Kernel rebuild and tftp64.img kernel modification help (for future F15k use)

Subject: Kernel rebuild and tftp64.img kernel modification.

Hi everyone,

As I said before, I'll be gaining dedicated access to an F15K platform
for a few months. I'm no kernel developper but I did do some stuff
into the kernel in the 1.1.x/1.2.x times. I'd like to help get Linux
running on it and perhaps act as the relay of 'real' kernel developpers
(Dave Miller, etc...) to the real F15k (I cannot provide external access
to it).

The beast has the following (small) config:
4 domains, each with 8 1200Mhz US-IIICu cpus, 16Gb RAM, SAN (qla2200)
1Gbps storage. It is powered on, configured, etc.. but not yet connected
to our internal network (hence the delay in my access). Still, that F15k
looks pretty empty with only 36 cpus (only 8 System Boards out of a total
of 18).

I'll be trying to get Aurora to boot on one domain (I know it probably won't
work as-is). I'm saying Aurora because it's the only one I was familiar
with (RH6.2 times). To this effect, I'll be:

1) Setting up an old Ultra2 box I have here as an Aurora kernel rebuild
box (running Aurora 1.0+updates, of course)

2) Rebuilding kernels after changing some ammount of source code.

3) Putting those modified kernels on a modified tftp64.img and attempting
to boot the domain.

4) start again from 2) until it works and I can boot a domain for a
complete install.


I know people on this list have successfully managed to do 2) with Aurora's
kernel src.rpm's so I'm pretty confident I'll figure that out one. I guess
it's a matter of something along the lines of:
sparc32 rpm -ba /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/kernel_f15k.spec
sparc64 rpm -ba /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/kernel_f15k.spec

(If anyone has more information, I'd apreciate it).

I have a couple questions about doing step 3) (replacing the kernel
on a tftp64.img boot image with a modified kernel).

In the RH6.2 times, I think it was a matter of packaging the kernel-BOOT
tree and replacing it on the FAT formatted image. Alas, as I have no Aurora
machine running at this time, I must ask you people for help.. :)

I once had the chance to attempt to boot an unmodified Aurora 1.0 kernel
on an F15k but it had failed (see below).

Any input will be apreciated. Also, since I'm being put on a forced
vacation for two weeks (but not away from e-mail),
first attempted boot will mostly likely take place in early 2004.

Thanks for reading
(Spot, Peter, if you're reading this, I'd apreciate anything you can tell me).

I'll also take this to the sparc kernel list since this
may most likely result in source code diffs to the kernel.

Log of failed attempt on ancient F15k (750Mhz US-III cpu's):

{1a0} ok boot net
Resetting...


Sun Fire 15000, using IOSRAM based Console
Copyright 1998-2002 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
OpenBoot  4.7.6, 16384 MB memory installed, Serial #44583257.
Ethernet address 0:0:be:a8:49:59, Host ID: 82a84959.



Rebooting with command: boot net
Boot device: /pci at 1bc,70.0000/network at 3,1  File and args:
1ecc00 TILO
Selecting sun4u kernel...
\
Strange OBP version `OBP  4.7.6 2003/02/13 18:57'.
Program terminated
{220} ok


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