> Hello there :-)
> 
> I'm trying to install NetBSD on a Sun IPX workstation using a Linux server
> to give NetBSD to the IPX.  The IPX has no accessable OS on it, so I've
> been trying to use the diskless workstation installation.
> 
> I've got RARP installed on the Linux box, I have the boot.net file in the
> /tftpboot directory and I can download it myself with tftp, and I have the
> root of the NetBSD filesystem under /netbsd   It is NFS exported with
> readwrite permission to any IP currently (insecure, I know, but it's
> behind a firewall and there's no other machines to take advantage of that
> hole).  The IP I have chosen for the IPX is 204.230.21.98 (CCE61562 in
> hex) and it's hardware address is 08:00:20:1A:34:2D
> 
> I power on, and I hit stop-a.  It's in the new command mode (ok prompt)
> 
> When I boot with `boot net netbsd -s' at the `ok' prompt, I get the little
> sun icon and the ROM/computer information.  Then it says:
> 
> Boot device: /sbus/le@0,c00000    File and args: netbsd -s
> ea00
> >> NetBSD/sparc Secondary Boot, Revision 1.7
> >> (pk@flambard, Fri Jan 2 00:10 58 MET 1998)
> boot: client IP address: 204.230.21.98
> recvrpc: reject, astat=1, errno=1
> bootparamd: 'whoami' call failed
> Can't open network device `/sbus@1,f8000000/le@0,c00000'
> open: netbsd: Operation not permitted
> device[/sbus@1,f8000000/le@0,c00000]: <prompt>
> 
> It prompts me at that point.  If I hit enter, it says boot?, and if
> I type anything there and hit enter it loops back to Can't open network
> device, blah blah.
> 
> 
> I'm likely either not putting something in the right place, or not doing
> something right with the bootp.  I don't understand this error and the
> installation documentation leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to
> descriptiveness in getting this to work, so could someone please help me
> out?
> 
> I've subscribed to this list, but I've not gotten confirmation back
> (probably because I'm using the corperate email and it's MS and it bites),
> so please make sure to CC `steve.conley@eds.com' when replying.
> 
> 
> Thanks a lot in advance!

looks like you only configured your linux box for RevARP but you have no
bootparamd running that tells the sparc which root-nfs server/dir to mount

/etc/bootparams should look similar to this:
--snip--
sparc1.sil.at  root=terminal:/opt/tftpboot/194.152.178.14/root \
               swap=terminal:/opt/tftpboot/194.152.178.14/swap \
               dump=terminal:/opt/tftpboot/194.152.178.14/swap
--snip--
on FreeBSD:
bootparamd(8) - boot parameter server
bootparams(5)            - boot parameter database

the install-guide for NetBSD-sparc says:
After the boot program has been loaded into memory and given control by
the PROM, it starts locating the machine's remote root directory through
the BOOTPARAM protocol. First a BOOTPARAM WHOAMI request is broadcast
on the local net. The answer to this request (if it comes in) contains
the client's name. This name is used in next step, a BOOTPARAM GETFILE
request -- sent to the server that responded to the WHOAMI request --
requesting the name and address of the machine that will serve the client's
root directory, as well as the path of the client's root on that server.

happy installing.
(just did install a SS1 sucessfully and working under X11 .. *grin* .. nice
X-terms)

regards,
chris
-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%% PGP-Key-ID: 0x975B2F19 - CJM17(-RIPE) - http://www.enemy.org %%%
%%%%=        "Remember, UNIX spelled backwards is XINU."       =%%%%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%