Subject: Re: Netboot Guide Outline
To: None <port-dreamcast@netbsd.org>
From: Andy R <quadreverb@yahoo.com>
List: port-dreamcast
Date: 02/10/2003 14:32:01
--- Alex Kirk <alex@schnarff.com> wrote:
> Since there's obviously interest in this project,
> it's time to kick it off 
> properly -- with an outline that we can use to guide
> our efforts and to 
> delegate work to. Following is my concept of how the
> outline of the finished 
> document should look; please send revisions as you
> see fit. 
> 
> 1. Introduction (Alex)
> 1.1 Why NetBoot? (Alex)
> 1.2 Other generic thoughts (Alex)
> 2. Conceptual Walkthrough (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 2.1 Protocols Involved (Neil)
> 2.1.1 The Stack (Neil)
> 2.1.2 How Netbooting Fits (Neil)
> 2.2 Daemons/Programs (Neil)
> 2.2.1 Server-Side (Neil)
> 2.2.1.1 DHCPD (Neil)
> 2.2.1.2 NFSD (Neil)
> 2.2.1.3 BOOTP (Neil)
> 2.2.1.4. ETC.... (Neil)
> 2.2.2 Client-Side (Neil)
> 2.2.2.1 "It varies by platform, see details below"
> (Existing)
> 2.3 Example: Generic Netboot Sequence
> (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 3. Details (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 3.1 Server-Side (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 3.1.1 Config, Config, Config (Alex)
> 3.1.1.1-n /etc/dhcpd.conf, /etc/exports, et cetera
> (Alex)
> 3.2 Client-Side (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 3.1.1-n Port-Specific (Existing)
> 4. Troubleshooting (Alex/Neil/Andy)
> 5. How To Ask Informed Questions (Andy) 
> 
> This is obviously still rough, it's mainly off the
> top of my head. Hopefully 
> it's a good starting point, though... 

Alex, I like it so far.

I just went back and re-read the diskless man page,
and it makes a whole lot more sense to me now than it
used to. It doesn't mean that there isn't a need for
this, I just need to figure out "how did I get here?"
and then write this new doc accordingly.

For instance, that man page makes no mention that it
may be possible to "push" a kernel to a client machine
via the IP upload slave that we have with the
dreamcast, which could be majorly confusing.

Anyway, I think we need to make two distinctions with
the doc:

1. Loading the kernel (be it from the network or local
boot media)
2. Mounting the root filesysem (which is always from
the network on a netbooted machine)

I'll see what I can do here...

Andy

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