Re: Re (5): installing NetBSD on a Sparcstation 2.

[Dan Oglesby <danno%serverunderground.com@localhost>]

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Oglesby" <danno%serverunderground.com@localhost>
> To: port-sparc%NetBSD.org@localhost
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 1:03:15 AM
> Subject: Re: Re (5): installing NetBSD on a Sparcstation 2.
> ----- Original Message -----
> > From: peasthope%shaw.ca@localhost
> > To: port-sparc%NetBSD.org@localhost
> > Cc: peasthope%shaw.ca@localhost
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 5:33:04 PM
> > Subject: Re (5): installing NetBSD on a Sparcstation 2.
> > Brett,
> >
> > > ... NetBSD is done by volunteers ...
> > > The best way to keep a port alive is get involved, actively test
> > > things and report problems ...
> >
> > Understood. I'll reply again as soon as there is something
> > more definite about the SCSI drives. If I have to bring a
> > drive from home, that will be August 17.
> >
> > Regards, ... Peter E.
> >
> 
> I have an SS2, among other sun4c/sun4m/sun4u systems, that I can test
> some things on this weekend. I just got NetBSD 5.0.2 running on a
> sweet 486 system from my college days, and planned on bringing the
> SPARCs online as well.
> 
> Let me know what you guys need tested, and I'll give it a go. I should
> have time this coming Sunday to break all that hardware out and set it
> up. I have known good bootable SCSI CD-ROM drives, working floppy
> drives, and a pile of SCSI hard drives. Framebuffers, Sun monitors,
> keyboards, yadda.
> 
> Linux support for the older SPARCs is very much lacking, so I'd like
> to help where I can with NetBSD. I am new to *BSD, but proficient with
> *nix in general. I promise to have some noob questions, but I will
> learn fast. :-)
> 
> --Dan

So, the SS2 is being finicky with booting from the NetBSD 5.0.2 CD-ROM.  This 
is using the same CD-ROM drive that successfully boots Solaris 7 on the 
machine.  When booting the NetBSD 5.0.2 CD, I see the first two lines that 
indicate NetBSD begins to load from the CD, but after a few seconds it errors 
with "Data Access Exception" and drops back to the "ok" prompt in PROM.

The floppies for 5.0.2 fail to load, as well as for 5.1.3_RC3.  I receive an 
error regarding a missing disk label.

The SS2 I have is currently running version 2.4 of the PROM firmware.  I am 
attempting to upgrade this to 2.9, since that seems to be the version best 
supported by NetBSD and Linux.   Once that is done, I may have better luck 
booting from CD-ROM.

If anyone has any suggestions, please send them my way!

--Dan