Very Computer

I work for a large human services organization.  We currently run on a
Novell 3.12 100-user network. All of the client PC' s are running
Win'95. Our agency is growing and I have managed to convince the
management to let me implement Linux as a Web/Email server.  It is
working great, and I have them convinced that Samba can handle file and
print services as well ( eventually eliminating Novell and fighting off
the temptation of others to use NT).   We are using a bunch of outdated
286 machines to serve as print servers for all of our printers.  I would
like to continue using these machines, except convert them to Linux and
have them boot from floppy.  This really isn't a diskless system...  Can
anybody give me some info on how to set this up???

I assume that this is possible via the root file system via NFS.  Can I
do this with a kernel and some configurations on a floppy.  To further
complicate the floppy drives are only 720K.

Thank You
Brian Klock
CSC, Inc.

: the temptation of others to use NT).   We are using a bunch of outdated
: 286 machines to serve as print servers for all of our printers.  I would
: like to continue using these machines, except convert them to Linux and
: have them boot from floppy.  This really isn't a diskless system...  Can
: anybody give me some info on how to set this up???

Linux won't run on a 286. There is work going on to produce a version that
will, but it's nowhere near complete.

: : the temptation of others to use NT).   We are using a bunch of outdated
: : 286 machines to serve as print servers for all of our printers.  I would
: : like to continue using these machines, except convert them to Linux and
: : have them boot from floppy.  This really isn't a diskless system...  Can
: : anybody give me some info on how to set this up???

: Linux won't run on a 286. There is work going on to produce a version that
: will, but it's nowhere near complete.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Minix will run on a 286.
Minix was before linux.
--
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Kevin C. Weissman (KW)               |ACORN "techie" and proud UNIX user.

Please try Dungeons of Avalon: http://www.acorn.net/~ajalics/avalon.html

Running Linux on a 286 isn't a disk issue, it's a processor issue.
You simply cannot run Linux on a 286. Perhaps you would like to
give Minix a try.

--
Mathew E. Kirsch, CLSE (Certifiable Linux Systems Engineer)
*Opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of my employer.

"If you don't have time to read the FAQ, I don't have time to read it to
you."

On the other hand, you have to get Minix and it's not free. It's a 16
bit *nix so many programs may be a real problem to get running. Also
it's probably better to set up 286's with DOS to be printservers. On the
otherhand, it won't be nearly as much fun!

--

                      http://pc0652.lars.bbsrc.ac.uk/~pat/home.shtml

Quote:>I work for a large human services organization.  We currently run on a
>Novell 3.12 100-user network. All of the client PC' s are running
>Win'95. Our agency is growing and I have managed to convince the
>management to let me implement Linux as a Web/Email server.  It is
>working great, and I have them convinced that Samba can handle file and
>print services as well ( eventually eliminating Novell and fighting off
>the temptation of others to use NT).   We are using a bunch of outdated
>286 machines to serve as print servers for all of our printers.  I would
>like to continue using these machines, except convert them to Linux and
>have them boot from floppy.  This really isn't a diskless system...  Can
>anybody give me some info on how to set this up???

An alternative that might work is to connect the printer to a Win95
PC and send remote jobs via smbclient.  (Depends on how the users
feel about leaving the PC's on and sharing access...).

However, there is a program called pprd that you can probably find
on the simtel mirrors (if you can't I'll dig up the address) that
runs under DOS and only needs a packet driver to emulate either
lpd or HP's port 9100 protocol.

Les Mikesell

Check your linux doc.  You will find the minimum HW is a 386.

Good Luck!

Bryan Chan______________________________________________________________

              http://www-ug.eecg.toronto.edu/~chanb/

: On the other hand, you have to get Minix and it's not free.

It is free, now, though only for "educational" or "research" use.

: It's a 16 bit *nix

On a 286 or 8086, yes, but Minix 2.0.0 can work in 32-bit mode on a 386+.

--
William McBrine    | http://www.clark.net/pub/wmcbrine/html/

See http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/minix.html

I have Minix-1.7.4 running on an i286 based box here,
and got it free (and legally) from that site.

Winf
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