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Date:      Tue, 12 Mar 1996 21:44:08 +-1000
From:      Greg Laslett <abseil@thehub.com.au>
To:        "'questions@freebsd.org'" <questions@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Beyond 'Diskless' into 'Deviceless'
Message-ID:  <01BB1063.2B903B60@an103.thehub.com.au>

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I am interested in the concept of setting up a FreeBSD boot/file server =
servicing 'n'  totally minimal FreeBSD PC's each acting as a processing =
engine.  Each of the client PC's would consist only of a motherboard and =
an ethernet card.  No Keyboard, no VGA card, no HDD.  Booting would be =
via a ROM on the ethernet card and the console would be via an Xterm (or =
similar) session.

Has anybody done something similar ?

Can anybody advise on an ethernet (later to be fast ethernet) card which =
has an appropriate ROM easily orderable.  Alternately perhaps one can =
plug a PROM writer into a FreeBSD box and write a custom net boot for =
say an SMC8432 Etherpower or 3Com 3C5xx ?

What net boot servers can be got for FreeBSD ?

Is there an 'Xterm' console driver that can look for an appropriate =
Xserver ?

What kernel stability issues need to be addressed when there is no =
Keyboard, FDD, serial lines or other normally expected hardware about ?

Regards,
Greg Laslett.




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