This is a quick guide on netinstalling Debian on your Sun 4 box.
Software
Install the following packages:
Config files
Edit
/etc/inetd.conf:
<![CDATA[#:BOOT: Tftp service is provided primarily for booting. Most sites
# run this only on machines acting as "boot servers."
tftp dgram udp wait nobody /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/sbin/in.tftpd /tftpboot]]>
Edit
/etc/ethers:
<![CDATA[08:00:20:18:9e:07 10.0.0.10]]>
Note: you can use a hostname in /etc/ethers
Files
Fetch the debian TFTP install image from
ftp://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian/dists/woody/main/disks-sparc/current/sun4cdm/tftpboot.img and place it in
/tftpboot.
Link the filename to
IP_ADDRESS_IN_HEX.ARCH, ie
0A00000A.SUN4M for a SparcStation IPX with IP address 10.0.0.10:
<![CDATA[cd /tftpboot
mv tftpboot.img debian-woody-tftpinstall-a.out-sun4cdm
ln -sf debian-woody-tftpinstall-a.out-sun4cdm 0A00000A.SUN4M]]>
Go!
Boot your sun, enter command mode, and type
<![CDATA[ok> boot net]]>
Summary
Summary of the boot process:
- Client does RARP request
- RARP server gives IP address to client, according to /etc/ethers.
- Client asks kernel from RARP server by means of TFTPBoot (IPADRESS.ARCH)
- Client gets kernel from server.
- Client boots kernel.