Andrew Doran wrote:
> 
> Hi there.
> 
> Eyal Lebedinsky <eyal@eyal.emu.id.au> wrote:
> 
> > I found that the install doco is very out of sync with what the
> > install actually needs or does. So my first question, is anybody
> > still preparing this document? Who is the maintainer?
> 
> It would be good if you could send any problems/corrections using send-pr so
> that they don't get lost.

I will look into it (don't know what send-pr is but I will find out).

> > I then tried 'startx' and it said it could not find /dev/fb0. I
> > guess one should configure this for the actual graphics on the
> > machine - I have a PMAG-C (PX) which the install says is
> > supported, how do I configure it?
> 
> There is no official X server for those cards yet (this is noted on the web
> site, maybe not in the install notes). However, there is an experimantal
> kernel and server that you can grab here, if you want:
> 
>     http://www.interlude.eu.org/~ad/wscons/

I am having trouble running these servers. The ones named netbsd-2002*
say the executable is the wrong architecture (I am on 5k/200, a 3max).
They are also statically linked.

The XdecNetBSD-* ones do run, but fail wil "no screens" error.

> > Another side issue, on the first boot I tried to add a new user
> > but this failed very quickly saying something about not being able
> > to get a lock "file already exists".
> 
> It's possible that you killed something that was modifying the password
> file. Do a "rm /etc/ptmp" and retry.

Good, it did the trick.

> > Finally, but most important, I think my machine is losing its
> > nvram.
> 
> I think there will be a removable Dallas RTC/NVRAM/battery on the board.
> Look for an equivalent replacement if it continues to do this. Maybe someone
> else here can help you with more specific info.
> 
> > If the machine gets generally flaky (locks up intemittently) is
> > there something common to look at?
> 
> Does it do this? I would start by removing, cleaning contacts and re-seating
> the removable parts on the mainboard (CPU, memory, whatever). Doing a "test
> mem" at the PROM level might be useful.

I reseated everything with no improvement. However, slaughtering a
virgin
chicken while burning incense does get the machine to boot about once
a day. I located the dallas chip on the mobo and will consider replacing
it.

Thanks Andrew.

--
Eyal Lebedinsky (eyal@eyal.emu.id.au) <http://samba.org/eyal/>