This whole process can take around than an hour and a half on sparcstation 2 and ftp access. You have been warned...

On sucs (the computer) make sure that /tftpboot directory exists. You will also have to make sure that the services arp and tftp are running.

Download tftp32.img from a redhat mirror (e.g. http://www.mirror.ac.uk/sites/ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/current/sparc/images/). Note: when downloading image make sure that you use a real ftp program set to binary mode (often done by typing binary once the program has started). If you are having trouble net booting the sparc later check the file didn't come down as an ascii file using: [root@sucs /tftpboot]# file tftp32.img
tftp32.img: sparc executable
If it says that it is an ascii file you will have to redownload it it PROPERLY.

/sbin/arp -s ipaddress hardware address
/sbin/rarp -s ipaddress hardware address

If the sparc has SLILO on it you will need to type halt at the prompt and press c to get up a new command mode. At this prompt type "boot net" to get the sparc to look for a boot image on the network. If you miss SLILO and the kernel starts loading the you can press "Stop-A" to drop straight to the command prompt. The sparc should try and restart and look for an image on the network server. It is possible to calcualte the name of the file the sparc is looking for but it is easier to look in /var/log/messages for a line which has tftp in it):
[root@sucs /tftpboot]# grep tftp /var/log/messages
Sep 13 11:08:43 sucs tftpd[27796]: tftpd: trying to get file: 892C0A84.SUN4C

Make a symlink from the image (tftp32.img) to the name of the file that the sparc is looking for (e.g. /tftpdir/892C0A84.SUN4C). Net boot the sparc again.

The sparc should start to download the image and a little ticker should begin to count up to 13400. Once it has finished the sparc should boot into redhat installation program.

Go with the default keyboard type (sunkeymap).
Select an installation method (I will use FTP).
Configure TCP/IP tick the box next to use dynamic IP configuration.
If you choose an FTP installation, you can use "mirror.ac.uk" as the ftp site name and "sites/ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/current/sparc/" as the Red Hat Directory. You may wish to make a small cup of tea.
Select Install Custom System.
Make those partitions (fdisk is more powerful diskdruid is easier to use).
If the computer being used only has 16Mb of memory, it is recommend that you make a 32Mb swapfile partition. The rest should be used for the main partition /
If it asks you to turn the swapfile on, turn it on.
Press ok at the SLILO configuration.
Hostname Configuration: might be obtained from sucs otherwise entered a themed name along the lines of name.sucs.swan.ac.uk.
Under Time Zone Selection use tick the Hardware clock set to GMT? and use Europe/London as the zone.
Enter the root password. No need to add a user.
Under Authentication Config just click OK. Under package Group selection deselect everything accept Networked workstation and tick the Select individual packages box.
Under the next package group selection screen, look under User Interface/X and tick XFree86. Under User Interface/X Hardware Support tick XFree86-Sun and Xconfigurator.
You can deselect Everything in Applications/Communication, libpng (System Environment/Libraries), ncftp (Applications/Internet), libpng, Everything in Publishing, ipchains, lpr, yp-tools, yp-bind, ppp, wvdial. This list is not exhaustive but may help you cut down the installation size if space is really that tight. Do a custom installation and deselect everything excpet Network station. Add back XFree86 and Xconfigurator.
Hang around long enough to check that it is installing the packages ok and go outside and enjoy the rain/sunshine for an hour.
Once all that has finsihed it will ask if you want to make a boot disk. Since you know how to boot off the network this isn't really neccessary (so say no).
When it's finished it will ask to test the X configuaration. I recommened that you do *not* test the configuration because there is a good chance the computer will crash at that point.
You should receive a message saying that you have finished and when you press OK the computer should reboot.
Once the computer has restarted and brought up console log in as root and type the following:
X -query 137.44.10.135 -fp tcp/137.44.10.135:7100
(this basically starts X but makes it a remote one because it takes pictures sent by sucs2. The -fp bit sets the box to look to sucs2 for fonts too since this install may not have had the neccessary fonts put on it). If X starts ok and lets you log in then kill it off using ctrl-alt-backspace. We are going to make it more permenant by making the computer start X straight after it finishes booting.
vi /etc/inittab
change the line
id:3:initdefault:
to
id:5:initdefault:
(this makes the computer start in runlevel 5 - which automatically starts X)
Time to comment out the bottom line. Change:
x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/prefdm -nodaemon
to
#x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/prefdm -nodaemon
Finally add the following line to the bottom of the file:
x:5:respawn:/etc/X11/X -query 137.44.10.135 -fp tcp/137.44.10.135:7100
save the file and at the prompt type:
telinit 5

Edit resolve.conf to sucs.swan.ac.uk
Sit back and congratulate yourself on an installation well done.

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