dhcp, linuxppc and remote /usr
Hi,
It is generally desirable for a machine to be able to do it's basic startup sequence even if /usr is not mounted yet (if for example it's on a remote NFS server). This is not the case with LinuxPPC when using DHCP to get network parameters.
Briefly, DHCP booting does not work if /usr is mounted on a remote server. This is simply because /etc/rc.d/rc3.d/S10network uses the 'xargs' command (which is in /usr/bin instead of /bin).
(if you are wondering why somebody would do this, the idea is to create a generic ZIP disk that can be used on any machine to start up a full LinuxPPC session. DHCP is used so that it's not necessary to hardwire net addresses onto the boot disk).
I believe that either xargs should not be used in startup scripts, or xargs should be in /bin by default. After making this change, bootup proceeds perfectly).
Just thought somebody might like to know this.
I'm not on this list--so please reply to me personally if you have a comment.
Dave.
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Quoted 8 lines · David Hoover
It is generally desirable for a machine to be able to do it's basic startup sequence even if /usr is not mounted yet (if for example it's on a remote NFS server). This is not the case with LinuxPPC when using DHCP to get network parameters.
Briefly, DHCP booting does not work if /usr is mounted on a remote server. This is simply because
/etc/rc.d/rc3.d/S10networkuses the 'xargs' command (which is in/usr/bininstead of /bin).
I am booting this way, from an MVME2306 board without harddisk. The server providing the kernel also serves as root nfs server, apart from /usr (due to a lack of space). The /usr fs is on another (DEC) machine. This is no problemo at all - but I am using BOOTP instead of DHCP (because the boards primary bootsequence needs it).
Quoted 4 lines
(if you are wondering why somebody would do this, the idea is to create a generic ZIP disk that can be used on any machine to start up a full LinuxPPC session. DHCP is used so that it's not necessary to hardwire net addresses onto the boot disk).
I don't either. The /usr system is cleanly mounted while booting the init scripts.
Quoted 3 lines
I believe that either xargs should not be used in startup scripts, or xargs should be in /bin by default. After making this change, bootup proceeds perfectly).
That would be my first thought too.
Quoted 1 line
Just thought somebody might like to know this.
Thanks for sharing,
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ David 'Septimus' De Ridder <[email protected]>
"Never underestimate the power of the soul unleashed."
- 'Essence Flare' (M:TG)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
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