Subject: Re: No console no screen diskless install
To: Matthis Rouch <matthis@blueyonder.co.uk>
From: Manuel Bouyer <bouyer@antioche.eu.org>
List: port-sparc
Date: 01/17/2005 20:06:15
On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 06:13:35PM +0000, Matthis Rouch wrote:
> Dear all, I am trying to install NetBSD on my SparcStation 5, through 
> the netBoot method, using as host my apple powerbook. I have a keyboard 
> to tell the sparcstation to netboot, but I need to know its MAC address 
> to set things up in the host's ethers and hosts files.
> I know I could get a usb to serial cable, or a screen , but my goal is 
> to this without buying anything if possible.
> So, my questions are:
> 1. is there any may to know the MAC address without a console/screen? 
> (would it be written inside or something?? ;)
> 2. Alternatively, is there a way to configure rarpd so that it will 
> take any MAC address and put an IP on it?

You could run tcpdump on another box and look for packets from the sparc.

But I'm not sure the keyboard is functionnal if no screen is connected.
On sparc, if the POST doesn't detect a keyboard or a screen, it switches
to serial port A automatically.

-- 
Manuel Bouyer <bouyer@antioche.eu.org>
     NetBSD: 26 ans d'experience feront toujours la difference
--