Hi,

> I'm trying to install NetBSD 1.6.2 on an Amiga 2000 with
> KS 37.175 ROM
> GVP Combo 030 w/12M RAM
> Quantum 3.2G hard disk (install target)
> Seagate 4G hard disk (boot device).

Looks good...

> I can get the miniroot.fs booting, and it starts the install procedure
> through the part where it does start to create the filesystem on the
> root devicve.  It seems to get through this process, then at the end I
> get the following error message:
> newfs: ioctl (WDINFO): invalid arguement
> newfs: /dev/rsd1a: can't rewrite disk label

That should be fine - because you use AmigaDOS to partition the disk, the
disklabel is not actually written ever by NetBSD. You can safely ignore
that.

> It then goes on to ask me if I want to install the network [y] and
> pressing return gives anotehr error:
> /install: 270: Syntax error: end of file unexpected (expecting fi)
>
> and then even control-D will not re-start the install procedure (well,
> it will restart, and then die with another error).

That error should not be. Can you download the 1.6.2 sets and install them
from a local source, and set up the network later?

> I have tried different size partitions on the Quantum drive (under and
> 0ver 500MB) without success.

The size shouldn't matter (since both drives are less than 4 gigs).

> Also, the install instructions need a bit of update for systems with KS
> 37.175, as it seems that the filesystem must be an Amiga format for the
> drive to come up on the boot menu (custom FS partitions are not listed.
> On the flip side, autobooting the Amiga directly into NetBSD is neat!

If you create a custom boot filesystem, set it as bootable, and it doesn't
come up on the boot menue, then you may have a controller ROM which
doesn't support that. I have an Amiga 1200, and the Blizzard 1260's SCSI
won't boot NetBSD, but a CyberStorm in another machine does just fine. If
this is the case, you may need to boot AmigaDOS and have that run loadbsd
(make sure you get version 3, as the older version does not support
booting ELF kernels).

> I got intrested in NetBSD when I read that it supports the ASDG ethernet
> card I have.  It seems that there is a bit of problem with the support
> there too, as leaving the card connected to the network will give an
> error in the install process indicating that the receive buffer has
> overflowed.  I ultimately pulled the card for my final attempts at
> install, just to make sure that unserviced interrupts were not causing
> my install issue.

That error is actually just a warning; you can safely ignore it. It's
somewhat common when the card is connected to a network that has other
traffic going around. Just a little annoying sometimes.

> Suggestions? more info required?

The if / fi thing needs to be fixed, but see if you can get past that by
not configuring your network in that part. Or you can boot the install
kernel and do the install manually.

In either case, please give feedback!

Good luck,
John Klos