Responses Inline:

On Fri, 23 Feb 2001, Chris Tribo wrote:

> On Fri, 23 Feb 2001, Sridhar Ayengar wrote:
> 
> > I am running Slackware-7.1.0.  Will this be a problem?
> 
> 	I couldn't say, I've never used it before. Probably not though.
> 
> > tftp configuration seems to be fine.  When I try to tftp netbsd-install
> > from another machine, it succeeds in 8 seconds.
> 
> 	That shouldn't be a problem then, unless the tftpd daemon in
> Slackware doesn't support the tftp syntax that these rather antiquated DEC
> boxen are using.
> 

Is there anywhere I can find the overview of the syntax used by the boot
PROMs on this box?

> > I have a KN02-AA v5.3c.  Will this be a problem for tftp?  Will I be able
> 
> 	According to the model support web page, no. It should tftp
> properly, but the table is wildly innacurate and were usually tested with
> a NetBSD tftp server.
> 
> > to use mop instead?  Do I have to use a secondary bootloader?  What would
> 
> 	You should be able to use mop, the problem is that mop only boots
> a.out kernels, and the kernels in the distribution are gziped ELF
> kernels. There is an elf2aout conversion program with the NetBSD compiler
> tools, but I doubt Linux has such a tool. 
> 

Then maybe I should try to install onto my DS3100 first and then use
NetBSD as the tftp or mop server to install onto the DS5K/200.  I was
kinda hoping I wouldn't have to do that.

> > be the syntax for booting a CD-ROM on this box?
> 
> 	On a 200, it would be >> boot 5/rzX for the baseboard SCSI *I
> think*. In any case, 5 would be the TurboChannel slot number of the
> onboard SCSI controller (the cnfg command will tell you), and the X is the
> SCSI ID of the device you are trying to boot from. Note: to boot from a
> SCSI CDROM on a DECstation, it probably will need to support 512 
> byte/block mode and 2k/block mode. Depends on your CDROM drive, genuine
> DEC (like an RRD-43) would be gaurenteed to work. I've had no problems
> booting off my 4x JVC CD-R burner either, so it just depends on the drive.
> Almost all Plextors, Toshibas, and Sony CD-ROM's should work.
> 

I use a DEC RRD42 in a third-party external enclosure attached to the
baseboard SCSI.  I have a 4.5GB IBM HDD in a similar enclosure attached to
the TCDS in fast mode.  Active termination all around.

> 	I noticed that you were using boot 2/tftp instead of boot
> 6/tftp. Do you have an add-in TurboChannel PMAD-A instead of using the
> on-board 10Base2 connector? Also, if you don't have the boot-file name
> specified in the bootp/dhcp setup, you will need to do boot
> 2/tftp/netbsd.ecoff (or whatever the file name is) 
> 

Yes, I have a PMAD-A in slot 2.  Wouldn't it have been the kicker if that
had been the problem 8-)?  I have the dhcp set up with the filename, but I
will try with the filename in the PROM command anyhow.

> 	I don't have the URL for the two-stage network boot loader that
> might help you handy, but if you search the pmax mailing list archieve or
> http://www.google.com/bsd for threads from me within the last month or two
> it should pop up.
> 
> 
> 
> 	Chris
> 

I can find it.  I will see if it works.  Is it a lot smaller?  That might
help.  Thanks for all the help.

Peace...  Sridhar