In message <000a01c15d05$d7047de0$9e42b7d8@George.Lab.WDMSetc.com>, "Don Yunisk
is" writes:
>>Because my BIOS doesn't seem to like the NetBSD disk (wd1 on an old 
>>486), I need to boot via a floppy.  If I use the install floppy and 
>>interrupt the boot process, I can say
>>
>> boot wd1a:netbsd
>>
>>and all is cool.  But I'd rather the machine be able to boot unassisted.
>>
>>I tried building a kernel with the following line:
>>
>> config          netbsd  root on wd1a type ffs
>>
>>But that kernel won't boot, even via the install floppy; the machine 
>>just sits there.
>
>
>I don't think you need to modify the GENERIC kernel to get
>the results you seek (?).
>
>Instead, install a boot loader on wd0 *and* wd1 that will
>allow the boot sequence to be passed to the second (wd1) disk.
>
>For example, I use BootEasy installed on wd0 and wd1.
>The PC wants to book off of wd0 ("C:") and drags in the
>MBR from that disk as part of the IPL.  Since BootEasy
>replaces the traditional "MBR", it can then present
>a menu of boot choices -- something like:
>  F1 wd0 partition 1
>  F2 wd0 partition 2
>  F3 wd0 partition 3
>  F4 wd0 partition 4
>  F5 wd1
>Pressing F5 gives you a similar menu:
>  F1 wd1 partition 1
>  F2 wd1 partition 2
>  F3 wd1 partition 3
>  F4 wd1 partition 4
>  F5 wd0

I had, in fact, tried something like that with the NetBSD boot 
selector.  However, as best I can tell it uses the BIOS for disk I/O, 
and as I noted the BIOS doesn't like the drive.  NetBSD kernels have no 
trouble with it at all...

		--Steve Bellovin, http://www.research.att.com/~smb
		Full text of "Firewalls" book now at http://www.wilyhacker.com