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From: Marty C. <ma...@et...> - 2002-07-31 10:22:25
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I have updated http://www.rom-o-matic.net/ to support Etherboot version 5.0.7. Also, for those who are interested, I have released the source code for the rom-o-matic.net site. It is available via the Etherboot project page, which is at <http://sourceforge.net/projects/etherboot>. I hope for and expect others to set up rom-o-matic-like sites, and to make and share improvements to the code so that lots of people can benefit. It is a privilege to run a site that provides a useful service and has proven extremely popular to the community. Thanks for the opportunity. Here's the README file for the initial release of the rom-o-matic source code. Enjoy. See you at LinuxWorld Expo, SF Aug 12-15 2002 http:// www.linuxworldexpo.com/ :) Marty --- Included file begins --- This is the README file for rom-o-matic source code. LEGAL Copyright (C) 2002 Entity Cyber, Inc. Author: Marty Connor (md...@en...) (http://www.entity.com/) This software may be used and distributed according to the terms of the GNU Public License (GPL), incorporated herein by reference. This file must accompany any redistribution. Home site for Etherboot: http://www.etherboot.org/ WHY I am releasing the code for the rom-o-matic.net because I think it will help make the world a better place. I am releasing it under the GPL because I believe in Free Software, and I believe in the things that the GPL asks of people and gives in return. I want improvements to the rom-o-matic code to benefit everyone. I act freely, in accordance with my beliefs. Please use and enjoy this software. I am happy to release it to the Free Software community. I ask that you abide by the terms of the GPL in letter and spirit, and use it carefully and wisely. WHAT IT IS http://www.rom-o-matic.net/ is a site I created to allow Etherboot users (http://www.etherboot.org/) to create ROM images without having to download the Etherboot distribution and compile their own images. Basically, it is a a web form that communicates via PHP with a server and compiles a requested piece of code, delivering it to the requesting user immediately. The rom-o-matic code consists of a set of PHP and configuration files that reside on an Apache (http://www.apache.org/) web server and when activated by a web server create and send a ROM image file to a user. In about two years of operation, (October 2000 - August 2002) http://www.rom-o-matic.net/, running this software, has served over 120,000 free Etherboot ROM images to users worldwide. WHAT YOU NEED TO USE IT In order to install and use rom-o-matic source code, the following is required: - X86 architecture Linux box - Apache web server running with PHP4 enabled - kgcc or a version of gcc that is not 2.96 installed on server machine (gcc 2.96 does not compile Etherboot properly) I'm not going to describe how to install PHP here. There are plenty of places where you can find out how to do that. You also need to know how to set up Apache, and that is also easy to find out. Many Linux distributions come set up and ready to go. Sometimes distributions do not enable PHP by default, or you'll need to add .php3 as an extension that is recognized as a PHP file. HOW TO SET IT UP Let's say your web server files are in /var/www/html I suggest putting the contents of tar file there with something like: $ cd /var/www/html/ $ tar -zxvf ~/rom-o-matic-5.0.6.tar.gz $ cd rom-o-matic-5.0.6 You'll get something that looks like this: $ ls COPYING latest-production-release top.php3 5.0.6 index.php3 mieprobs.php3 bottom.php3 latest-development-release README Now you'll need an Etherboot distribution. Download the tar file for Etherboot-5.0.6.tar.gz. Unpack it: $ tar -zxvf ~/etherboot-5.0.6.tar.gz Now move the src directory of the just unpacked Etherboot distribution to the appropriate place: $ mv etherboot-5.0.6/src 5.0.6/src-5.0.6 Now copy the file 5.0.6/Config.template-5.0.6 to 5.0.6/src-5.0.6/ Config.template $ cd 5.0.6 $ cp Config.template-5.0.6 src-5.0.6/Config.template and that should do it. You now should be able to point your web browser to: http://www.YOURWEBSERVERNAMEHERE.net/rom-o-matic-5.0.6/ and get a rom-o-matic Etherboot form. TROUBLESHOOTING Obviously there are a lot of things that could go wrong, and this process is not for newbies. You might not have kgcc installed. You might have your apache server misconfigured or configured not to allow PHP, or have an older version of PHP. If you have problems, you might ask on the Etherboot-Users mailing list (see mailing lists on http://www.etherboot.org/) there is also an archive of the mailing list. I and others who read the list will help as we can. I don't have much time to answer direct emails about rom-o-matic, but fan mail is always welcome (md...@et...) ;) I'll do the best I can. THANKS I thank all Etherboot users and developers, especially Ken Yap and Markus Gutschke of the Etherboot project for their help and friendship, and I thank my wife, Julie for her constant support and wise counsel. Marty Connor md...@et... md...@en... --- Included file ends --- -- Try: http://rom-o-matic.net/ to make Etherboot images instantly. Name: Marty Connor US Mail: Entity Cyber, Inc.; P.O. Box 391827; Cambridge, MA 02139; USA Voice: (617) 491-6935; Fax: (617) 491-7046 Email: ma...@et... Web: http://www.etherboot.org/ |
