On Mon, 10 Apr 2000, you wrote:
> > Could you possibly tweak the install program so I could send the tomsrtbt
> > files to hdb instead of fd0? I've been trying to install Linuxes for 3+
> > weeks but all of them get angry at the rescue disk and booting process.
> > Please let me know if this is feasible; THANKS!
> >
> > [Of course, plan 'b' is to buy a fd0, install, and toss.. we'll see.]
>
> It isn't just the install program. The ramdisk driver in the kernel
> _will not_ load a kernel-loaded ramdisk except from a floppy device,
> without patching the ramdisk driver. If you decide to make a kernel that
> will do this, the stuff in rd.c you need to fix is stuff like:
>
> if (MAJOR(ROOT_DEV) != FLOPPY_MAJOR
>
> Where is says, if it ain't a real floppy, don't load a ramdisk.
>
> You could also get a CDROM drive and use a bootable CD. There is a
> bootable CD version of tomsrtbt, but you would have to burn the CD-R
> yourself, I don't actually create or distribute other than electronically.
>
> My recommendation to LS120 owners is, as you mentioned, splurge the $15
> and get a *real* floppy drive, maybe you can sell the LS120 on E-Bay...
FYI, there are some drive bays which DO NOT have space for someother 3.5"
device, and i'd rather have an LS-120 sitting there rather than a floppy.
> Personally, I think LS-120 (and Zip, and etc.) are not a good idea, a
> floppy is 1.44, a CD or CD-R or CD-RW is 650MB, there isn't a need for
> something in between, so, in addition to the technical reasons for not
> doing it, I have no inclination to support them, I just want these formats
> to go away and die. I realize that doesn't help you much...
A CD-RW is useless for instantaneous backups because it is too slow, and
doesn't serve the purpose for snapshot incremental backups. Don't let them
die, they serve a purpose...
Only ZIPs/LS120s/Jaz's do the job, and unfortunately rackmount casings only
have one 3.5 floppy bay. Get the picture?
> FWIW, If I ever get around to releasing another version of tomsrtbt, which
> I do plan to do, I will probably apply the kernel patch that will at least
> make it possible to load compressed ramdisks from hard-drives (I'm doing
> it for things like SanDisk solid-state IDE devices, really, the LS-120s
> will be a side benefit).
This would be much appreciated, even if it's a side effect \8)
