Re: Installing NetBSD on a MicroVax 3900

["Jim MacKenzie" <jim%photojim.ca@localhost>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mr Ian Primus" <ian_primus%yahoo.com@localhost>
To: <port-vax%netbsd.org@localhost>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 8:31 AM
Subject: Installing NetBSD on a MicroVax 3900


> This machine has a SCSI tape controller, but it can't handle SCSI disks. 
> If there is a method of installing NetBSD from tape, I can use a newer 
> tape drive (like a DLT4000, or an Exabyte drive) to install. I could 
> probably boot from Ethernet, but I've never done that with a VAX before.

Ethernet is your ticket.  I have a VAXStation 4000/60 running OpenBSD, but 
the installation procedure is not that different.  I haven't carefully 
studied the netbooting instructions of NetBSD, but they should be adequate 
(read OpenBSD's for some guidance if you need clarity, since I obviously 
survived it).  Essentially you need to install mopd on another machine on 
your LAN, have it serve the mopboot file to your VAX, and let that file 
network boot.  Once you're network booting, you can run an installation 
kernel and put the OS onto a local disk and boot normally.

Network booting isn't that awful, and once you've set it up, you have a 
viable method of easily upgrading the machine, or fixing a broken 
installation . It's worth the bother.

Jim