Sun Netra X servers?

Tod Fujioka -- Peacesat tod at elele.peacesat.hawaii.edu
Mon Jan 22 09:23:58 PST 2001


Warren:

On Sun, 21 Jan 2001, Warren Togami wrote:

> I'm thinking about buying one of these Sun Netra X servers.
> http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hw/networking/netrax/X1/index.html
> Can't beat this price for a 1U.  However, it doesn't have a video, keyboard,
> mouse or CD-ROM.

Normally the Sun servers do not come with Frame buffers but it can be 
added. I am not sure about the Netra x1. You should be able to get the
system online from the serial console and once on the network, display
back to a X display for the gui stuff.

> Anyone know where to get a RJ45 to DB9 serial cable which I would need to
> adminster is thing?  This is a simple matter of plugging the other end into
> a serial port and using a program like minicom right?

When I had multiple servers and workstation I would use a
terminal server like Xylogics/baynet/Nortel Annex. this would allow
muliple telnet or dial in to the terminal server to get to the console
of each system from anywhere on the network. If you plan to have a
bunch of these an use and annex I can send you the pin outs. If will
be using a PC or a Wyse terminal I believe a null-modem cable, 
9600-8-N-1 works.

> The other thing that worries me is reloading the operating system.  Without
> a CD-ROM drive, would I be able to install Linux or Solaris and the boot
> loader (SILO?) on this thing by plugging the hard drive into an Intel
> machine, or would I need another Sun machine?

In the open boot prom you can tell the system where to boot from
either net, disk, cdrom or from the prompt;  ok>boot [net|cdrom|disk
address] When you turn on the system and does not find the boot loader on
the disk  it try to boot from the net. I have only done this in a Sun
environment with either a exported cdrom or a tftpboot. Since this is for
a school(I assume), you might be able to get EDU pricing and more
information from John and Gary at the local Sun office. Sun also bought
Cobalt which suppose to make them one of the largest Linux distributors.

Tod



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