It's here!
Well, it is uploading. There are definite problems, but it works
reasonably well for me. Please let me know if you use this. You can get
everything from ftp.linux.sgi.com:/pub/redhat/redhat-5.1.
We need to sort out some issues with how to actually download it from the
'net...
Instructions are below.
Ugh, I'm glad this is out there. I'm taking tomorrow off.
--
Alex deVries, puffin on LinuxNet.
http://www.engsoc.carleton.ca/~adevries/ .
Red Hat 5.1 (Manhattan) for SGI Indy's version 5.1 ALPHA 1
----------------------------------------------------------
This is neither a product of Red Hat nor of SGI.
These are instructions on how to get the unofficial port of Red Hat
version 5.1 running on your Indy.
Stuff you'll need:
- an SGI Indy. At this point, I'd STRONGLY recommend having a seperate
disk for Linux.
- You need to have your Linux disk partitioned from within Irix.
- You need Irix on the machine in order to install the boot image. Yes,
we're working on this.
- another host to bootp/tftp/NFS root from. For this example I'll assume
that you're using a Red Hat Linux i386 system, although other
configurations will be possible.
- a lot of patience.
You are strongly encouraged to report problems and feedback back to Alex
deVries <adevries@engsoc.carleton.ca>
Alright. Here's what you need to do to get this all running:
1. Server side.
On your i386, setup the following:
a) Setup tftp
You need to have the following lines configured in your /etc/inetd.conf:
tftp dgram udp wait root /usr/sbin/tcpd in.tftpd \
/usr/src/sgi/installfs/
bootps dgram udp wait root /usr/sbin/bootpd /etc/bootptab
I'm using /usr/src/sgi/installfs for all my file placement. You can
choose something else if youwant.
After changing that, restart inetd with something like
/etc/rc.d/init.d/inetd restart.
b) Setup bootp
You need to setup your /etc/bootptab file to contain:
alex3:hd=/usr/src/sgi/installfs:\
:rp=/usr/src/sgi/installfs:\
:ht=ethernet:\
:ha=080069088717:\
:ip=140.244.9.208:\
:bf=vmlinux:\
:sm=255.255.255.0:\
:to=7200:
Here, alex3 is the name of the SGI host, 080069088717 is the mac address
of the SGI which you'll have to get from Irix, and 140.244.9.208 is the
address of the SGI/Linux box. Modify to taste.
c) Setup root NFS permissions
Ensure that in your /etc/exports you have something like:
/usr/src/sgi/installfs 140.244.9.208(no_root_squash,rw)
d) copy all the files
Take all the installation files from
ftp.linux.sgi.com:/pub/redhat/redhat-5.1 and put them in
/usr/src/sgi/installfs. Yes, you'll need to preserve permissions.
2. Configure your disks
With Irix tools, create an EFS partition on your Linux disk. At this
point, a swap partition won't be recognized. Yes, we're working on it.
3. Start the install
Alright. This is the fun part. Assuming all your bootp/tftp/nfs root
stuff is working properly, you should be able to just go into the command
monitor (boot manager) and go:
boot bootp():/vmlinux
You should see the kernel load, and install should run.
4. The actual install
Just go through the dialog boxes. A few notes:
- any references to partitioning don't actually work
- you will see funny partitions when it asks you to set a mount point. Do
actually set a mount point, though. Remember that Irix has the concept of
volume headers, so you typically want to take the *first* and slightly
smaller partition for your / filesystem.
- ignore the dependancies errors, yes, we'll get to it too.
- you'll get a lot of warnings once the install starts saying:
"RPM install of diffutils failed: execution of script failed". We're
working on it. Just hit Ok.
5. Configure your kernel
Boot in Irix, then copy over vmlinux which is in
/usr/src/sgi/installfs/vmlinux to the / of your Irix filesystem. Then,
from within the boot manager, you should be able to boot with:
boot vmlinux root=/dev/sdb1
Presto!
6. Last, but not least
Let us know if it worked!
Stuff that we're working on:
- Sorting out the problems with the installer not running the scripts.
It's bloody annoying hitting return 50 times in the install. rpm-devel
is suspect so far.
- filling in the missing packages, including XFree86
- disk partitioning
- being able to install a kernel without having to have Irix around.
- swap partition support in the setup
- trim down the install filesystem, it is enormous
- creating a CREDITS file
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