The Gentoo docs URL: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/diskless-howto.xml
All about how to setup diskless workstations using Gentoo Linux :-).


On Thu, 2004-07-01 at 18:37, Bryce C wrote:
> Responces in-line.
> 
> On Thu, 2004-07-01 at 18:12, Jeremy C. Reed wrote:
> > > installs). I just made a folder and installed Gentoo in to it (more than
> > > just folling the docs install though) and from there, the clients boot
> > > up, grab their DHCP leases and then d/l the kernel from the tftp server,
> > > from there on, it's just an NFS filesystem like the LTSP stuff. There
> > 
> > That is basically what I was going to do.
> > 
> > Did you use pxelinux? Did you build your own?
> > 
> Both. Some clients supported PXE (which made life easy) but the rest had
> to use etherboot. It took a day of trial-and-error to get a normal
> kernel to boot with etherboot, but I got it eventually. I just can't
> remember what it was. mknbi I think.
> 
> > Did you build your own custom kernel for the thin-client (to mount and use
> > nfs for root for example before init is ran)? If so, any pointers on what
> > you did?
> > 
> LOL, of course it's a custom kernel in Gentoo. IIRC, I had to include
> kernel DHCP support and NFS as a root.
> 
> > Or just boot a small memory disk (initrd) and then mount and run
> > pivot_root?
> > 
> Nope. Straight off the NFS. Nice and quick and easy.
> 
> > Did you use a NFS swapping patch for your kernel? (I probably will not use
> > that.)
> > 
> Since the computers are mainly handling just one or two processes,
> mainly CPU cycles, I just run it from the ram. The boxes are anywhere
> between 64Mb and 128Mb of ram.
> 
> > > LTSP is like a distro, all the tools are out there free and you can do
> > > it your own. LTSP is just a glue between the programs.
> > 
> > Does this mean you used LTSP to provide some parts (some "glue") for your
> > thin-client solution?
> > 
> Nope. It was just an idea, but was too limiting for me to do this with.
> All clients are identical, but it wouldn't be too hard to set up some
> per-IP/machine rules. The only glue I used was Gentoo. Boy did I get
> high! :-P
> 
> 
> Good luck
> 
> 
> >  Jeremy C. Reed
> > 
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-- 
Bryce C <Plug@BryceCo.Net>
CoBryce Communications