Jan Vrielink <bartjan@vrielink.net> writes:
> Hello,
>
> After having used my Multia the past few years using RedHat on it's tiny
> disk, I would like to use it as a diskless X server running Slink, with
> it's root filesystem nfs-mounted from an i386, also runnign Slink.
> I still have a few questions on this setup.
>
> - Although most of my installation experience is with Debian i386, I
> don't think it's possible to use the Debian installer on a system
> without a harddisk, but I am not sure.
> If I really have to, I could temporarily install a disk, but I want to
> avoid that if possible.
You will need a harddisk, but you don't have to write to it. You will
need a partition wich has type linux, which you can mount as root. But
before actually installing you can umount it and remount a nfs
partition. Its a bit tricky, but it can be done. I did it on an i386
some time ago. Maybe the installation routin could be changed to allow
nfs mounts for root with a few lines of code instead of insisting on a
locally mounted root partition.
If you have a spare disk, and even if its only a zip disk, use that as
root to install the base filesystem and then transfer it to the nfs
server. Its faster to unscrew the Multia and stick in a disk than to
work around the installation routine.
> - Because both systems are Debian systems, it may be possible to merge
> certain architecture independent trees (like /usr/doc), but doesn't that
> break the Debian package system (what if I dpkg -r a package on one
> system, but want to keep it on the other ??)
You can merge them, but for installation purposes all systems need
write permissions to that partition. Removing a package on just one
maschine means that you have to reinstall it on another maschine to
get the deleted files back. Maybe you can use libtricks to fake the rm
calls.
May the Source be with you.
Goswin
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