xref: /src/distrib/notes/sparc/install

Installing NetBSD is a relatively complex process, but if you have
this document in hand it shouldn't be too much trouble.

There are several ways to install NetBSD onto a disk. If your Sparcstation
is hooked up in a network you can find find a server and arrange for a
diskless setup which is a convenient way to install on a machine with
a single disk attached. Alternatively, you could use SunOS (booted from
a local disk) and install NetBSD onto a second disk. For the latter method,
skip to the section "Installing from SunOS" below.

Installing using a diskless setup.

First, you must setup a diskless client configuration on a server. Consult
your server installation documents on how to proceed with this.
Put all the *.tar.gz files you want to install into the root directory
for your client on the server.

Next, unpack base.tar.gz on the server in the root directory for your machine.
A few configuration files need to be edited:

	<root>/etc/hosts
	<root>/etc/myname
	<root>/etc/fstab

Boot your workstation from the server by entering the appropriate `boot'
command at the monitor prompt. Depending on the PROM version in your machine,
this command takes one of the following forms:

	> b le()netbsd -s		# for sun4 monitors
	ok boot le()netbsd -s		# for version 1 OpenBOOT ROMs
	ok boot net netbsd -s		# for version 2 OpenBOOT ROMs

This will boot the NetBSD kernel in single-user mode.

[[
NOTE: the latter two examples assume you operate the OpenBOOT ROM in
"new command mode". If your machine comes up and gives you a `>' prompt
instead of `ok', type:

    >n					# enter native OpenBOOT mode
    ok setenv sunmon-compat? false	# make it permanent
    ok
]]

Start the installation procedure:

netbsd# ./install.sh


This script will do most of the work of transferring the system from the
tar files onto your disk. You will frequently be asked for confirmation
before the script proceeds with each phase of the installation process.
Occasionally, you'll have to provide a piece of information such as the
name of the disk you want to install on or IP addresses and domain names
you want to assign.

The installation script goes through the following phases:

	- determination of the disk to install NetBSD on
	- checking of the partition information on the disk
	- creating and mounting the NetBSD filesystems
	- setup of IP configuration
	- extraction of the distribution tar files
	- installation of boot programs


Now try a reboot.  (If needed, swap your scsi id's first).  Initially
I'd suggest you "boot sd()netbsd -bs", then try multiuser after that.
if you boot single-user the NetBSD incantation to make the root
filesystem writable is

    netbsd# mount -u /dev/sd0a /

The Sun monitor normally tries to load a file called "vmunix". On
OpenBOOT ROM systems you can change it to load NetBSD instead using
the following commands:

On version 1 OpenBOOT ROMs:
    >n
    ok setenv boot-from sd(0,0,0)netbsd
    ok

On version 2 OpenBOOT ROMs:
    ok setenv boot-file netbsd
    ok setenv boot-device /sbus/esp/sd@0,0


Congratulations, you have successfully installed NetBSD 1.0.  When you
reboot into NetBSD, you should log in as "root" at the login prompt.
There is no initial password, but if you're using the machine in a
networked environment, you should create yourself an account and
protect it and the "root" account with good passwords.

Some of the files in the NetBSD 1.0 distribution might need to be
tailored for your site.  In particular, the /etc/sendmail.cf file will
almost definitely need to be adjusted, and other files in /etc will
probably need to be modified.  If you are unfamiliar with UN*X-like
system administration, it's recommended that you buy a book that
discusses it.



Installing from SunOS.

You need a SunOS machine to install NetBSD.  You also need at
least the following pieces:

    the *.tar.gz files you want to install (as a minimum, base.tar.gz)
    gzip (GNU gzip) SunOS binary
    gtar (GNU tar) SunOS binary
    the "install.sh" script
    a "/boot" file from a SunOS sun4c machine
    a kernel, most likely "/netbsd"

All these pieces, except "/boot", are supplied in the NetBSD/sparc
distribution.

You need to format and partition the disk using SunOS (since
NetBSD/sparc uses SunOS disk labels.)  Give yourself adequate
partition sizes.  Here is an example layout:

    partition    size   offset	  will be..
    sd2a        28140        0	  /
    sd2b        16170    28140	  swap
    sd2c       204540        0	  `whole disk'
    sd2g       160230    44310	  /usr

BTW, These are not recommended sizes.  They simply match the first
(tiny) disk that NetBSD/sparc ran on.

Use SunOS to newfs the partitions which will have filesystems on them.
(NetBSD's filesystem format is identical to SunOS).

    sunos# newfs /dev/rsd2a
    [... lots of output]
    sunos# newfs /dev/rsd2g
    [... lots of output]

NOTE: If you are able to, there is a performance benefit from
newfs'ing using NetBSD.  If you newfs using the NetBSD newfs command,
be sure to use the -O flag for your / partition, so that newfs will
use the 4.3BSD filesystem format, rather than the new 4.4BSD filesystem
format.  If you forget, you will not be able to boot -- the SunOS boot
blocks do not understand the extended 4.4BSD filesystem format.

Mount those partitions in a tree formation, under /mnt; ie:

    sunos# df
    Filesystem            kbytes    used   avail capacity  Mounted on
    [...]
    /dev/sd2a              11501       0   11501     0%    /mnt
    /dev/sd2g             179529       0  179529     0%    /mnt/usr

Place a standard SunOS "/boot" program in /mnt (your new root
partition), and use the SunOS command "installboot" to make it work.
The installboot man page says to do something like this:

    sunos# cp /boot /mnt/boot
    sunos# /usr/mdec/installboot -vlt /mnt/boot /usr/mdec/bootsd /dev/rsd2a

You can now extract the provided "*.tar.gz files onto your disk.  The
provided script, "install.sh" will help you:

    sunos# ls -FC
    base.tar.gz      etc.tar.gz       man.tar.gz       secr.tar.gz
    comp.tar.gz      games.tar.gz     misc.tar.gz      text.tar.gz
    install.sh       netbsd.id3_scsi
    sunos# ./install.sh
    [...]

This script NEEDS gzip and gtar (GNU gzip and GNU tar) on your
execution path!  The tar files are in a "new format" that includes
directory information, and SunOS tar will not read them.  Statically
linked versions of these programs for SunOS are supplied in the
distribution.

After the files have been extracted, repair /mnt/etc/fstab to match
your actual disk layout.  (Minus the "/mnt" component of each path, of
course :-)

Now proceed to reboot the machine as described above in "Installing
using a diskless setup".