1302 lines
41 KiB
Plaintext
1302 lines
41 KiB
Plaintext
Linux Netstation HOWTO
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Kris Buytaert, kb@ipng.be
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v1p17, march 15 , 2004
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This document tries to describe how to hook up a IBM Netstation /
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Netvista to your local network using a Linux box as server.
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______________________________________________________________________
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
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1.1 What's this document
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1.2 Todo
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1.3 Latest versions
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1.4 Copyright
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1.5 Disclaimer
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2. The Netstation Family
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3. Requirements
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3.1 Hardware
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3.1.1 Netstation Clients
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3.1.2 Changes in the new versions.
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3.1.3 Netvista Clients
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3.2 Software
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3.2.1 IBM Software.
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3.2.1.1 Netstation Software
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3.2.1.2 Netvista Software
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3.2.2 NFS Server.
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3.2.3 X Server.
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3.2.4 DHCP Server
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4. Setting up the Server side
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4.1 IBM Netstations using the AIX binaries.
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4.2 Not using the AIX binaries.
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4.3 The Netvista Linuxversions
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4.3.1 Upgrade for the IBM Network station Boot Monitor.
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4.4 The Linux Part
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4.4.1 Setting up the nfs server
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4.4.2 Setting up the X server
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4.5 Setting up Automatic Client configuration
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5. Configuring the Thin Client
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5.1 Auto Config
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5.2 Netstation Clients
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5.2.1 Setting up TCP/IP
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5.2.2 Setting Up the Boot Parameters
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5.2.3 Setting Up the Monitor
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5.2.4 Further Configuration
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5.3 Netvista Clients
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6. Misc Stuff
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6.1 Experiences (NC100)
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6.2 Connecting through a network into the NC (NC100)
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6.2.1 Port 5978
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6.2.2 Port 5999 CONFIGD
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6.3 Port 161/udp - SNMP Access
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6.3.1 Some general statement
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6.3.2 How to configure network management ?
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6.3.3 How to start managing?
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6.3.4 What do you manage?
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6.4 IBM Software Releases
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6.5 NetworkStation Manager
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6.6 Configuration file statements
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6.7 Printing
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6.8 PCMCIA Memory Cards
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6.9 Setup
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6.10 Images
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6.11 Time Sync
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6.12 Test Network
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6.13 BIOS
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6.14 Features
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7. Other Useful Documentation
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7.1 The IBM Website
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7.2 Mailing Lists
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7.3 Linux on the PPC40X
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8. FAQ
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9. Credits
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10. History
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______________________________________________________________________
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1. Introduction
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1.1. What's this document
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Some unused piece of delicious hardware floating around on my desk.
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Screaming to be used. 40 MB of ram and a 403 PPC inside.
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So I decided to give it a try and connect it to my local Linux
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network.
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In this Howto we'll be dealing with an This Howto started out with a
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IBM Network Station model 8361-100, other models were added afterwards
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We also have some additional info about the other 2 models. The
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8361-200 (Model 300) and the 8362-A23 (Model 1000). More info can be
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found at http://www.pc.ibm.com/networkstation/products/(choose your
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region here)
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I'm trying to describe how I setup the NC, there are probably lots of
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other ways to set up this machine, however this one works fine. Any
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other remarks you might have from your own experience are welcome.
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(Hardware is also welcome ;-))
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This Howto is not trying to be the Bible on NC's and Linux, it's
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trying to get you started. Contributions to this NC are most welcome.
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During the past year I have received numerous comments on the HOWTO
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and lots of help from other people (suprisingly a lot from inside
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IBM). I've been busy, therefore now is the first time that I'm
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trying to do a real update of the HOWTO. Most people are asking me
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about Linux binaries to extract the AIX distribution file. I have
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heard about an internal IBM project that is going on there but I have
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no accurate info on that matter yet.
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1.2. Todo
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Things we still have to implement in this Howto
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<20> How to export your homedir
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<20> How to run applications
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<20> How to run Java Applets
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Help is appreciated ;-)
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Since version 1.91 this Howto wil also document the more recent units
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like the Netvista 2200 and the Netvista 2800.
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1.3. Latest versions
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Latest versions of this document can be found on the main website
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<http://howto.ipng.be/>.
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1.4. Copyright
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This HOWTO is copyrighted 1998-2001 Kris Buytaert
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Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
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under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
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any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
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Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
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Texts. A copy of the license is included in the appendix entitled "GNU
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Free Documentation License".
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1.5. Disclaimer
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Use the information in this document at your own risk. I disavow any
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potential liability for the contents of this document. Use of the
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concepts, examples, and/or other content of this document is entirely
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at your own risk.
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All copyrights are owned by their owners, unless specifically noted
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otherwise. Use of a term in this document should not be regarded as
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affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
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Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen as
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endorsements.
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You are strongly recommended to take a backup of your system before
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major installation and backups at regular intervals.
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2. The Netstation Family
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As far as I know there are currently 3 differerent kinds of situations
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when talking about Linux and the Netstation famlily. The first type
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is the IBM NC 100, 110 and 300 series. (I`m still waiting on
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confirmation on the fact that the 110 series indeed do boot Linux
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;))). These babies don't run linux as far as I know. This HOWTO
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however describes how to ingetrete it into your Linux environment.
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The second type is the IBM NC 1000, as of november 2002 these do run
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Linux , although I haven't had the time to document this clearly you
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can download the required software from
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http://sourceforge.net/projects/networkstation/
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All of the above types are PowerPC based devices.
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The third type of Netstations are the 2200 and the 2800 series. These
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are Intel based devices and have been designed to run Linux by
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default. You will find some basic documentation on HOWTO install
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these machines in the howto.
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3. Requirements
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3.1. Hardware
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3.1.1. Netstation Clients
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An NC, connected to your local Network, most likely by a UTP
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connection , thus via a cross-cable or HUB connecting to an Server -
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in this case a Linux Box Basically the NC is Made to work with either
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AS/400 , Windows NT or AIX Servers. These are all expensive solutions,
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however working with thin clients doesnt have to cost that much.
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(Token Ring versions are also available)
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The model I have at my disposal is an IBM Network Station model
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8361-100, On the inside you can find an 403PPC chip, some S3 vga
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components, an PCMCIA slot, and normal 72 pin (parity ??) simms. I
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found 8+32 Mb in my edition.
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Actually those 40Mb were major overkill. In full operation modes
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with lot's of configuration panels a couple of telnet sessions and a X
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-query open only took up about 4Mb of ram. ) So taking out the 32Mb
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showed absolutely no significant loss of speed.
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Well, after working more with the Netstation, specially with Navio I
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found out Navio uses as much 27-30 Mb. So those 40 Mb`s really
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aren`t that much hoverkill
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We proved it was no problem setting it up on a Linux only network.
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You'll need a server that can provide you both with about 25Mb of free
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diskspace for the software, and the capacities to run an X -query.
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In the setup overhere we used a 486DX50 with 8Mb as a fileserver and I
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switch between another 486DX266 (PS/2 85) with 32Mb, and my Multia
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with 48Mb as the X server Of course, the faster machines the better.
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3.1.2. Changes in the new versions.
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The new version comes with a new kernel and some changes in the
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applications. The kernel can now be downloaded as a compressed file
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which speeds up the process.
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Starting with the Network Station 3.0, you need a new Boot Monitor or
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boot PROM (aka Firmware) with the version 3.0.x or later. Your
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NetworkStation won't work with a older boot PROM (aka Firmware) and
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the new Network Station 3.x kernel. If you buy a new NetworkStation,
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you always get one of the latest PROMs Older versions can be
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automatically updated from a boot server, from which the new boot PROM
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get's downloaded. (Could somebody please confirm me that these devices
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are the 110 versions with a PPC 403GC(X) in it !!!!)
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There also is a new layout of the Setup Utility where you define you
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basic network settings of your Network Station.
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3.1.3. Netvista Clients
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The Netvista Clients (2200 and 2800) have been designed to run Linux
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natively, those thin clients are not based on PowerPC Chips but on an
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Intel Chipset therefore running linux on those devices is quite
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straightforward
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3.2. Software
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3.2.1. IBM Software.
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3.2.1.1. Netstation Software
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NC kernel, fonts etc.
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In order to boot the NC you will need its Kernel and fonts. About
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25Mb of files are needed on the server. They can be found on an AIX
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4.X with the Netstation modules installed. Or from the IBM Netstation
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Download Page
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3.2.1.2. Netvista Software
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3.2.2. NFS Server.
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A working NFS server, like in every default Linux distribution.
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Approx 85Mb of diskspace has to be exported to the NC. (this includes
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a lot of documentation which you don't acutally need)
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3.2.3. X Server.
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Any machine running XDM with enough memory, processor power will do.
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You don't need to have X configured on the machine itselve, it can be
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a head-less server. Basic X Windows install will provide you with the
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necessary deamons.
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There is the possibility to run a local X11 server which may avoid
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some network traffic. The new version supports a standard X11 and a
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Motif X11 server. Using a configurable menu or by allowing telnet
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sessions you may access other computers/servers on the network.
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You may also be able to export applications to your Netstation display
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withouth actually using XDM . You might want to run an extra window
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manager. This can be done by telnetting into the remote box and
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typing export DISPLAY=nc_ipnr:0 and afterwards running the application
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you want to use.
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Optional
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3.2.4. DHCP Server
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If you have multiple NC's, you may wish to distribute the IP Adresses
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by using a DHCP Server how to obtain and configure a DHCP server can
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be read in the DHCP Mini Howto on sunsite
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4. Setting up the Server side
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You found all the software you needed. Now let's install them.
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4.1. IBM Netstations using the AIX binaries.
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Before making the tarball on the aix machine, make sure you run
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/usr/netstation/bin/agree in order to make the kernel in a usable
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format. Probably you will have to do the same thing with the tarball
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you get from the IBM website. So finding the kernel separatly might
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be another solution. Find a drive with about 25Mb of free diskspace,
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I use /usr/netstation/, and unpack the tarbal either from the IBM
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website or from an AIX machine. There is no need in using the approx
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60Mb from /usr/netstation/doc on the disk if you don't have enough
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diskspace.
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4.2. Not using the AIX binaries.
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This section has been contributed by Ken Collins and still have to be
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crosschecked by me.
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<20> Download nsmsetup.exe from
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ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/network_station/nsmsetup.exe
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<20> I don't have NT set up, so I moved it over into a Win98 partition
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and tried executing nsmsetup.exe. It extracted properly, then
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choked on the install and removed all the install files. Then I
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tried opening it with WinZip, and that worked. I just extracted
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everything into my Windows partition under the directory
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C:/netstation.
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<20> I then copied everything from C:/netstation/prodbase to my linux
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box. I set everything up in /usr/netstation, which I think was a
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mistake. I ran strings on parts of the package, and it looks like
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/netstation/prodbase is compiled into various programs. I'm going
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to try it again with installing in /netstation/prodbase
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<20> Booting the kernel worked fine. I'm not sure how much of the rest
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of it worked, since I've never seen a working netstation. I'm
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getting a lot of error messages, but an X server comes up, and I'm
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able to telnet and start Mwm. I was able to set up xdm and log
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into my Linux server, until I botched something. Now I get an IBM
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login screen that doesn't allow me to log in.
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Some readers have helped out here. What you need to do is create a
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file new file that will be included in your standard.nsm or modify
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that file.
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e.g.
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You can create a file called local.nsm with the following contents
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(10.1.89.33 is your Linux Box)
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set exec-startup-commands = { {"login 10.1.89.33"} }
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set xserver-access-control-enabled = false
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set tcpip-name-server-protocol = dns
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set tcpip-name-servers = {{ 10.1.89.33 } }
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and you add
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read local.nsm
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to standard.nsm.
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An alternative is to change a single line in
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/netstation/prodbase/configs/required.nsm from { actlogin } to { login
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} to get an xdm chooser or { login xx.xx.xx.xx } to do a direct xdm
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query to your linux box. There's a third way but we haven't got
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confirmation on this.
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{ actlogin -authserv xx.xx.xx.xx }
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Philip Tait wrote to tell us this : "From the directory tree extracted
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from nsmsetup.exe using WinZIP classic, copy the entire tree under
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"Prodbase" to /netstation. Export /netstation, and proceed as for the
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following sections.
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Bram Piket wrote in with even a better version.
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After downloading the nsmsetup.exe file you should run this file.
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There will be a probe to install the NetworkStation under this win-
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system. That does not succeed (in my case?). Don't click the last
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error-window away. Then there is left a tempory NetStation-directory:
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"Ixp000.tmp". Copy the subdirectories to the linux-dir "/netstation".
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Rename "x11" to "X11", "en_us" to "EN_US". Then edit the file
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"/netstation/prodbase/configs/required.nsm" to reflect
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set exec startup-commands=(
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( mcuis )
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( login vvv.xxx.yyy.zzz )
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)
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where vvv.xxx.yyy.zzz is the LINUX-server address.
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4.3. The Netvista Linuxversions
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Download the NetVistaLTC.tar.gz file from the IBM web pages., untar
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the file and run rh_install.sh (we are going for the RedHat
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distribution here)
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(ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/network_station/netvistaltc.tar.gz)
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Welcome to the IBM NetVista Thin Client RedHat Linux Installer
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After the installation has finished, the install log files will be located
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in ./tmp.
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If there are problems, please look at the following files.
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install.log - messages from the IBM install
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rpm.log - messages generated during install of the rpm's
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rpm.err - errors from the rpm install (most of these can
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be ignored)
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Please select Installation type:
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1. Local CDROM
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2. NFS
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Enter Selection: 1
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Mount Point for CDROM [/mnt/cdrom] ?
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1) Caldera Open Linux 3) SuSe Linux 5) Other
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2) RedHat Linux 4) TurboLinux
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Which Linux distribution are you running on this server? 2
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Client Installation Directory [/nstation/linux] ? /opt/NetVista
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Client Installation Directory does not exist. Create /opt/NetVista? y
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Client Machine Specific Directory [/nstation/machines] ? /opt/NetVista/machines
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Client Machine Specific Directory does not exist. Create /opt/NetVista/machines? y
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Machine specific directories based on MAC address or IP address [ MAC ] (IP/MAC) ?
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1) Thin clients authenticate to server (DEFAULT)
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2) No authentication to server
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Select the mode you want for server booted clients? 2
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Please insert the RedHat 6.2 CD
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Press <ENTER> To Continue
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Installation of Server Boot RedHat 6.2 Linux client for IBM NetVista thin
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clientCurrent selections:
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Server IP address: 192.168.10.61
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Client boot directory: /opt/NetVista
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Client SPECIFIC directory: /opt/NetVista/Machines
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Client SPECIFIC directory type: MAC
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Do you wish to continue, restart, or exit installation? (c/r/e) c
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When it completes with 100% install it will show you a screen like this
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Create /opt/NetVista/etc/fstab file
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Modify /opt/NetVista/etc/inittab to call rc.sysinit.IBM_NS.sboot
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Rename services not needed for IBM NetVista Thin Clients
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Add new Common Files
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Add RedHat 6.2 Specific Files
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Link files to RAM disk
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Backup var directory
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Setup Xserver files - XF86_SVGA and XF86Config
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Added /opt/NetVista to /etc/exports
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Added /opt/NetVista/Machines to /etc/exports
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Stripping binaries
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Client Directory Setup complete
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Installation is Complete
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Starting NFS services: [ OK ]
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Starting NFS quotas: [ OK ]
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Starting NFS mountd: [ OK ]
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Starting NFS daemon: [ OK ]
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INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE !!!
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4.3.1. Upgrade for the IBM Network station Boot Monitor.
|
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You can download the most recent bflash images from
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http://service.boulder.ibm.com/dl/nc/priv/netsta-rd_linux Just point
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the device to boot from the bflash images you downloaded and your
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firmware will upgrade itselve !.
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4.4. The Linux Part
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4.4.1. Setting up the nfs server
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Edit your /etc/exports, add the line
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|
||
/usr/netstation 10.0.0.50(rw)
|
||
|
||
|
||
Where 10.0.0.50 is the IP address you want to give to the NC. Restart
|
||
your nfs deamon.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[root@velvet sdog]# ps auxf |grep rpc
|
||
sdog 4145 0.0 5.8 828 384 p1 S 03:55 0:00 \_ grep rpc
|
||
root 3120 0.0 5.7 944 380 ? S Feb 27 0:00 rpc.mountd
|
||
root 3129 0.0 1.5 880 100 ? S Feb 27 0:10 rpc.nfsd
|
||
[root@velvet sdog]# kill -9 3120 3129 ; /usr/sbin/rpc.mountd ; /usr/sbin/rpc.nfsd
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
or on a RedHat-like system easier (5.X)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[root@velvet init.d]# pwd
|
||
/etc/rc.d/init.d
|
||
[root@velvet init.d]# ./nfs restart
|
||
Restarting NFS services: rpc.nfsd rpc.mountd done.
|
||
[root@velvet init.d]#
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Your NC should now be able to mount the /usr/netsation by NFS.
|
||
|
||
Bascially if you don`t need X-Windows this is as far as it gets. You
|
||
can easily telnet from your NC with nothing more installed. However
|
||
the beauty of this thing is it`s X capability.
|
||
|
||
4.4.2. Setting up the X server
|
||
|
||
Next we have to set up the X server. Basically I didn't need to set
|
||
up anything, all of my machines that ran X-Windows were configured to
|
||
accept connections. I just started up the NC for the first time and
|
||
it showed me all the machines that ran an XDM (cfr running an X
|
||
-indirect). So any machine that can run xdm can be used as X Server.
|
||
Just make sure XDM is So any machine that can run xdm can be used as X
|
||
Server. Just make sure XDM is started.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
4.5. Setting up Automatic Client configuration
|
||
|
||
This part has been contributed byJosef Hill
|
||
|
||
what I'm including is the line for using the NS1000 with no
|
||
configuration done on the box. (defaults.. everything is left blank)
|
||
|
||
|
||
inetd.conf:
|
||
|
||
tftp dgram udp wait nobody /usr/sbin/tcpd in.tftpd /QIBM
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
then create a directory /QIBM/ProdData/NetworkStation/
|
||
|
||
and copy the contents of the prodbase directory in the winzip sfx
|
||
nsmsetup.exe which you can download from
|
||
http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/dl/nc/priv/netsta-rd_nsm (you may
|
||
need to create an account to access this.. it's free and requires no
|
||
real information.) note that this download is 90some MB
|
||
|
||
At this point, if you've done the 3 requisite steps, your netstation
|
||
will boot.
|
||
|
||
<20> set up DHCP
|
||
|
||
<20> enable TFTP to the QIBM directory
|
||
|
||
<20> copy the contents of the prodbase directory to the proper path
|
||
|
||
Note: It will probably help an awful lot if you have xdm set up
|
||
(speciffically for xdmcp sessions).
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you use this approach you can obviously skip the next part ! ;-)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Everything on the server side should be setup now. Lets try the NC
|
||
side.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
5. Configuring the Thin Client
|
||
|
||
5.1. Auto Config
|
||
|
||
If you have setup autoconfig as described above you shouldn`t be
|
||
reading this part unless it doesn`t work
|
||
|
||
5.2. Netstation Clients
|
||
|
||
Unplug the network cable from the NC. Then boot it up.
|
||
|
||
After checking its Memory, VGA etc, it will boot into the IBM Network
|
||
Station Setup Utility. Basically you can manage everything from this
|
||
menu system. The main parts will be described here.
|
||
5.2.1. Setting up TCP/IP
|
||
|
||
Section 5 (F5) : Your network setup should look something like this :
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
IP Addressed From NVRAM
|
||
Network Station IP Adress 10.0.0.50
|
||
First Boot Host IP Adress 10.0.0.1
|
||
Second Boot Host IP Adress 10.0.0.11
|
||
Third Boot Host IP Adress 0.0.0.0
|
||
Gateway IP Adress 10.0.0.1
|
||
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
|
||
Broadcast IP Adress 10.0.0.255
|
||
Ethernet Standard Version 2
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Resembles my setup. The NC itself has 10.0.0.50 While 10.0.0.1 is the
|
||
NFS Server, 10.0.0.11 is a secondary NFS server, just in case.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.2.2. Setting Up the Boot Parameters
|
||
|
||
Section 6 (F6): Looks like this in my setup.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Boot file kernel
|
||
TFTP Boot Directory /usr/netstation/
|
||
NFS Boot Directory /usr/netstation/
|
||
Configuration File /usr/netstation/configs/standard.nsm
|
||
Configuration Directory /usr/netstation/configs
|
||
TFTP Order 2
|
||
NFS Order 1
|
||
MOP Order Disabled
|
||
Local Order Disabled
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Where /usr/netstation is the directory export on 10.0.0.1
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.2.3. Setting Up the Monitor
|
||
|
||
Section 7 (F7): You can choose the right resolution / refresh rate
|
||
from a nice menu. I have mine running on an old 14" VGA Screen
|
||
running in 1024x768 @60Hz
|
||
|
||
|
||
Basically that's all you need to install.
|
||
|
||
Just plug in your Network cable again. And Reboot the NC. After
|
||
testing the Video / DRAM, the NC will search the Host system and
|
||
request the startup information, download the Kernel from the NFS and
|
||
boot up.
|
||
|
||
In some cases, the NC might download an updated Firmware from the
|
||
host.
|
||
When starting the graphical Console you should get a menu bar and a
|
||
screen where you can select the X Hosts. You are now in the CLE
|
||
(Common Login Environment): it's a desktop from where you can start
|
||
all sessions, either telnet or X . It uses a local window manager
|
||
which is a small window manager based on MWM.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Your NC is now setup. Congratulations !
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.2.4. Further Configuration
|
||
|
||
Further configuration of the NC can be done e.g. be setting the
|
||
colors, window sizes, default keymaps etc. I'm not going to describe
|
||
these in detail. If you have troubles finding your way through the
|
||
menu system. The IBM Network Station Runtime Environment for RS/6000
|
||
User's Guide which can be found in either .pdf or .ps at
|
||
http://www.as400.ibm.com/networkstation/rs6000/ and will provide you
|
||
with detailed information.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
5.3. Netvista Clients
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Newer versions of the Setup screen might look like this
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> F2 = View Hardware Configuration
|
||
|
||
<20> F3 = Set Network Parameters
|
||
|
||
<20> F4 = Set Boot Parameters
|
||
|
||
<20> F5 = Set Configuration Parameters
|
||
|
||
<20> F6 = Set Monitor Parameters
|
||
|
||
<20> F7 = Set Language Parameters
|
||
|
||
<20> F10 = Set Verbose Diagnostic Message Disabled
|
||
|
||
With F3 you get a panel to set the IP adresses of the Station, the
|
||
boot server and the gateways as well as the subnet mask. With F4 you
|
||
get a panel to set the boot kernel name and path and method (tftp or
|
||
NFS). F5 brings you to a panel to set your configuration files and
|
||
paths.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6. Misc Stuff
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.1. Experiences (NC100)
|
||
|
||
Using the NC as a plain terminal with multiple consoles. The Built-in
|
||
Motif extensions are a lot easier to use than the default setup ;-)
|
||
Pressing the Pause/Break key will pop up the NC Menu at any time.
|
||
6.2. Connecting through a network into the NC (NC100)
|
||
|
||
|
||
The network station allows configuration access via telnet sessions on
|
||
several ports. The ones I know are by default configured like this:
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> port 87, service SerialSD, (raw - serial daemon)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5964, service ParallelD, (raw - parallel daemon)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5976, service FILED, (raw - file manager)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5977, service PREFD, (raw - user preferences)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5978, service DIAG, (raw - diagnostics)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5979, service CONFIGD, (raw - configuration)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5996, service FILED, (telnet - file manager)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5997, service PREFD, (telnet - user preferences)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5998, service DIAG, (telnet - diagnostics)
|
||
|
||
<20> port 5999, service CONFIGD, (telnet - configuration)
|
||
|
||
You can easliy access the TCP ports by using a telnet session telnet
|
||
NC-IPaddr port. Be careful whether there is a password check enabled.
|
||
The passphrase 'public' (without quotes) worked for me.
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.2.1. Port 5978
|
||
|
||
Remote Logging It's the same as the messages console in your CLE.
|
||
|
||
The format of each entry stretches over 2 lines.
|
||
|
||
+ DD:HH:MM:SS NSKxxxx: ...
|
||
|
||
The first line covers date using the string that counts days, hours,
|
||
minutes and seconds since boot time. The second line starts with an
|
||
message identifier and the english plain text message after a
|
||
separating colon, e.g.:
|
||
|
||
|
||
[...]
|
||
+ 25:17:31:43
|
||
NSK5641: unable to get current time from 10.10.90.149
|
||
+ 26:03:29:10
|
||
NSK4708: automatic powerdown to Suspend state after 40 minutes idle time
|
||
+ 26:03:49:10
|
||
NSK4708: automatic powerdown to Powerdown state after 60 minutes idle time
|
||
+ 26:07:22:38
|
||
NSK8001: accepting DIAGD connection from 10.10.90.150
|
||
[...]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.2.2. Port 5999 CONFIGD
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Use this port to do remote configuration for the NC by an telnet
|
||
session (telnet NC-IPaddr 5999).
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Here are some first commands and hints that seemed to me to be useful.
|
||
You can apparently configure the NC remotely - online. The
|
||
configuration files use the same format, but do allow only an offline
|
||
configuration. As an alternative you may use the the setup function
|
||
from the NC menu window.
|
||
|
||
First of all you will need to login if you defined a password.
|
||
Logging into the NC should show you a sequence like:
|
||
|
||
*** NCD X Terminal Configuration ***
|
||
Password:
|
||
Invalid Password
|
||
Password: public
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Being logged in, you can start configurating. The configuration
|
||
syntax is identical to /usr/netstation/configs/ the setup files. Be
|
||
aware that the behaviour within this command line interface is the
|
||
same as using the gui, i.e. when you set (you may omit this keyword)
|
||
some parameter you need to apply it. Otherwise you will not see any
|
||
effect. There is a /usr/netstation/configs/configd.doc documentation
|
||
file (- more precisely I would call it a reference script -) delivered
|
||
with the netstation software. (The links are configured for the
|
||
RS/6000 installation.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
You probably want to start straight into the matter. So for learning
|
||
it the hard way, I recommend some commands to start with:.
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> help - shows you all possible commands with some really short
|
||
explanation. Some commands concerning locking should be used with
|
||
care.
|
||
|
||
<20> get groups - tells you which groups of configuration options are
|
||
available. These are the subjects in the setup browser of the NC
|
||
menu. You may think of them as section headers. These group names
|
||
are also the first token in the name of the configurable items
|
||
within it.
|
||
|
||
<20> get boot ... slow in answering and shows you how the boot
|
||
parameters of the NC are currently set.
|
||
|
||
<20> get tftp - again some basic boot parameters. On my NC all are read
|
||
only statistics
|
||
|
||
<20> get tcpip - most useful for reading some TCP statistics, less
|
||
useful for changing the IP setup, i.e. name servers, local DNS
|
||
cache, ARP configuration.
|
||
|
||
<20> get file - again slow response. A long list of parameters. Most
|
||
of them are again self explaining. Be careful when changing the
|
||
port parameters, since you might have problems to find them later
|
||
on. Also some important boot parameters can be found here.
|
||
|
||
<20> get nfs - shows NFS configuration. You most likely will only need
|
||
it, if you use a memory PCMCIA card. Otherwise you will have
|
||
little to import or export.
|
||
|
||
<20> info - shows you NAME, ACCESS, and PROTECTION of a given or all
|
||
variables. Helpful, if you work with protect
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.3. Port 161/udp - SNMP Access
|
||
|
||
|
||
You need some network management software to work with it. Among the
|
||
most famous commercial ones are (Tivoli) NetView and HP OpenView.
|
||
They provide an easy-to-use user interfaces. For linux you usually
|
||
use cmu-snmp for command line and TCL/TK-based scotty for visual
|
||
frontend. (I like command line and that's what I am going to explain)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.3.1. Some general statement
|
||
|
||
The network station is completely configurable as already noted. In
|
||
allows examinations and alterations while being used. The changes
|
||
take effect either immediately, at session startup, or at boot time
|
||
(see configd.doc). All reads from the network station do not unveal
|
||
the users display contents, and therefore the users' privacy is
|
||
respected (if the application itself respects it as well). Only the
|
||
configuration may be retrieved, but not the window contents (at least
|
||
not this way).
|
||
|
||
6.3.2. How to configure network management ?
|
||
|
||
There is a file in ASN.1 called snmpmib.txt in the installation
|
||
directory of the recent releases that allows your network management
|
||
console resolve the mib symbols. Otherwise you see dot-separated
|
||
sequences of numbers only. So best is to append this file (comments
|
||
start with double minus "--") to the mib.txt file of your SNMP
|
||
software. You can use snmpwalk, snmpget, snmpset to browse and modify
|
||
the symbols you have retrieved.
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.3.3. How to start managing?
|
||
|
||
Simplest way to start managing is to execute the commands
|
||
|
||
|
||
snmpwalk NC-IPaddr public system
|
||
snmpget NC-IPaddr public system.sysDescr.0
|
||
snmpset NC-IPaddr public system.sysContact.0 s"MailTo:Kris.Buytaert@advalvas.b$
|
||
snmpwalk NC-IPaddr public system
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Sit back and think a little bit about it. It is easy to work with.
|
||
|
||
If you never had experience with SNMP commands you should read some
|
||
SNMP documentation, take reference to configd.doc. For more details
|
||
refer to SNMP-HowTos.
|
||
|
||
6.3.4. What do you manage?
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
It works nearly the same way as the telnet session to the
|
||
configuration port, except that each command is transferred separately
|
||
to the NC using UDP. The advantage is that you do not have to work
|
||
interactively, you work with UDP instead of TCP, which avoids retries
|
||
to network stations that are down. you must have the privileges for
|
||
being successful - 'public' is a good community for reading...
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.4. IBM Software Releases
|
||
|
||
IBM Has a special program for upgrades and documentation about the IBM
|
||
Netststation releases. It includes CDs and printed documentation
|
||
|
||
It can be ordered freely from IBM from the following url
|
||
service.boulder.ibm.com/nc/pcserver/cd_order.shtml.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
(Thnx to Herman Bos (hermanb@xs4allnl) for this info)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.5. NetworkStation Manager
|
||
|
||
|
||
The NetworkStation Manager is a piece of software running on the boot
|
||
server. It has a web interface and allows you to administrate all your
|
||
NetworkStations from a single point. You can define users and groups
|
||
and provide a customised desktop for each of them.
|
||
|
||
This is required if you don't use a windowmanager provided by Linux.
|
||
It basically works by parsing and writing the configuration files.
|
||
However, Linux is not a supported plattform of this software. So as a
|
||
workaround you have to change the configuration files by hand or have
|
||
an OS/390, an AIX or a Windows NT do the job for you. Please be aware,
|
||
that for the personalisation in users and groups of your
|
||
NetworkStation Desktop, you need the login daemon running on your boot
|
||
server. This daemon is not available on Linux. So personalisation has
|
||
to be done by naming the configuration files according to the user
|
||
sitting at the Station.
|
||
|
||
|
||
There is an actual Redbook about the Network Station,
|
||
|
||
Network Station Manager V2R1
|
||
|
||
, IBM PubNumber SG24-5844-00. For the use with Linux it may be
|
||
helpful for you to read IBM Network Station - RS/6000 Notebook, IBM
|
||
PubNumber SG24-2016-01. It explains the use with the RS/600 AIX
|
||
System (an interesting flavour of Unix).
|
||
|
||
6.6. Configuration file statements
|
||
|
||
Here are some configuration file statements that I found useful:
|
||
|
||
set boot-prom-force-update = true With this setting, the Network
|
||
Station will check for a new boot PROM (aka Firmware) and download it
|
||
if available.
|
||
|
||
set xserver-access-control-enabled = false Will allow all XClients to
|
||
connect to the XServer running on that Network Station.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.7. Printing
|
||
|
||
|
||
(contributed by Bram Piket)
|
||
|
||
To get printing work you have do two configuration steps. One on the
|
||
Netstation and one on the printsystem of the server.
|
||
|
||
On the Netstation :
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pop up the IBM Network Station User Services window (standard with
|
||
Alt-Shift-Home) or reboot the Netstation terminal.
|
||
|
||
As stated on page 184 of the named IBM Redbook:
|
||
|
||
In Setup -> Changes Setup Parameters, choose Print:
|
||
|
||
Add in Lpr-Servers: Server: localhost Queue Name: PARALLEL1 Datastream
|
||
type: ps (postscript)
|
||
|
||
|
||
Save with Apply and as a file. Add this file to:
|
||
/netstation/prodbase/configs/defaults.dft
|
||
|
||
On the printer side
|
||
|
||
Assumed is a cups printsystem. You have to be root to administrate
|
||
cups. Within a webbrowser open the cups-setup (localhost:631). In
|
||
Administration -> Add Printer Name your printer and give the device
|
||
URI:
|
||
|
||
|
||
lpd://ppp.qqq.rrr.sss/PARALLEL1,
|
||
|
||
|
||
where ppp.qqq.rrr.sss = IP-adress of the Netstation.
|
||
|
||
There is a Redbook about printing, 'IBM Network Station Printing
|
||
Guide', IBM PubNumber SG24-5212-00. Redbooks can be found at
|
||
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.8. PCMCIA Memory Cards
|
||
|
||
ANeuper@antaris.de the author of this paraphrase.
|
||
|
||
|
||
I have tested memory cards manufactured by Centennial (IBM gives you a
|
||
more complete list of memory cards that work with the NC). I
|
||
recommend a minimum capacity of 20 MB. If you have less you will have
|
||
less functionality on the card. Even 20MB is hardly sufficient. Once
|
||
a NC is installed with a memory card it can serve as peer booting host
|
||
for other NCs in its network vicinity.
|
||
|
||
You need to connect to the file manager port 5996. Keep a eye on your
|
||
access protections in your configuration files. If you use the memory
|
||
card with the network station for the first time, you need to format
|
||
it. You should mount it and export it. once you have exported it
|
||
(showmount -e NC-IPaddr) you can mount it to your boot server (mount
|
||
NC-IPaddr:/local /mnt) and transfer the setup directory( cp -r
|
||
/usr/netstation/* /mnt). Be careful not to forget some necessary
|
||
files, particularily some X11 files are needed. The full directory
|
||
will not fit on the card. Avoid erasing on the chip card, claiming
|
||
the freed space isn't easy and wastes space.
|
||
For more detailed information you have place an PRPQ at IBM (whatever
|
||
this means), contact some IBM representative or contact
|
||
|
||
|
||
6.9. Setup
|
||
|
||
It seems the "user preferences" are stored in NVRAM, while "quick
|
||
setup" and "setup parameters" are read from the boot server (in NFS,
|
||
/netstation/prodbase/configs/standard.nsm).
|
||
|
||
6.10. Images
|
||
|
||
The screensaver and background reads XBM images, Linux/BSD/*nix users
|
||
can use XV to export to this format. The screensaver image shown will
|
||
be inverted.
|
||
|
||
6.11. Time Sync
|
||
|
||
The units don't use NTP, instead inetd's built-in unix time (37/udp)
|
||
support, I'd personally recommend using xinetd.
|
||
|
||
6.12. Test Network
|
||
|
||
This is User Sevices Console version of ping.
|
||
|
||
6.13. BIOS
|
||
|
||
Setting a global password will password-protect the "BIOS" setup.
|
||
According to Matthew Poertner
|
||
|
||
You can reset the NVRAM on the netstations (tested on 110 and 300
|
||
types) using the following commands:
|
||
|
||
>From Setup Utility:
|
||
-CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+F1
|
||
-NV
|
||
-R
|
||
-L
|
||
-S
|
||
Are you Sure? Yes
|
||
-Q
|
||
Reboot and Reconfig
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
However if this doesn't work yet, you can always try to ...
|
||
|
||
1. Power Off
|
||
2. open it, everything attached
|
||
3. above the pcmcia slot, right hand there are two blank metal spots,
|
||
about 1 mm square, connect them (e.g. with a screwdriver) and power on the
|
||
netstation
|
||
4. watch the boot sequence, some when it should say sth. like "NVRAM
|
||
cleared or so"
|
||
5. Power Off, close it, and everything should be wonderful!
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If that still doesn't work I don't have a clue ;(
|
||
|
||
6.14. Features
|
||
|
||
Most units (8361-110 for sure) features not only support for X (as an
|
||
Xterminal) and NC (Windows NT Terminal Server) usage, it's built-in
|
||
console also has support for serial (locally attached and dial-up
|
||
using PPP/SLIP, also telnet connections.
|
||
|
||
7. Other Useful Documentation
|
||
|
||
|
||
7.1. The IBM Website
|
||
|
||
The IBM Website lots of documentation on the NC, most of it can be
|
||
found in PDF format.
|
||
|
||
The latest updates can be found at
|
||
http://www.as4000.ibm.com/networkstation/rs6000/ including
|
||
|
||
<20> IBM Network Station Runtime Environment for RS/6000 Users's Guide
|
||
|
||
<20> IBM Network Station Runtime Environment for RS/6000 System
|
||
Administrator's Guide
|
||
|
||
<20> IBM Network Station Runtime Environment for RS/6000 System Navio NC
|
||
Navigator Browser Guide
|
||
|
||
Or from http://www.ibm.com/nc/pubs/
|
||
|
||
<20> IBM Network Station Setup and Use
|
||
|
||
7.2. Mailing Lists
|
||
|
||
There is a mailing list available called The NetVista thin Client
|
||
Linux Forum it can be found on
|
||
http://techconnect.ease.lsoft.com/archives/netvista_thin_client_forum/network.htm
|
||
, the archives can also be found there.
|
||
|
||
|
||
7.3. Linux on the PPC40X
|
||
|
||
There are a lot of new resources online about Linux on the PPC40X.
|
||
Here is a small list of them. http://www.borg.umn.edu/~grant/Linux/
|
||
it seems like some of the Netstations contain a 403GC[X] on this page
|
||
you can find a Linux kernel for that PPC. If anybody succeeds please
|
||
contacte me ! http://www.mvista.com/products/405gp_status/main.html
|
||
Montavista Software is doing a nice job in porting the Linux kernel to
|
||
the IBM PowerPC 405GP based Walnut System:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
More recently we established a Wiki to discuss the development of
|
||
Linux on the Netstation, you can find it on
|
||
http://howto.ipng.be/NetstationWiki/ The effort actually worked out
|
||
and there is a totally new project on SourceForge where you can
|
||
download the required software to boot Linux on an IBM NC 1000.
|
||
http://sourceforge.net/projects/networkstation/
|
||
|
||
|
||
8. FAQ
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> Q: Can you run a Linux kernel on the Netstation A: Depending on
|
||
the type you have you can get linux running. Both 2200 and 2800
|
||
models are running Linux out of the box. As of november 2002 we
|
||
have a succesful boot of a linux kernel on an IBM Netstation 1000.
|
||
|
||
I'm waiting for feedback on the 110, 300 types. The 100 is not
|
||
running linux at the moment, it has no MMU so therefore the Linux
|
||
port is a bit more difficult.
|
||
<20> Q: Are there any mailing lists about the Netstation A: Take a look
|
||
to the Other Usefull Documentation part in this howto ..
|
||
|
||
<20> Q: I have a 2200 or a 2800 and the instructions in your HOWTO don't
|
||
work QM The 2200 and 2800 are not based on the PPC architecture
|
||
anymore , they have a more frequently used chipset which is
|
||
supported by Linux and these things run Linux natively.
|
||
|
||
<20> Q: I have no AIX available how can I unpack the kernel A: There is
|
||
a new section in the howto that describes how to use another way to
|
||
do this.
|
||
|
||
<20> Q: I get an Invalid Kernel Type while trying to boot the NC. A:
|
||
You didn't run the agree script on your aix machine.
|
||
|
||
<20> Q: I log in at the remote host and my keyboard settings are
|
||
incorrect. A: I use no /.Xmodap when working on the NC. This
|
||
keeps my keyboardsettings perfect.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
9. Credits
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Lots of thanks must go out to Wouter Cloetens,
|
||
wcloeten@raleigh.ibm.com for getting me started , additional info from
|
||
Boas Betzler, Andreas Neuper and Herman Bos. Thanks for updates in
|
||
v1.00 must go to Matt Peterson and Ken Collins and Philip Tait for the
|
||
setup using a Win98 machine instead of an AIX box. Josef Hill for the
|
||
automatic configuration description. Niels H Sondergaard , John
|
||
Kaiser and Joern Allmers also belong to the crowd of smart people
|
||
that mailed me with extra info for the HOWTO
|
||
|
||
|
||
and to Bart Geens ,Bart.Geens@advalvas.be for rereading this howto and
|
||
findin uot lost of splelling errosr
|
||
|
||
|
||
Also thanks to all the different people that wrote me with hints and
|
||
help although I might have forgotten to include some of their
|
||
comments, if you think your part is missing, please mail me ;-)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
10. History
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> v0.98p14 19980222 First Release
|
||
|
||
<20> v0.99p15 19990501 Some fixes
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> v0.99p16 19991004 Major updates including feedback from Boas
|
||
Betzler, Andreas Neuper and Herman Bos
|
||
|
||
<20> v0.99p18 19991226 Updates after feedback from readers.
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.00 20000624 Updates but now also a sollution without AIX,
|
||
this might be a good time for 1.0 ;-) It Also seems like the howto
|
||
is not listed under mini anymore
|
||
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.01 20001103 Updates for the not using AIX sollution
|
||
(Philip Tait)
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.02 20010813 Lost bios passwords by Matthew Poertner
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.12 20011023 Lots of modifications , Client Auto
|
||
configuration by Josef Hill
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.13 20011207 License Change
|
||
|
||
<20> v1.15 20030107 NC 1000 booting Linux
|
||
|
||
<20> v.1.16 20030210 Printing explained
|
||
|
||
<20> v.1.17 20040315 Changed some links , thnx to David Gilles
|
||
|
||
|
||
|