Network install of Woody
The documentation for using bootroms (such as PXE) is incomplete. See the (ia386) install guide:
4.5.5 Move TFTP Images Into Place which links to 11.2.3, and contains the text, "NOT YET WRITTEN."
5.5 Booting from TFTP
This talks about floppies, confusing since I don't plan on using one (unless I
lack a working bootrom in the NIC).
4.5.6 Installing with TFTP and NFS Root
Doesn't really give any idea about how to do it. How do I create the NFS root to export? It happens I'm running Red Hat Linux, so Debian tools won't work. Maybe if it's on a CD somewhere....
11.2.3 Description of Installation System Files
This mentions several files called tftpboot.img, but I recall someone on another list found it impossible to boot such large files because at that time the system's in real mode, can address no more than one Mbyte of RAM, and of that, only 640K is available to programs.
pxelinux can load a kernel and an initrd, so it doesn't look like those are the right files. Possibly, I could use a "rescue" image and a "root image."
I have the inclination to try to get it working. Is there someone who can work with me?
What I suggest is someone create corrected text (don't worry about formatting), and I will try it out. When the text checks out, maybe others can try it, but it should go to the maintainer for inclusion.
I already have working dhcp, tftp and a couple of machines that do PXE-boot, and I also have an Etherboot ROM-on-a-floppy that boots of the network, so most of the work's done.
I don't plan to visit other ways of handing out IP addresses etc. ISC's DHCPD works and is available (AFAIK) to all Linux users.
btw Do not reply directly to me. Mail to this address not from an approved source gets treated as spam.
If you think the discussion would clutter the list too much, I can contact you using another address.
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Cheers
John Summerfield
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