On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 14:09:23 -0700  Jonathan Stone wrote:

> 
> From the dhcpd.conf on one of my machines at home, which I've verified
> on a 5000/25 and 5000/20:
> 
>      filename "netbsd.ecoff"  ;
>      # Warning! Some proms (KN02-CA v2.0m PROM) fail to get an IP
>      # address if option  root-path has a string of >= 16 chars.
>      # Use symlinks to keep the root-path <= 15 chars.
>      # OK:        option root-path "xxxxyyyyzzzzaaa";
>      # TOO LONG:  option root-path "xxxxyyyyzzzzaaaf";
>      # ALSO TOO LONG: option root-path "/export/nfsclient/pmax-root" ;
>      # OK ALTERNATIVE:  
>      #   (after doing "ln -s /export/nfsclient/pmax-root /pmax-root")
>      option root-path "/pmax-root" ;
> 
> On that machine, 15-char pathnames works, 16-char pathnames don't.
> Maybe it depends on PROM versions?

I always use "/dlboot0/HOSTNAME.root" which only leaves two characters
for the hostname if you count the nul at the end, and I've never had a
problem on a range of machines include a 3100, a /133, a /150, a couple
of /240's and a couple of /260's.  The 5100 has never mounted the root
fs, so I can't tell for that one :). So yes, it does look like a PROM
version related problem.  Maybe I'll just mention the symptons in the
netboot page (whith a xref in the faq page).

After a quick scan back, I can't actually see the failure mode.  What
exactly is it?

Simon.