On Sun, 7 Aug 2005 11:28:55 -0400, Jim Fron
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>I'm attempting to install OBSD 3.7 sparc on a Sparcstation 20. I've
>been through installs numerous times on 20's, 2's, and an IPC using
>previous OBSD versions.
>
>Currently, I only have one install method -- floppy. I could
>conceivably set up a netboot install or wrangle a CDR drive if need be.
>
>The problem is this: every time I attempt to install, I get part-way
>or all the way through the package download process, and the
>installer bombs, dumps hex to the screen, and drops back into OFW. I
>don't have serial console, either: I'm using a monitor and keyboard,
>so it's tough to say what, if any, error messages may be present.
>The more packages I attempt to install, the more likely it is to
>crash in the middle of download. If I reduce the packages to bsd and
>base37.tgz, I can often get as far as building nodes before the crash.
>
>This system seemed to happily run Solaris 7, booting all the way into
>CDE and running seeral apps at once without bombing, so I'm hesitant
>to start yanking RAM, but if that's the only thing suspect, I'll do it.
>
>So, my questions are: any ideas what could be causing this? The
>farthest I've gotten is a "bootable" system with no network, so the
>possibility of a partial-install with manual addition of the other
>packages seems questionable. Any suggestions for what I might do to
>get through a complete install?
>
>
>Thanks,
>JMF
Floppy drives and diskettes are notorious for failing in very strange
and unusual ways. Check out the mild but insightful message from Art
on tech@ if you want to know the general consensus on floppies.
From: Artur Grabowski <art@
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
In your situation, setting up serial is worthwhile if for no other
reason than posting debug info to the list. If you've got spare
openbsd/unix machine with a free serial port and a null modem cable,
you're good to go. Note, that's a *null*modem* cable, not a straight
wired serial cable.
On the spare machine use tip(8)
Make sure you've got the needed entry in remote(5).
unix9600|9600 Baud dial-out to another UNIX system:\
:el=^U^C^R^O^D^S^Q:ie=%$:oe=^D:tc=dial1200:\
:br=#9600:dv=/dev/tty00:
Run tip
% sudo tip unix9600
On your spare machine, you could also serve ftp for the install *.tgz
files as well as dhcp and netboot images.
On the problematic SS20, disconnect the keyboard and monitor
since on some (most/all/?) sun systems if you boot with a keyboard
attached, the system will use it. If the keyboard is not attached, it
will default to serial console.
Then power up the SS20. With any luck, you've just have a bad floppy
diskette and the netboot/serial/ftp install will work just fine. If
not, you've got the needed debug info to figure out the problem.
JCR
