Re: diskless cluster
begin quote "Jorge L. deLyra" <delyra@latt.if.usp.br> 2002-12-19 18:44:33:
>> 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.
We use FAI here, which does more than you appear to want, but
might give some hints. More details on request.
>> 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.
The 3C905C is no longer available: if you ask for one, you
get given the 905CX, which has the go-faster bits removed.
Go instead for the 3C980C, which appears to be a direct
reincarnation of the 905C. The PROM is disabled by default.
To enable it, you'll need to boot from a DOS disc, and run
3C90XCFG.EXE (!) from the supplied CD.
Another useful alternative is the Intel EEPro100. Anybody care
to benchmark these two .... ?
MaJoC
----
Dr M J Carter
Physics and Astronomy
University of Nottingham
E-mail: Martin.J.Carter@nottingham.ac.uk
Reply to: