[2684] in Release_7.7_team
So what SHOULD we do about CNboot?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bill Cattey)
Tue Apr 10 18:13:27 2001
Message-ID: <0uosK3Vz00018NMnMs@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 22:13:23 +0000 ()
From: Bill Cattey <wdc@MIT.EDU>
To: release-team@MIT.EDU
CC: pbh@MIT.EDU, tom@MIT.EDU, longpd@MIT.EDU
As you know, the way we install Suns relies on an annual port of a thing
called CNBoot. CNBoot enables us to sit down at a Sun, type in an IP
address, the install server address, and the name of the thing the
installer should install.
Every year we end up having to port it to the new version of Solaris.
We got into the CNBoot business because we did not like the existing
alternatives for being able to associate an IP address and a program to
install with a Sun box.
Some enterprises just register the ethernet MAC address and associate
that with the IP address and install image.
Sun install servers can assume they are the only install server in the
world and respond to ALL requests. This has been problematic when we
want an client system with the Athena install to coexist on a subnet
with a vanilla Sun install server.
Since the first version of CNBoot was received by us in 1993, the Athena
development team has tried to get Sun to either adopt it as a standard
part of the Sun install system, or to work with us on production of some
new standard install system.
The Athena development team has, up to now, considered solutions that
require registering MAC addresses, or imposing a single install server
as non-starters.
With enterprise-wide install being much on the minds of both Athena and
Pismere folks, I think it's appropriate to ask what should we do about
CNBoot? Should we:
1. Quit trying to get Sun to adopt our old CNBoot as standard?
2. Quit trying to get Sun to work with us on something new?
3. Relax the "no registering of MAC addresses" requirement?
4. Relax the "no single install authority" requirement?
5. Resign ourselves to an annual port of CNBoot?
6. Some other option?
Up to now we and Sun have been unable to rendez-vous on this topic.
In the near future an engineer from Sun may come to discuss install with
us. What course of action offers the greatest long term benefit at the
lowest long term cost?
Should we assemble a small group of people to brainstorm this problem
and suggest a couple courses of action? What I have tried thus far by
myself has not had as much success as I would like.
-wdc
