I’m trying to set up a network installation for a laptop.
I copied the 11.2 DVD contents to my server’s /srv/tftpboot directory
and copied ‘linux’ and ‘initrd’ files to the tftpboot directory.
When I boot the client machine and tell the BIOS I want a network install,
it finds the server with DHCP and TFTP loads a kernel. Once the kernel is loaded
it stops with a red screen “Cannot find Opensuse repository” and allows me to move
on to a manual install which does not get me anywhere.
I was expecting to be given the usual options from the installation sources
(Installation , update, check media, check memory …).
I guess I am missing a pointer somewhere to the next step…
On 09/22/2011 06:06 PM, colbec wrote:
>
> I guess I am missing a pointer somewhere to the next step…
openSUSE 11.2 has passed its end of life (in May 2011)! therefore, your
install script script “Cannot find Opensuse repository” online, because
it is no longer on line…
install a supported version, currently 11.3 and 11.4, but 11.3 dies soon
(in 115 days), see here: http://en.opensuse.org/Lifetime
–
DD
openSUSE®, the “German Automobiles” of operating systems
Thanks for the thought, but here is the situation. It’s an older laptop with only 256MB memory. I have 11.4 and use it on my later machines, however if I try to load 11.4 on the laptop it will install but the machine is immediately crippled by the various “enhancements” that are great for faster boxes. It can take 20 minutes to get a sight of a terminal window to kill some of the preload stuff for example.
So I have to use 11.2 which runs great on that laptop. The entire installation DVD is sitting in the /srv/tftpboot directory, all I have to do is point the process at the right file and everything should be downloadable.
I’ve tried a couple of tweaks and now I get the frequently seen “Make sure you have a CD in drive 1”. This might be progress and might not. I seem to have touched something in the right file.
i’d recommend you install a lighter Linux version…there are several
around which ought to be ok, you might want to try Puppy…
maybe 11.3 with LXDE or XFce, but i don’t think it will fly like the wind…
or, i do not know it if is possible, but maybe you could coax an install
from the Evergreen Project–but, i really think you should have done
that before you tried 11.4, i don’t think you can make an
original/initial install of 11.2, but see here: http://tinyurl.com/4aflkpy [but i don’t know a lot about
Evergreen…ask the ones who run that…]
–
DD Caveat
openSUSE®, the “German Automobiles” of operating systems
Since you took the time to respond, here are some answers:
The laptop already has 11.2 on it and it is working fine even with little resources.
Yes I did try to install 11.4 - if it was not for the enhancements I think it would have been ok.
I went back to 11.2 no problem, replaced the system partition and on we go.
So why am I trying to install 11.2 on a machine that already has a working 11.2?
I’m using it as a test client to try to get a tftp boot/install server working.
All I need it to do is present me with a screen that shows that my server is properly configured,
and ready to send me the installation materials if I proceed.
It just happens to be the convenient machine,
and so far is doing the job intended by showing me that my configuration is wrong.
Sure I could be using a USB stick but that is a different project.
On 09/22/2011 08:26 PM, colbec wrote:
>
> So why am I trying to install 11.2 on a machine that already has a
> working 11.2?
hmmmm…sorry, i just don’t understand what you are doing…11.2 is
installed on the machine but you need help installing 11.2 on that
machine…sorrry, i’m gonna leave this thread now and hope someone who
can actually help you comes to your rescue…
but, remember: openSUSE 11.2 is no longer supported unless you have
moved into the Evergreen Project–and, frankly i have zero idea who
fields Evergreen questions…(not me, for sure)…
best of luck…
–
DD
openSUSE®, the “German Automobiles” of operating systems
I have achieved a sort of success with a workaround.
This involves using dhcp and tftp to get the laptop booted,
and then get to the install screen on a USB external hard drive.
It’s not pretty, involving some confusing messages such as
“no driver updates found”, but it does get me to the
graphical installation screen.
Next I can look into making that USB hard drive partition bootable.
> So why am I trying to install 11.2 on a machine that already has a
> working 11.2?
> I’m using it as a test client to try to get a tftp boot/install server
> working.
Interesting.
I did do a network install years ago, but I used the network CD image and a
local computer serving the DVD. I haven’t tried your route, so I can’t
help. I’m sure there are instructions in the wiki, have you read them?
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)
Yes, I did follow the recommendations such as they are. Like anything else things change over time, so most of the challenge in following a list of things to do is knowing what not to do as much as what you should do.
The problem in my case is that while the client will boot from the network, it can’t start the install process from the same source.
USB comes to the rescue since the client will recognize an external hard drive or a USB stick which contains the installation routine and will run it from there.
On 2011-09-23 16:46, colbec wrote:
>
> Yes, I did follow the recommendations such as they are. Like anything
> else things change over time, so most of the challenge in following a
> list of things to do is knowing what not to do as much as what you
> should do.
Wild guess: try the same procedure with another oS version. Sometimes there
have been install bugs… who knows.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)