Re: [Etherboot-users] UNDIS3C driver

[Carl K. <ca...@pe...>]

Timothy Legge wrote:
>>Where can I get some clear info on what the UNDIS3C is?  
>>Knoppix has a TS option, which first makes you pic out what 
>>NICs should be added to the kernel that is PXE loaded.  It 
>>seems like if the kernel can be pxe loaded, it should just 
>>use the existing connection.
>>
>>What am I missing?
> 
> 
> I think what you're missing is the fact that you are simply loading a OS
> via the network and that OS will need the drivers for the network card
> that you are using.  I have not used Knoppix for this but I suspect that
> the option is only important if the kernel that is loaded cannot
> recognize the NIC that is in the box.  This happens with ISA cards and
> very new cards.  

Well, the "OS" doesn't have any drivers, but the initrd does.  Those 2 things are 
used to bring up an NFS connection to the rest of the system (like the modules 
dir.)  Currently you have to build a "custom" initrd based on what NIC's you want 
to support.  my idea is use the pxe stack untill you can get the NFS mount, then y 
ou have access to the full array of drivers and can figure out what is best.

I can see a problem with switching drivers after the NFS connection is setup, but 
I think that may be better than the current "build a custom floppy" way.


> 
> By passing an option to the kernel, it will use that particular driver
> ?without? probing for a card.
> 
> As Michael said, PXE and indeed Etherboot do not have high performance
> network drivers.  So even though you had a network connection via PXE,
> you need to have the downloaded OS configure and use the NIC for its
> driver.

I am surprised noone has done it.  Ethernet via a paralell port isn't the fastest 
thing either, and yet Zircom sold a lot of that hardware, along wiht a few other 
companies that made cheap versions.

Carl