> -----Original Message----- > From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Mark Post > Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 11:55 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: really INSANE question - network IPL? > > > >>> On Tue, Sep 11, 2007 at 9:59 AM, in message > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > om>, "McKown, > John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -snip- > > I was just considering what it might take to IPL from > > a network server instead. Granted, this would likely only be to IPL > > Linux. And I guess something like this could be emulated by > booting PXE > > compatable software from a DVD on the HMC. I was just > thinking that this > > might be an interesting way to "bootstrap" a Linux installation > > environment. > > John, I'm curious as to just what you were thinking about how > this would look/work. Just for creating an install server > instance? (As David mentioned, a DDR-based install instance > is coming down the pike.) Something else besides that? I > ask, because there are numerous ways to accomplish booting a > Linux instance without it initially having access to any DASD > or disks at all. You could even create a way to automate > booting from a virtual reader, etc.
I don't know. I was just low on sleep and watching my PC boot in the morning and the strange thought came into my head. Why do it at all is another question. I doubt that anybody would really want a "Linux on System z thin client", which seems to be what most network boots are for. On System z, sharing a R/O filesystem would likely be much better. > > > Also, I wonder if a "Linux for System z" liveDVD would be > > possible. Or does such a thing already exist? > > That's totally doable. The only limitation is what would go > into the initrd, and how much real/virtual storage you would > have available to hold it, plus actually run stuff. The main > difference between this, and the typical "live" media is that > the media itself isn't accessible via the booted OS, so > everything would have to be in memory. Depending on what you > wanted included on the media, and how much storage you would > want to have available after booting, that could add up to a > significant chunk of memory. Maybe what is needed is a native interface to the DVD? <GRIN> Actually, I could see some use to have a DVD as a native I/O device. Especially a burner. Of course, it is easier and cheaper to put the DVD burner on a PC and just have the System z Linux ship a file to that PC for burning. > > > Mark Post -- John McKown Senior Systems Programmer HealthMarkets Keeping the Promise of Affordable Coverage Administrative Services Group Information Technology The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged and/or confidential. It is for intended addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited and could, in certain circumstances, be a criminal offense. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply and delete this message without copying or disclosing it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
