Date: Sun, 29 Jan 1995 22:51:57 -0800 (PST) From: SACBBX <rdugaue@netcom.com> To: questions@FreeBSD.org Cc: rdugaue@sacbbx.com Subject: FreeBSD Install Problems Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9501292207.A15260-0100000@netcom20>
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On advise of some friends I recently decided to switch a linux network of 3 computers over to FreeBSD. I'm currently running into several problems, which so far has left me with a network that's unusable. Mainly, I'm having problems with installing even the base package and getting controllers (both SCSI and Ethernet) to function properly. The system I'm currently having troubles with is a Pentium 90 (Plato P54c/PCI) motherboard. It has a PCI-SC200 controller which is the NCR53C810 chipset which is on the supported list. The ethernet controller is a 3com 3c509 also on the supported list. So far I have not been able to get the PCI SCSI controller setup with a bootable partition. Invaribly the setup fails when it starts to map out superblocks on the disk. I've tried using a 200 meg HD split into a 20 meg root, 32 meg swap, and the rest as /usr. When I did this I got past the superblock, but upon rebooting the system was unable to boot off the HD (yes I but a boot manager block on it). A 4 gig drive so far has been unusable as the superblock mapping fails everytime upon startup, doesn't even get to the point of printing block numbers. Deciding it was probably something strange with the PCI controller I went out and picked up an IDE drive and popped that into my on board IDE PCI controller. After figuring that that boot slice for FreeBSD must start with something other then 1 I finally at least got the system to boot with the IDE/HD combo. However, when I boot into the packages install and specify an NFS machine (which is still on linux, running named, and working fine) I get an error message that appears as if the ethernet card is having problems getting out on the net. The card is plugged into a concentrator, and I see the port blinking periodically, but never a consistent 'turned on' light like the other systems that are connected to it do. Finally I get an error message with something about unable to obtain host_ip and mount_NFS failing. If I drop down into a shell, setup the ethernet port with the proper values, the light on the concentrator still does not go on (it's not an activity light, it's a connection established light). I'm unable to ping any of the other machines, though the light does blink a few times when I start the ping. So now it looks like the ethernet board is also having problems. Both the SCSI PCI, and the 3com board are on the supported lists, they both appear in the autoconfiguration on startup with values that are normal defaults and seenby FreeBSD, but for the life of me I have no idea what's going on. A 2 hour install from what my friend told me it took for him to go from linux->freeBSD has turned into a weekend of confusion. I know these boards are fine as they worked with linux. Where should I go from here? Any ideas? I have the latest kernal boot disks and cpio. I've also tried the CDROM distribution. Both give me the same results. One other thing that seems odd. Everytime I reboot I get a different MHz rating for my Pentium 90. I've seen it fluxuate from as low as 71 Mhz to 90 Mhz in the report. What gives with this???? Any help or response that can get me beyond this initial hump and allow me to get to work with restoring my network would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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