> Can I use FreeBSD running on an x86 system to unpack the
> Simtec CDROM files and copy them to an IDE drive and then
> use the IDE drive as wd0a: on the CATS-based system?

I used NetBSD on an x86 system to bootstrap my CATS machine. The 19980905 CD
has a rather fragile installation script, which assumes your /etc/disktab is
aware of your install disk, and it tries to execute some of the extracted ARM
binaries. Clearly it was intended to be used in a netbooting situation.

To get it installed, I had to read through the install script and work out
how to 'spoof' it a little. The last remaining problem was that NetBSD/i386
system wants to put a PC MBR in the first track, and leave the NetBSD
disklabel on the second track of the disk. But the CATS firmware needed to
see it in the first track.

The solution I originally used was: dd if=/dev/wd1c of=/dev/wd1d seek=1 skip=1
I believe. It might also suffice to change the disktab entry so that both
partitions 'c' and 'd' start at block 0. I think the i386 disklabel might do
the right thing in that case.

For a long-term solution, however, we should learn on Mark & Neil for an
updated boot firmware in the CATS, or (hint hint) source code to it!
I could use the ability to boot my ATAPI ZIP drive, and CD booting would
be good for new system installation. The technology exists on NetBSD/i386
to make very usable installation 'floppy' images, and these could be placed
on an installation CD or written to an IDE disk using dd.

Actually, it should be possible to make a minimal arm32 boot partition that
is only a few megs in size, and let people 'dd' that to their IDE disk. The
IDE disk would be able to boot the CATS, and you can fudge its partition
table to add more partitons, and then install the CATS CD onto them. Some
more fudging would make your newly installed boot partition the first
partition on the disk, so the default wd0a:netbsd would boot it correctly.

Todd Whitesel
toddpw @ best.com