> We've typically configured IP for our one standalone auth server > from /cfg/$sysname/cpurc; I want to know if I've understood why > you're doing it with plan9.ini bootargs instead: Is the advantage > that you get the variables set in /net/ndb (fs, auth, etc) that I > don't get when I call ip/ipconfig to set up a manual ip address from > an rc script later in the boot?
we don't have any cpu servers that host their own filesystem. we use ken's fileserver. so when the auth server boots, it must get its network configuration from plan9.ini. there are no files at this point in the process. and in order to get files, we need a network. the auth server serves dhcp/tftp. so everybody else pxe boots. i've considered building a very small fossil on a flash drive for the auth server so it can be booted independenly of the fileserver and to have a place to keep authentication information outside of the fs. such a change has not yet been compelling. - erik
