We are changing the file layout for boot floppies. Below is my proposed layout and some commentary by Bruce Sass. I'd like some commentary from you sparc folks on wether you find this helpful or not, or if you spot some problems with it.
Please CC [email protected] on your replies. -- .....Adam Di [EMAIL PROTECTED]<URL:http://www.onShore.com/> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]:19991123> ls -1FR .: README base-contents.txt base2_2.tgz disks-1.44/ doc/ md5sum.txt root.tar.gz sun4cdm/ sun4u/ tftpboot.img ./disks-1.44: base-1.bin base-10.bin base-11.bin base-2.bin base-3.bin base-4.bin base-5.bin base-6.bin base-7.bin base-8.bin base-9.bin root.bin ./doc: ch-administrivia.en.html ch-boot-floppy-techinfo.en.html ch-dselect-conclusion.en.html ch-dselect-glossary.en.html ch-dselect-intro.en.html ch-dselect-main.en.html ch-hardware-req.en.html ch-init-config.en.html ch-install-methods.en.html ch-partitioning.en.html ch-post-install.en.html ch-preparing.en.html ch-rescue-boot.en.html ch-welcome.en.html dselect-beginner.en.html dselect-beginner.en.txt fdisk.txt footnotes.en.html install.en.html install.en.pdf install.en.txt ./sun4cdm: disks-1.44/ drivers.tgz linux-a.out tftpboot-noultra.img ./sun4cdm/disks-1.44: driver-1.bin rescue.bin ./sun4u: disks-1.44/ drivers.tgz linux-a.out ./sun4u/disks-1.44: driver-1.bin rescue.bin ---------------------- commentary by Bruce Sass Directory Structure ------------------- The files necessary to install Debian have been sorted according to platform[1], architecture[2] and installation media capacity[3]; this forms the primary directory structure. e.g.: disks-m68k/atari/disks-1.44/ disks-m68k/atari/disks-720/ disks-m68k/mac/disks-1.44/ disks-sparc/sun4cdm/disks-1.44/ disks-i386/disks-1.44/ disks-i386/disks-1.20/ Furthermore, there are a variety of idiosyncrasies and special features for some systems that makes multiple versions of the installation files attractive. These alternate versions have been placed in subdirectories under the most suitable primary directory[4]. e.g.: disks-i386/raid/ disks-i386/disks-1.44/safe/ File Placement -------------- Files are placed in the above directories as close to the top level as possible. What this means is that a file common to all versions of the installation available for a specific platform, will be placed in the top level directory for that platform; a file common to all versions available for a specific architecture, will be placed in the directory for that architecture. e.g.: disks-sparc/tftpboot.img disks-sparc/root.tar.gz disks-sparc/sun4cdm/linux disks-sparc/sun4cdm/tftpboot-noultra.img disks-sparc/sun4cdm/disks-1.44/resc1440.bin disks-sparc/sun4cdm/disks-1.44/drv14-1.bin disks-sparc/sun4u/linux-sun4c disks-sparc/sun4u/disks-1.44/resc1440-sun4u.bin disks-sparc/sun4u/disks-1.44/drv14-sun4u-1.bin disks-i386/disks-1.44/safe/README-safe ----- [1] A "platform" is defined by the microprocessor (or processor family) that is used in a computer. (alpha, i386, m68k, powerpc, sparc) [2] An "architecture" is defined by the microprocessor and supporting integrated circuits that are used in a computer. If a platform has only one architecture, there will be no "architecture" directory. [Note -- I object to the use of 'architecture' in this sense. I call it a subarchitecture. -- ADC] [3] The "installation media capacity" is the size of floppy disk the files are intended to reside on (2880, 1440, 1200 or 720Kb). The tarballs used to generate these disk image files can be found under the primary directory for the architecture they are applicable to. [4] The "most suitable primary directory" refers to a directory of the primary directory structure that reflects the level at which the alternate version diverges from the standard version. That is to say, if a version with an alternate kernel has been created to accommodate the needs of some users of a specific architecture, the files needed to install that version will appear in a sub-directory of the directory for that architecture. e.g.: The "safe" option, available on the i386 platform, is an example of a version that has diverged from the standard version because of issues related to 3.5" floppy drives, as such the safe/ is a sub-directory of the 1.44Mb media directory.
