Sorry, yes it is still going blank after loading initrd. My default
config file now looks like this:
# D-I config version 1.0
CONSOLE 0
SERIAL 0 19200 0
DISPLAY boot.txt
DEFAULT squeeze_i386_install
LABEL squeeze_i386_install
Kernel debian-installer/i386/linux
append initrd=debian-installer/i386/initrd.gz console=ttyS0,19200,8n1
IPAPPEND 1
prompt 0
timeout 0
Blake
On 11-03-09 10:29 AM, Hal Vaughan wrote:
> On Mar 9, 2011, at 8:09 AM, Blake Hodder wrote:
>
>> Ok, So I have modified my default config to match that of the walk
>> through and the kernel loads to the point of ready and then still a
>> blank screen. This is with using 19200,8n1. I have made sure that all
>> the any where in the files are set to use a console speed of 19200,8n1.
>>
>> If it is a console speed problem, what files would have the speed
>> setting in them that I would need to change?
> First, what do you mean by "loads to the point of ready"? Is it still going
> blank after loading initrd? If so, post the default config file you're using
> -- if you are still using include statements, include all the included files
> as well.
>
> I'll go back and double check on any other places the speed needs to be
> specified in case I left one out.
>
>
> Hal
>
>> Blake
>>
>> On 11-03-09 12:25 AM, Hal Vaughan wrote:
>>> 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
>>>>>>>>>> --
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