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

See howto at http://www.linuxworks.com.au/redhat-installer-howto.html

You'll need my anaconda patchs, and you might need my kernel spec files to 
build the proper BOOT and target kernel packages.  These aren't hard to 
figure out, but it took me a little trial and error to get it right. The 
trial and error part is time consuming, though.

The howto above is pretty complete. So much so that its almost imposing.  
But its not as hard as it seems at first.  Copy the packages from the
Cdroms into the directory structure as explained in the howto.

After you replace your anaconda package (on your buildsystem and in 
the RPMS directory) and your kernel packages, everything is pretty simple:

  export PYTHONPATH=/usr/lib/anaconda
  export PATH="$PATH:/usr/lib/anaconda-runtime"

  genhdlist `pwd`  # /usr/cd/redhat/sparc on dakota.av8.net 
                   # (like /redhat/i386 in howto)
  buildinstall --pkgorder /usr/cd/pkgorder.txt --version 7.3 `pwd`

This will build all the images you need, including the tftp64.img.  

The tedious thing is that if your kernel packages aren't right, then you 
either have to keep up the cycle:
 build kernel package
 put package in RPMS directory
 run buildinstall
 boot

Of course, if you can't boot at all, you can probably get away with just 
using tilo directly to build tftp64.img's until you get a kernel that 
works, and then update the distribution with your kernel.

A possible hitch is that tilo wants to be able to select the kernel based
on the architecture of the machine. I don't know if this will be a problem
or not on the 15k.  You may have to update tilo...

Another hitch is that that the tftpd package that comes with linux is a
piece of crap. One glaring problem with it (there are many) is that if
packets are lost, it won't retransmit them. I fixed that, and I could make
a patch available, but it would probably be better to rewrite the whole
thing or use something else for tftpd. (I discovered the lost packet
problem due to a faulty hub).

		--Dean

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003, Vincent Cojot wrote:

> 
> 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
> 
> 
> ,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,
> Vincent S. Cojot, Computer Engineering. STEP project. _.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~
> Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Comite Micro-Informatique. _.,-*~'`^`'~*-,.
> Linux Xview/OpenLook resources page _.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'
> http://step.polymtl.ca/~coyote  _.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._ [email protected]
> 
> They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
> Between stars - on stars where no human race is
> I have it in me so much nearer home
> To scare myself with my own desert places.       - Robert Frost
> 
> 
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