The NetBSD/shark FAQ

This is the FAQ list for the NetBSD/shark port of NetBSD.

General Information

• What type of memory does the Shark require?
• Should I upgrade my Shark's firmware, and if so, how do I do it?
• Is there a XF86config file that I can use on my shark?

Booting

• How do I boot a Shark from an internal disk?
• When installing NetBSD/shark on a Shark with an internal drive, do I need to install a boot loader?
• I can't get my DNARD/Shark to netboot a new kernel.

General Information

What type of memory does the Shark require? (top)

The DNARD user guide has information about this in section 4.5.1, "Supported DIMMs". The DNARD user guide is available at:

http://www.feyrer.de/NetBSD/dnardug.pdf

Should I upgrade my Shark's firmware, and if so, how do I do it? (top)

Upgrading the Shark's firmware can be somewhat frustrating, but in some cases, you may want (or need) to do it. Many people have asked how to get updated firmware for Digital "Shark" systems. Previously, the best answer has been, "Talk to the people who got you the machines." Unfortunately, the folks at Digital (acquired by Compaq) who would've handled these requests are incredibly busy right now. Chris Demetriou volunteered to help them out with firmware image distribution, and they accepted his offer.

The upshot of this is that now, if you're looking for an update for Shark firmware, Chris can help you out. Send him an e-mail at <cgd@NetBSD.org> with the subject "SHARK FIRMWARE REQUEST", and then, after making you jump through a few hoops, he'll point you at the bits.

People should know that there are a few 'interesting' versions of firmware that they might want:

• The 980225 image which is the minimum necessary to Shark support integrated into the master NetBSD sources. (The 1.3-based distribution from Digital could tolerate earlier versions, but the integrated bits won't)

• A version of the 980225 image hacked to use all of the environment SEEPROM for OFW nvram storage. (This is useful if you want a large nvramrc, for instance)

• An image dated 980908, which seems similar to the 980225, but adds additional keymaps and changes the video chip bootstrap initialization.

After you have the bits, you're ready to upgrade.

Is there a XF86config file that I can use on my shark? (top)

Yes, there's one at ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/shark/DNARD/XF86Config. Put it into your Sharks' /etc directory.

Booting

How do I boot a Shark from an internal disk? (top)

To setup a Shark to boot from an internal IDE disk you must aquire an IDE cable and power adapter, ensure that drive is void of any PC BIOS partition tables, install NetBSD, and update your firmware settings.

Installing the hardware

The shark has an internal IDE connector, but it does not have a large 4-pin 12V power connector used by most standard IDE drives. In place of the large 4-pin 12V connector is a newer and smaller floppy drive style power connector. These factors make a laptop drive with a laptop to standard IDE converter the best choice. Depending on your converter, you may also need an adapter to convert the smaller floppy drive style power connector to the larger 12V connector required by your converter. Once installed, the drive can be secured to the top of the ROM slot track using cable ties. You can also use hook and fastener strips (also known by the brand name Velcro®) to secure the drive to the case.

Formatting the drive

Your drive must be properly formatted to be recognized as a bootable disk by the Shark firmware. The NetBSD/shark install will normally take care of most of the formatting for you, but in some cases your drive may have an IBM-PC style Master Boot Record (or MBR). This MBR must be erased before the Shark firmware will recognize the NetBSD filesystem on the drive. To make sure that the MBR is erased, do the following:

1. Install NetBSD as normal.
2. Before rebooting, obtain a shell prompt and issue the command dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/wd0c bs=512 count=1
3. Reboot and update the firmware environment (below).

Updating the firmware environment

To autoboot from the disk you will need to install the wdboot kernel and from the PROM type:

setenv boot-device disk:\netbsd

When installing NetBSD/shark on a Shark with an internal drive, do I need to install a boot loader? (top)

The Shark's firmware is capable of loading the NetBSD kernel directly from an FFS, provided that the drive does not have an IBM-PC style MBR. (See the 'Booting a shark from an internal disk' question for instructions on removing an MBR.) As such, it does not require an on-disk boot loader unlike many other computers.

Some Sharks are configured to load /boot by default, in which case you can just link /netbsd to that name.

I can't get my DNARD/Shark to netboot a new kernel. (top)

The chances are, you need to update your firmware. See the Shark firmware upgrade question for more information on that.

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