[comp.unix.ultrix] Booting a VAX-Ultrix2.3-client from a Ult.4.0-MIPS-server ?

zrzr0111@rusux1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (Kurt Jaeger aka PI) (11/17/90)

Hi !

Someone here has a specific configuration:
A VaxII-client, a small 40MB local /root-fs,
a old bootserver (only for a short time from now), ult.2.3
and a new bootserver, a DEC 5000-series, with Ult.4.0.

In the old days 8) for a restore he just used the old bootserver
via network: Booting the client in single-user-mode, restoring
the /root-fs and all was ok. The client is NOT diskless.

Now, with the old server subject to leave the dep., he has to
learn how to boot from the ult.4.0 (MIPS !).

We tried the following:
- The remote boot uses a node database on the server.
  We looked at the entries in the old server and set the values
  on the new one accordingly.
- The server-kernel is configured for the use of mop_mon/portmapper and alike.
- The netload.sys (primary loader) is the one from the old server.
- We copied the /usr/var/adm/ris/vmunix.sys-File containing the
  Ult.2.3-single-user-system to the new bootserver.
  It is mentioned in the node database as secondary loader.
- The tertiary loader contains a compiled struct with the required
  informations (server-IP, netmask, client-name, -IP and submask).
  We created it on the old server to conform to Ult.2.3 headers.
  (struct netblk, if someone cares :).

From the server-syslog, we can see the following on the NEW server:
- sending volunteer assistance for system load (target blah)
- sending system image
- sending volunteer assistance for tertiary load
- sending tertiary loader
- sending secondary loader
- secondary load file too large
and it fails with a client console saying
Unrecoverable network failure

Does anyone has a documentation of WHAT the both nodes exchange
during remote boot ?
What is supposed to be the the primary, secondary and tertiary
loader under Ult.2.3 and ult4.0 ?

Well, the DEC helpline meant something about "using the normal
ris utility". This requires the boottape which is no longer available (lost
in the dust of long-gone centuries :). A new Ult.-Version costs money...

Please reply via EMail, I'll summary if there's enough interest.
(Yes, I know my writing style is awful. I'm workin' on it :).

	Thanx in advance !    PI