Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 3696
tftp install on headless Sparcstation 1+ fails
Last modified: 2008-05-01 11:37:50 EDT
Hi. I've been trying to install RedHat 6 on a SparcStation 1+ without success this evening. First, I attempted to boot with the updated tftp32.img from updates.redhat.com. This transfer mysteriously stops partially through the install process with no message on the Sparc or the tftp server (rh6, SMP intel). So, instead, I attempted to go the method of NFS root using vmlinux32 as the boot kernel. This actually boots the kernel and gets to the mounting of the root fs and gives a kernel panic because it can't mount the root fs 00:00. Ideas? ------- Additional Comments From 06/24/99 16:54 ------- Actually, to clarify where the hang with tftp32.img occurs; it occurs while downloading this image to the SS. I just did this twice and both times it stopped at 1c6a00.
There are some known issues with using tftp boot on slower sparcs or on networks that are a little dirty. Frequestly you will get these timeouts when attempting to retrieve the boot file. I would recommend 1 of 2 things: download the tftp image to make sure that you have a good copy, and if failure does occur, try again a couple of times. We have machines in the lab that from time to time need 3 or 4 attempts at the tftp boot. We are able to load the new images on sparc machines, so the image on the site is known good. Reopen the bug if you are still having problems.
I've downloaded the image again and I also checked the md5sum this time and it came up fine. So, the image itself that I downloaded is fine. I have also tried booting it 5-10 times in a row on a couple of occasions without success. I don't think that a dirty network is the cause as it is only a local network with very low traffic and congestion. Also, I received an email from someone else with the exact same problem on a SS2 while I was gone on vacation, so it sounds like it could be a more serious problem.
I've had the same problem with tftp32 image, on a Sparc1 w/64megs. the 5.2 image works fine, all the time. the 5.9 fails. I just downloaded all of 6.0 and will try tonight. The network is only 2 machines, no traffic.
I've had no problems at all with the tftp32.img I downloaded from the update dir. All net boot's have gone just fine, with the install then working fine (mostly!). The only thing that i've noticed is that things are SLOW. If I install packages totalling more than 200 megs, It looks a lot like the machine hangs in several places, notably while it is checking for dependencies (no progress dialogs or anything!) and just before, during, and after the "Finding overlapping Files" part of the install. Some progress dialogs there would be nice for the slow machines that take 30+ minutes to chug through the rpm database... Now if someone could tell me why the "installing bootloader" part never succeeds, i'll be a happy camper!
I expect it will be slow, once it gets beyond the point loading the image. I have yet to get it beyond the 1c6a00 mark of tftp'ing the image. And not only does it stop downloading the image, the machine just completely stops responding; requiring the power switch to abort it
OK, about the only other thing that I can offer is how much RAM is in the machine?? There may be a conflict that the system is not able to load all of the boot image. The only other thing that I can imagine is that we are looking at a hardware problem. Either the boot image does not work with 1+ machines (we do not have one in the lab, therefore cannot test) or your machine is hitting problems with the image. I am tending to think that it is either memory or a conflict with hardware. I will pass this on to a developer for further action.
I'm curious as to the answer to this issue before I try the updated images. I've been using a CD, but it just hangs after choosing the packages. If the folks at RedHat want, my machine is an IPC with 32Megs; I work right around the corner from you, and I'd be more than willing to loan you the machine if it will help get a fix for this problem. E-mail me if you're interested. ------- Additional Comments From 08/25/99 19:04 ------- If it hangs right after selecting packages, that's another bug (don't know the bug number offhand). There is something in bugzilla related to that though, they were able to solve it by waiting for a while, and I mean a _long_ while. Unfortunately, as to my install problem, I don't think that RedHat is even watching this bug anymore for the most part, as the Assigned to doesn't have an email address for the bug. My other bug in the database at least has an email address for the person it's assigned to, though as of yet, they haven't emailed me which is annoying. Anyway, best of luck. Like I said, the word on sparc-list about your hang was to just to let it try for a while. ------- Additional Comments From 10/05/99 15:21 ------- I've had the same probs on my SS1+, it just dies while downloading the image, always at 1c6a00. I've got boot PROM version 1.3 and the box has 16 MB of RAM. Tried both the origial 6.0 and the updated image. 5.2 works fine...
RH: I've had similar problems booting my Tektronix X-Terminal. I used to boot it just fine from RH5.2 using TFTP protocol. I upgraded to RH6.1 and now I observe the following symptoms: 1. The TFTP host (RH6.1) serves about half of the OS file, then mysteriously stops - no errors just stops. 2. If I ping the host from the terminal's boot monitor, I get 119 good replies and then, no more replies - just failed pings I believe these two are related, because I never had either of these issues with RH5.2. I have tried 3 different versions of the 3c59x device driver including the one from RH5.2 to no avail. I even tried a clean install of 6.1. SOMETHING HAS CHANGED IN 6.1!!! Please offer suggestions on how I can debug this problem for myself, or let me know what other information is needed. I can tell that I'm not alone here with TFTP problems under 6.1. --David H. jazztunes@yahoo.com
*** Bug 8761 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***