RE: [SLE] DIskless SUSE install
Lester Caine
Can anybody point me in the right direction to building a setup that will allow me to use a diskless machine as a simple browser.
Obviously I need a kernel with just the basic elements for an Via ITX computer, but what is the best way of providing a minimum set of graphics and a basic browser?
I have got past the stage of getting the machine to download an image to boot from, now I need to build a more practical image :)
-- Lester Caine ----------------------------- L.S.Caine Electronic Services
Hi Lester, did you check out lynx? lynx is a text-based WWW browser Description: Lynx is an easy to use browser for HTML documents and other internet services like FTP, telnet, and news. Lynx is fast. It is purely text based and therefore makes it possible to use WWW resources on text terminals. and it's on SuSE's ftp site and needs less graphics support. Change of subject, your subject line intrigued me. I did a little googling re "diskless" Could you in brad brush terms explain what you did? Thanks, -- __________________________________________________________________ Introducing the New Netscape Internet Service. Only $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Netscape. Just the Net You Need. New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp
GarUlbricht7@netscape.net wrote:
Change of subject, your subject line intrigued me. I did a little googling re "diskless"
Not so much a change of subject - but the whole point. In the past we have built single chip microprocessor custom hardware into monitors for display systems. Nowadays that is becoming an expensive option, when VIA produce a fanless PC on a board 170mm by 170mm. Just add a stick of memory and you have a finished - silent - maintenance free - system. The network interface is already configured for DHCP addressing, and TFTP or PXE download, so all I need is something to 'feed' it with to get a working machine. Add PHP on the server end, and you can add interactivity to the dumb terminal, at no extra cost. Hence the need for 'Diskless SUSE Install', but it looks as if I have to switch to some other distribution based on the responses so far :) -- Lester Caine ----------------------------- L.S.Caine Electronic Services
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Saturday 27 March 2004 12:02 am, Lester Caine wrote: - --------snip------------
The network interface is already configured for DHCP addressing, and TFTP or PXE download, so all I need is something to 'feed' it with to get a working machine.
Add PHP on the server end, and you can add interactivity to the dumb terminal, at no extra cost. Hence the need for 'Diskless SUSE Install', but it looks as if I have to switch to some other distribution based on the responses so far :)
(I've considered trying to run my extra box diskless a few times, just haven't gotten around to trying) I was going to suggest the 2 programs you mentioned above (as well as ltsp which seems to be the most ambitious effort), are you saying those won't do it? http://www.ltsp.org/ claims to be distro agnostic. What about mknbi, netboot or etherboot, all on the SuSE install disks? http://www.etherboot.org/ http://netboot.sourceforge.net/english/index.shtml PXE should work diskless if you have the ability to use Netboot http://syslinux.zytor.com/pxe.php but I don't know if it works w/SuSE (not included on the disks) bootpc sounds like it may be past its prime but here's some info. http://www.busan.edu/~nic/networking/tcpip/ch09_04.htm I haven't set up a diskless system yet but these are the programs that I was considering trying when I get to it.. From their descriptions it seems that one of these programs should do the job. I did about 5 minutes of research and came up with the preceeding info ;-( Good luck, let us know how it turns out. - -- dh Don't shop at ZipZoomFly.com! -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFAZUzABwgxlylUsJARAidNAJ4zhY+/QAHk99YtVqOg3GnOM8YPjwCfbQ2E H0NHPM8oixfJOjcyJXgtDSw= =dz05 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
David Herman wrote:
I was going to suggest the 2 programs you mentioned above (as well as ltsp which seems to be the most ambitious effort), are you saying those won't do it?
http://www.ltsp.org/ claims to be distro agnostic.
Just started the download again - failed at 95% and would not restart from there :) Don't need SUSE at all if it works ;)
What about mknbi, netboot or etherboot, all on the SuSE install disks? http://www.etherboot.org/
That is what is needed if you do not have a 'boot ready' network card. Point you to ltsp for the client stuff :)
That look interesting - nice and compact if it works, but again I think it is designed for older 'bootless' network cards. I have a working download.
PXE should work diskless if you have the ability to use Netboot http://syslinux.zytor.com/pxe.php but I don't know if it works w/SuSE (not included on the disks)
That seems to have more useful info.
bootpc sounds like it may be past its prime but here's some info. http://www.busan.edu/~nic/networking/tcpip/ch09_04.htm
Again this is the download method. Not really got a problem with THAT, I need something to download ;)
I haven't set up a diskless system yet but these are the programs that I was considering trying when I get to it.. From their descriptions it seems that one of these programs should do the job.
I did about 5 minutes of research and came up with the preceeding info ;-(
As I said previously, the mechanisms to download an image are not a problem, the question is more - how do I build a kernel TO download. All the packages I've looked at say copy xxxx and "any kernel or initrd images you want to boot" I think THAT is the area I am having a problem with :) -- Lester Caine ----------------------------- L.S.Caine Electronic Services
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Saturday 27 March 2004 09:51 am, Lester Caine wrote: - --------snip------------
As I said previously, the mechanisms to download an image are not a problem, the question is more - how do I build a kernel TO download. All the packages I've looked at say copy xxxx and "any kernel or initrd images you want to boot"
I think THAT is the area I am having a problem with :)
Sounds like you are on your way, wish I knew more, It would be great if you could post a short howto when you get it figured out. While writing this note I googled diskless+mini+howto and came op w/ this, http://www.uni-paderborn.de/Linux/mdw/HOWTO/mini/Diskless its quite old but may be of use. The following HowTo seems very thourough, (although still pretty old) section4 seems to address your kernel questions "4 Setting up the clients Because on a disk-less client all system files are actually on the server, this is where the entire client configuration will be done..." http://hobbes.jct.ac.il/docs/Diskless-HOWTO.html I'm not sure if you can do it w/out at least a floppy disk during setup though. good luck see ya - -- dh Don't shop at ZipZoomFly.com! -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFAZc9dBwgxlylUsJARAro+AKCT26PvDgaN76PCz20lxLAKOQa3HQCgjvdn lyj8NsutN+bUL5zDxjyeXqQ= =Pd/d -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Op zaterdag 27 maart 2004 18:51, schreef Lester Caine:
As I said previously, the mechanisms to download an image are not a problem, the question is more - how do I build a kernel TO download. All the packages I've looked at say copy xxxx and "any kernel or initrd images you want to boot"
I think THAT is the area I am having a problem with :)
Perhaps this one? http://thintux.sourceforge.net/ -- Richard Bos Without a home the journey is endless
Lester Caine wrote:
David Herman wrote:
I was going to suggest the 2 programs you mentioned above (as well as ltsp which seems to be the most ambitious effort), are you saying those won't do it? http://www.ltsp.org/ claims to be distro agnostic.
Just started the download again - failed at 95% and would not restart from there :) Don't need SUSE at all if it works ;)
<snip> I have run LTSP here and it is not a stand alone product. The image they provide is designed to have a thin client remote X into another machine. In my case, it's the same server that provides the boot kernel and nfs root, but it doesn't have to be. -- Louis D. Richards LDR Interactive Technologies
Louis Richards wrote:
Lester Caine wrote:
David Herman wrote:
I was going to suggest the 2 programs you mentioned above (as well as ltsp which seems to be the most ambitious effort), are you saying those won't do it? http://www.ltsp.org/ claims to be distro agnostic.
Just started the download again - failed at 95% and would not restart from there :) Don't need SUSE at all if it works ;) <snip>
I have run LTSP here and it is not a stand alone product. The image they provide is designed to have a thin client remote X into another machine. In my case, it's the same server that provides the boot kernel and nfs root, but it doesn't have to be.
Yep - that is what I am finding. The networks this is to go on are fairly loaded already, so I'm looking to get the browser on the slave and just update simple pages when necessary - since that already works :) DHCP works fine, boot image loads and gives a simple network/local menu, but I keep getting "can't find boot server" when selecting the network image, which I thought was the same server that has just successfully downloaded the PXE boot image? -- Lester Caine ----------------------------- L.S.Caine Electronic Services
Lester Caine wrote:
Louis Richards wrote:
Lester Caine wrote:
David Herman wrote:
I was going to suggest the 2 programs you mentioned above (as well as ltsp which seems to be the most ambitious effort), are you saying those won't do it? http://www.ltsp.org/ claims to be distro agnostic.
Just started the download again - failed at 95% and would not restart from there :) Don't need SUSE at all if it works ;)
<snip>
I have run LTSP here and it is not a stand alone product. The image they provide is designed to have a thin client remote X into another machine. In my case, it's the same server that provides the boot kernel and nfs root, but it doesn't have to be.
Yep - that is what I am finding. The networks this is to go on are fairly loaded already, so I'm looking to get the browser on the slave and just update simple pages when necessary - since that already works :)
DHCP works fine, boot image loads and gives a simple network/local menu, but I keep getting "can't find boot server" when selecting the network image, which I thought was the same server that has just successfully downloaded the PXE boot image?
Does your DHCP config contain something like the following? |option root-path "192.168.0.254:/opt/ltsp/i386"; This points to an NFS share. NOTE: you have to use the number, not host name, here. There would be no DNS info at the time this is mounted.| -- Louis D. Richards LDR Interactive Technologies
participants (5)
-
David Herman -
GarUlbricht7＠netscape.net -
Lester Caine -
Louis Richards -
Richard Bos