Thanks Doug for your help. I am cc'ing freebsd-questions and I will drop freebsd-hackers from the next email on.
A few things: 1. it's not a requirement, but I'd like to keep the current partitions (therefore dual boot) just in case anything goes wrong. 2. can you point me to more readings regarding how I might perform the following: " However in order to set the new slice bootable you'd have to then use the disk editor" 3. I guess what you are saying is that if I go with the upgrade path release 4->5->6, I can do "in place" upgrade over network. Again appreciate your help. Thomas -----Original Message----- From: Doug Barton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 1:47 PM To: Thomas Ching Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: boot loader FYI, for future reference this question is really more appropriate for [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Fri, 26 Oct 2007, Thomas Ching wrote: > Hi, I am trying to do the following with existing systems running 4.5. > I'd really appreciate if anyone has any hints, pointers, opinions, or > even just "you should talk to this other group" for me. > > 1. Existing system: FreeBSD 4.5 based with FreeBSD boot loader > (boot0) in MBR You're not planning to dual-boot anything, right? Just boot and run one operating system? > 2. I am trying to install a new software based on either FreeBSD > 6.2 or later, or LINUX with the following restrictions: > > a. No console access > b. No media access other than serial port, Ethernet, > existing HD with 4.5 installed (i.e. NO CD/DVD, floppy, USB....etc) > > 3. The hard drive (1) has enough empty space (currently not > partitioned/used) so I can create a new slice to put the new OS/software > in and boot from the new OS, but I am not sure how I can achieve that. You definitely can't use any of the standard installation methods without console access. You also can't dual boot without console access. > 1. Is it possible for me to boot of FreeBSD 4.5 and "run an > installation over Ethernet/ftp"? No. > 2. Is it possible for me to "tar up a FreeBSD 6.2" partition, put > onto the 4.5 disk (new partition) then "sysinstall" (or something like > that) to make the system boot from the new partition? You could theoretically install onto a local system, tar it up, then unpack it in the unused partition on your remote machine, yes. However in order to set the new slice bootable you'd have to then use the disk editor, and if you get even one thing the tiniest bit wrong, you've bricked it. If I were in your position I'd do this with make world, but that's going to take a looooooooong time because you'll first have to update to the latest RELENG_4, then 5-stable, then 6-stable (at least) and then if you don't want to have to do this again for a while I'd update to 7.0 when it is released. The other alternative is to bribe someone who is local to do the installation for you, which all things considered would probably be easier all around. hope this helps, Doug -- This .signature sanitized for your protection _______________________________________________ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
