Re: [cobalt-users] [RAQ3] Installing a RAQ550 ISO?

["John E. Martin" <jem@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> So doing this:
>
> 1) Currently: RAQ4 OS
> 2) Download stuff
> 3) Backup current (factory) ROM
> 4) Download ROM to a safe place
> 5) Upgrade ROM to a 2.4 kernel compatible one
> 6) Boot with 550-OS restore CD, install CD
> 7) Configure it
> 8) RAQ3 is now a "RAQ550" (software-wise) !! Play with it...

I haven't myself used the RAQ550 OS on any of my RAQs. I use a custom-built
version of RedHat. So I can't comment on steps 6-8, but in theory you've got
it locked in to work.


> Now I get bored of 550:
> 9) Upload the OLD (factory) ROM
> 10) Restore the OLD ROM
> 11) Boot with RAQ3/4-OS restore CD
> 12) Configure and run as RAQ3 or RAQ4
>
> So, this should all work right?
> I could even do it WITHOUT steps 9 & 10. So I have a RAQ3 (or 4) with the
> NEW ROM. Correct?
> Or, WITH 9and10 I have my "old" RAQ3 back.
>
> Now I can keep on doing this? 1-12, 1-12, 1-12... etc?
> Once I converted FROM 550 ROM BACK TO RAQ3 ROM (so: RAQ3-RAQ550-RAQ3
again))
> I can STILL install the 550 ROM? (so: over and over)...

That's correct. If you keep a proper backup of your ROM, make sure that
whatever OS version your installing has the required ROM version in place,
you can switch them every hour if you like. You can run the upgraded ROM
with the original RAQ3/4 without troubles.


> So in essence: This is COMPLETELY safe, correct?

"COMPLETELY safe" implies that there aren't room for errors and damage to
your RAQ. Don't make that assumption. ;) As with most of this type of stuff,
proper planning and procedures can make it work without incident. But like I
said, don't assume it's "completely" safe.

> Would this also work for the RAQ XTR Software?

As I said, I haven't used any new RAQ OS on the older hardware. Maybe
someone else can answer this one with some certaintity.

> Thanks so much for your help :-)

No problem at all.


-John E. Martin
-The Unix Nexus