On Mar 8, 2011, at 11:09 PM, Blake Hodder wrote:
> Here are the contents of my default config:
>
> # D-I config version 1.0
> CONSOLE 0
> SERIAL 0 19200 0
> include debian-installer/i386/boot-screens/menu.cfg
> default debian-installer/i386/boot-screens/vesamenu.c32
> prompt 0
> timeout 0
>
> After I hit return on install I get the 2 lines:
>
> Loading debian/squeeze/i386/linux.....
> Loading debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz.........ready.
>
> and then a blank screen.
Okay, I don't know tftp that well or PXE Linux. Without looking through the
file you include, I can't be sure what it does -- I'd suggest working with the
default config file as close to the original posted to be sure. But, for now,
post the menu.cfg file and let's see that.
Also, one thing I did, and this means I'm no longer working with a stock
install (and I forgot about this until just a moment ago when I was testing
this), so I'm sorry I didn't mention this earlier. One "trick" I did to just
make sure that <return> always gave the install I wanted is to remove or change
the name of /tftpserv/boot.txt. (Actually, I stuffed it in my pxelinux.cfg
directory since that's where the other config files are.) By removing it, you
don't get a boot menu for PXE Linux and don't have problems with accidentally
hitting arrow keys (even though I'm a competitive ballroom dancer, you'd be
surprised at how clumsy I can be!). That'll force a default install.
I'm not sure that your problem is related to boot.txt, but I thought I should
mention it, just in case.
Now, as to your blank screen -- I got that, many times, and was trying to work
at 115200 instead of 19200. And what fixed it for me was finding out just how
to get the parameters into the file "default." I suspect that's the issue
here. Don't use the include directive for now. That's where you're varying
from the instructions on the page I wrote up and from the two Debian reference
pages I link to. And it's likely not coincidence that's where you did
something different AND that's where console speed becomes an issue.
Look at this version of "default":
SERIAL 0 19200
CONSOLE 0
DISPLAY boot.txt
DEFAULT squeeze_i386_install
LABEL squeeze_i386_install
kernel debian/squeeze/i386/linux
append vga=normal console=ttyS0,19200,n8
initrd=debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz --
LABEL squeeze_i386_linux
kernel debian/squeeze/i386/linux
append vga=normal console=ttyS0,19200,n8
initrd=debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz --
LABEL squeeze_i386_expert
kernel debian/squeeze/i386/linux
append priority=low console=ttyS0,19200,n8 vga=normal
initrd=debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz --
LABEL squeeze_i386_rescue
kernel debian/squeeze/i386/linux
append vga=normal console=ttyS0,19200,n8
initrd=debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz rescue/enable=true --
PROMPT 1
TIMEOUT 0
I know some of those lines wrapped (in Apple Mail, they don't), but use that
format and don't include, for now, just cut and paste the text in to the file
default. Also, be sure the parameters are on a separate line in each LABEL
section. I've seen a friend forget that and append them (like the older GRUB,
was it?) needed them done and it doesn't work that way.
In my previous experience, I found that once initrd loaded and control is
passed to it, unless the speed is specified correctly in the config file
(either the default one or whichever one you're using), console communication
stops.
Hal
>
> Blake
> On 11-03-08 11:52 PM, Hal Vaughan wrote:
>> On Mar 8, 2011, at 10:10 PM, Blake Hodder wrote:
>>
>>> Hi there,
>>>
>>> My apologies, and when I get to the prompt instead of having a "boot:"
>>> prompt I have a text menu that I have to select install by using my
>>> arrows and enter. It is almost like is trying to do a graphical install
>>> but I am using the netboot files with the console modifications.
>> Okay, I hooked up the serial cable and went through this again. I was
>> trying to remember if there could be another menu later, or if there were
>> more choices, but that I never saw them due to the 15 character width issue.
>> When I booted to the NIC, I got this (it's edited to show in lines, instead
>> of short 15 column lines):
>>
>> Intel UNDI, PXE-2.0 (build 082)
>> Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Intel Corporation
>> VIA Rhine III Management Adapter v2.43 (2005/12/15)
>>
>> CLIENT MAC ADDR: 00 00 24 CD 92 34.
>> DHCP.\\||//--\\||//--\\||
>> CLIENT IP: 172.16.7.205 MASK: 255.255.0.0 DHCP IP: 172.16.7.1
>> GATEWAY IP: 172.16.7.1
>> TFTP.
>> TFTP.-
>> PXELINUX 4.02 debian-20101014 Copyright (C) 1994-2010 H. Peter Anvin et al!
>> PXE entry point found (we hope) at 9DEE:0106 via plan A
>> UNDI code segment at 9DEE len 1966
>> UNDI data segment at 947D len 9710
>> Getting cached packet 01 02 03
>> My IP address seems to be AC1007CD 172.16.7.205
>> ip=172.16.7.205:172.16.7.12:172.16.7.1:255.255.0.0
>> BOOTIF=01-00-00-24-cd-92-34
>> TFTP prefix:
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/01-00-00-24-cd-92-34
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC1007CD
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC1007C
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC1007
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC100
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC10
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC1
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/AC
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/A
>> Trying to load: pxelinux.cfg/default
>> ok
>> XELINUX 4.02 debian-20101014 Copyright (C) 1994-2010 H. Peter Anvin et al
>> boot:
>> Loading debian/squeeze/i386/linux.....
>> Loading debian/squeeze/i386/initrd.gz.........ready.
>>
>> The "Trying to load:..." lines are the TFTP boot or PXE Linux searching for
>> a config file, then settling on the default config. After that, the "boot:"
>> is the only prompt I get. Once I hit<return>, I get the next two lines,
>> followed by some LONG lines, then a chance to pick the language, which is
>> the start of the installer.
>>
>> So what you're saying is that you don't get "boot:", you get a choice of
>> which type of install to do instead?
>>
>> Could you post the contents of your /tftpserv/pxelinux.cfg/default file?
>>
>>
>> Hal
>>
>>
>>> Blake
>>>
>>> On 11-03-08 10:06 PM, Hal Vaughan wrote:
>>>> Okay -- remember, please, to respond to the list, since whatever goes
>>>> wrong and whatever fixes it could help a lot of people.
>>>>
>>>> It also means I'm not the only one helping out, in case someone else finds
>>>> something wrong that I miss.
>>>>
>>>> Okay, then is the prompt where things go wrong the first prompt from PXE
>>>> Linux, after it boots to Linux? The one where you get "boot:" and can
>>>> just press<enter>? If so, when you get that prompt, what are you doing?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hal
>>>>
>>>> On Mar 8, 2011, at 8:49 PM, Blake Hodder wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> That is the wiki page that I did follow and I did set ConSpeed to 19200
>>>>> as well as my minicom console.
>>>>>
>>>>> Blake
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11-03-08 09:22 PM, Hal Vaughan wrote:
>>>>>> I don't know how it'll compare to installing on a Net5501, but I wrote
>>>>>> that up in the Soekris wiki just a few weeks ago. Here's the page:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://wiki.soekris.info/Debian_Squeeze_On_Soekris
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (I don't know if that's the page you're talking about or not.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I was careful to pay attention to the issue of baudrate, since it can
>>>>>> really mess up your work. (I honestly feel if it had been better
>>>>>> documented in previous pages on installing Debian, it would have saved
>>>>>> me 5-10 hours of troubleshooting.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm not 100% clear, from what you're saying, if you mean you get to the
>>>>>> "boot:" prompt and then are having trouble (which is where you could
>>>>>> specify different options for booting), or if it's another point.
>>>>>> However, it is important to remember you have to specify the bad rate in
>>>>>> the /tftpserv/pxelinux.cfg/default file (where /tftpserv is your
>>>>>> directory path to the tftp/pxe setup). You will also have to specify
>>>>>> the baud rate at a few other points, as well. I mention that o the page
>>>>>> I linked to above.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If that's the page you're following, let us know and also please tell us
>>>>>> exactly what the text for the last prompt you see before things go bad
>>>>>> is. Also, is it at the section where (for some reason), the output is
>>>>>> limited to only 15 characters wide? (That could also be a Net5501
>>>>>> thing, so I don't know if you'll see that on other systems.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, at the bottom of that wiki page, there's another page to my blog
>>>>>> website, where I have an image I created on a Net5501. Off the top of
>>>>>> my head, I don't know how similar the hardware is, but I have info on
>>>>>> how you can copy that image and install it on another Net5501. It's
>>>>>> possible that image may work on a Net4521, but I don't know. If so, it
>>>>>> might save you some trouble and let you start with a basic Debian
>>>>>> Squeeze image you can then modify to your heart's content.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Scott Newell pointed out the difference between baud and bps. Just for
>>>>>> clarity, is 19200 what you set ConSpeed to?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hal
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mar 8, 2011, at 2:04 PM, Blake Hodder wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have a Soekris net4521 and I am trying to install Debian Squeeze on
>>>>>>> it via tftp boot and serial console. However; I get to where I can
>>>>>>> select install from a menu list and then it sits at a blank screen. I
>>>>>>> am using the buadrate of 19200 8n1 no flow control. Does anyone know
>>>>>>> how to successfully install squeeze. I have tried using the wiki guide.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks in advanced,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Blake
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> <RBI-Email-Signatures-BH.gif>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Soekris-tech mailing list
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [email protected]
>>>>>>> http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
>>>>> --
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>>>
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