[cobalt-users] Re: Sun Fire V100/V120

[Chris Adams <cmadams@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Once upon a time, Bruce Timberlake <bruce@xxxxxxxxxx> said:
> That and the OS Restore mechanism to load new builds onto the box are 
> probably the two most critical obstacles to overcome.

OS restore isn't that hard - set up a DHCP, NFS, and DNS server and
share out a Linux filesystem.  Then have the init scripts "do the right
thing" to do the install.  You could probably get the Red Hat Linux
installer to work in kickstart mode with very little effort - the
problem is probably getting a fully working kernel that is "modern"
enough to support everything.

I've got my OS restore server now working for RaQ1, 2, 3, 4, and 550 -
you just plug in to the right hub, hold down the right buttons on the
RaQ, turn it on, select the right option, and away it goes.  The RaQ550
makes this easier, since the power switch is on the front now (on older
RaQs, if they're rack mounted, starting an OS restore is a two person
job).

As for the ROM: IIRC, there is a "slimmed down" Linux kernel in ROM.
That could make the ROM a "derived work", which would require Sun to
release the code (bringing me back to my continuing rant about Sun _not_
releasing all the sources to GPL stuff).

-- 
Chris Adams <cmadams@xxxxxxxxxx>
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.