Re: sysinst and gpt

[Christian Lerrahn <lists%penpal4u.net@localhost>]

Hi Tom,
On Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:14:27 -0500
"Thomas Mueller" <mueller23%insightbb.com@localhost> wrote:

> > Hi,
> > I've been trying to install NetBSD 5.1.1 to a 3TB hard drive but
> > sysinit always throws an error about the MBR not matching up and the
> > drive will always be considered a 2TB drive. Obviously, sysinit
> > fails to recognise the GPT partitioning and is unable to install to
> > such a drive.
> 
> > I'm not fussed about booting because I'll probably have grub on the
> > drive, anyway. According to what I found on the web, NetBSD is
> > generally able to handle gpt partitioned drives, so how do I
> > install to such a drive.
> 
> > I can boot from a CD but also have access to the system via a
> > FreeBSD or a Linux system.
> 
> > TIA,
> > Christian
> 
> I had that problem last summer when trying to install NetBSD-current
> to a 3 TB hard drive, using snapshot from nyftp.netbsd.org
> 
> I think you mean sysinst and not sysinit?

Yes, of course, I meant sysinst. :)

> Unfortunately, sysinst can't recognize gpt and also will not install
> to an already mounted partition.
> 
> I extracted the .tgz files to the root directory of the NetBSD
> partition and ran etcupdate from the CD.
> 
> However, it started to boot but hung every time; also the
> installation CD boot hung about half the time.
> 
> I successfully installed NetBSD 5.1_STABLE amd64 to a 16 GB USB
> stick.  That booted but immediately rebooted whenever I tried to go
> into X.
> 
> Then FreeBSD 9.0_BETA1 came out and sidetracked me away from NetBSD.
> 
> Now I intend to source-upgrade to FreeBSD 9.0 release, on 9.0-RC3
> now, then I might see if I can cross-build NetBSD from FreeBSD
> 9.0_RELEASE.
> 
> This would be both amd64 and i386, and both 5.1_STABLE and HEAD.
> 
> I would build NetBSD source code not including X, then build X from
> pkgsrc.
> 
> Even if this fails to build or builds a nonbootable system, it might
> serve as a dress rehearsal and feasibility study for cross-building a
> Linux installation.

Well, that all sounds like a lot of work. I have a few other ideas as
well. One would be to try what you did and just install from a NetBSD
CD manually. I found some notes on that at
http://pbraun.nethence.com/doc/sysutils_bsd/netbsd_without_sysinst.html .
I don't know if I can get everything to work that way but if it works
it is probably less work than the way you suggest.

> On a GPT-partitioned drive, you might need grub2 as opposed to legacy
> grub 0.97.

Yes. I have grub2 in place already. That part should be alright.

Cheers,
Christian