Since the floppy drive isn't support, what's the process
for building a boot floppy?  

i'd assume you build a file system somewhere else, then
copy it somewhere where you can write a floppy.

except that would assume you've got a small filesystem
somewhere where you do the build.    Is this currently
done by reserving some small filesystem on a hard drive,
then copying the contents of that physical drive to
the floppy?

mts.