Re: diskless cluster
> I'm trying to build a cluster beowulf debian with a master pc being a
> server, where the others pcs (slaves) will boot through a floppy that
> will boot it (with a etherboot disk - etherboot.sourceforge.net)and get
> ip and a kernel image using a tftp server.
>
> Does anybody here have done this before,
Yes! Many.
> or have some suggestions ?
A bunch. Let's start with: get rid of the floppy drives, burn a few eprom
boot chips with Etherboot. If you have the choice, our recommendation for
a high-performance, reasonably priced network card, which is particularly
convenient, is the 3COM 3c905c, the model with the flash eeprom boot chip
soldered to the board. Do not get the model with a socket instead.
With this card you can program que boot chip from within Linux, no need of
an eprom programmer. You can also use a cheap RTL 8139, but then you will
need the eprom programmer, and performance will be about 25% of what you
get with the 3COM card. You have long way ahead...
Cheers,
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Jorge L. deLyra, Associate Professor of Physics
The University of Sao Paulo, IFUSP-DFMA
For more information: finger delyra@latt.if.usp.br
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