Subject: boot-tiny.fs w/ serial console
To: None <port-i386@netbsd.org>
From: randy <randy@24on.cc>
List: port-i386
Date: 06/20/2003 23:20:51
hi,

i am trying to install netbsd 1.6.1 on a 486 with only 8 MB RAM, 800
MB HD, 3com 509 etherlink nic, but no cdrom. unfortunately i cannot
use a keyboard anymore on this pc - i have tried 3 and none of them
worked (even though they work fine on other machines).

so i decided to install via serial console with the floppies
boot-com1.fs and boot-com2.fs (and the rest via ftp). now the thing
is, 8 MB simply isn't enough for installing netbsd - it boots up fine
and then runs out of swap when it's trying to make the devices.

the floppy boot-tiny.fs seems to work fine, but i can't use it because
i can't use my keyboard.

so basically i'm wondering if there is a boot-tiny.fs floppy which
works via the serial console like the boot-com floppies, or if someone
would be so kind and make one for me.

i do have 2 other netbsd machines here, but i have read through the
netbsd guide on how to make your own boot floppies, and i don't think
i can build them on any of the 2 boxes here - one is another 486 with
8 MB and a very minimum netbsd 1.5.2 (a little firewall), and the
other is a macppc 1.5.1 - as i understand i would need a machine
running 1.6.1 to be able to make 1.6.1 boot floppies, is that right?

or maybe there's a possiblity that i don't know of yet so i could use
the existing boot floppies to boot boot-tiny.fs over the serial
console? i have tried just booting off boot-com1.fs until i get the
boot manager via serial, and then insert boot-tiny to actually boot
the kernel + installer, but then the installer is back on the 486's
vga out and keyboard input instead of the serial connection. is there
a boot option i could issue before loading boot-tiny?

i'd be very happy if someone could help me out on this - i would
absolutely love to run netbsd on this old thing!

many thanks,
randy