[SLUG] Linux Terminal Server: Creating RAM disk during startup sequence.

[Shaun Cloherty <s.cloherty@nospam.gsbme.unsw.edu.au>]

SLUG Oracle,

I trying to boot a number of diskless Debian machines off a central
dhcp/bootp/nfs server, the plan is something similar to the Linux
terminal server project, but running Debian on the clients rather than
RedHat. Following the approach used by the LTS project, the machines
mount the root file system read-only, and I want to create a small RAM
disk and mount it under /tmp early on in the init sequence, to host the
device nodes, temporary files etc.

Creating the RAM disk is no problem, but I've found that if I try and
create the directory structure under /tmp before /proc is mounted,
nothing happens i.e. no directories or device nodes are created. If I do
it after /proc is mounted, all seems to be well. Is there a reason for
this?? Could someone enlighten me??

Also, does anyone have an suggestions for the minimal device nodes
required to run a linux machine??  At present I keep getting an "Unable
to open initial console" type message. I'd like for these machines to
allow rsh/rlogin access as well as support a login session at the
keyboard (when one is plugged in), I don't plan on running X. Might also
be nice at some point in the future to have a login console on the
serial line... just for kicks.

Any help or suggestions appreciated,

Shaun

--
Shaun Cloherty
Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
University of New South Wales



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