Installing IRIX on
old SGIs

 General Information

Introduction

Before starting reading this page, you should first have read "Booting the IRIX Installation CD" and "Installing IRIX over a Network"

Example Setting

In our example, we assume the following setting: We want to install IRIX 4.0.1 onto a Personal Iris 4D/25. The IP adress of that machine is 192.168.1.25, and the hostname will be iris. We will use an SGI O2 running IRIX 6.5 as a network installation server, its IP-Adress is 192.168.1.23.

IRIX 4.0.1 consists of two tapes, we copy the content onto the server and will start a network installation. The tapes will be stored in /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1 and /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape2 on the O2.

Preparing the Installation Server

When installing an old IRIX release, the whole OS often fits only onto one CD, so you don't need to copy the CD to the harddisc of the server, it is sufficent to insert the CD into the drive. Of course, you have to modify the files /etc/ethers, /etc/inetd.conf and /etc/bootptab as describes in "Installing IRIX over a Network" and set the appropriate path, for example

#
# /etc/ethers maps Ethernet addresses to hostnames
#
# The library routine ether_line() uses this file.
#
# The format of a line is:
#
#       x:x:x:x:x:x     hostname
#
# where the first field is the 48-bit Ethernet address
# expressed as 6 hexadecimal bytes.
#
08:00:69:02:38:1c       iris

#
# /etc/bootptab:  config file for bootp server (/usr/etc/bootp)
#
[...]
#
# host htype haddr             iaddr       bootfile
#

iris    1  08:00:69:02:38:1c  192.168.1.25  /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(sash.IP6)

#
# /etc/inetd.conf
#
[...]
bootp dgram   udp   wait  root    /usr/etc/bootp  bootp
tftp  dgram   udp   wait  guest   /usr/etc/tftpd  tftpd -s /cds
[...]

Now for the changes of the configuration to take effect, we finally have to restart the inetd daemon by typing

o2 1# /etc/killall -HUP inetd

Starting the Installation

Old machines require a different approach for starting the installation itself. Normally these machines expect a tape for installation, you have to tell the system, that it should not try to install IRIX by tape. This is done by setting the variable notape to 1 by typing at the command line monitor of the PROM

>> setenv notape 1

And while you are in the PROM you can also set the network adress of the machine by typing

>> setenv netaddr 192.168.1.25

Because the standolne shell sash and the partitioning tool fx aren't included as a seperate file on the tape, you have to get the version which is included in the standalone shell sa. The later file is a container, you can list the whole content on the server by typing

o2 1# mkboottape -f sa -l

in the directory of tape 1 (in our case this is /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1). Of couse this step is not neccessary for the installation, but might help you to understand what you are doing later.

o2 46# mkboottape -f sa -l
Filename       Size
sash.IP12      227856
sash.IP4       205680
sash.IP5       219552
sash.IP6       203792
sash.IP7       219552
sash.IP9       219552
sash.R2300     152336
mr             12599296
fx.IP12        335008
fx.IP4         331696
fx.IP5         345584
fx.IP6         310896
fx.R2300       244208
ide.IP12       608736
ide.IP4        308096
ide.IP5        882384
ide.IP6        492288
o2 47#

In order to start fx, it is safer first to boot into sash, and then boot into fx. Booting sash over network is done by typing

>> boot -f bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(sash.IP6)

After sash has bootet, the first thing you should do is to set the environment variable tapedevice, as older IRIX versions will use this variable as the installation source. This is done by typing

sash: setenv tapedevice bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa

Until now, in our example the whole procedure will look like this:

System Maintenance Menu

1) Start System
2) Install System Software
3) Run Diagnostics
4) Recover System
5) Enter Command Monitor

Option? 5

Command Monitor.  Type "exit" to return to the menu.
>> setenv notape 1
>> setenv netaddr 192.168.1.25
>> boot -f bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(sash.IP6)
Obtaining /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(sash.IP6) from server 192.168.1.23
150592+52880+493328 entry: 0x802a0d80
Standalone Shell SGI Version 4.0.1 IP6  Nov 15, 1991 (BE)

sash: setenv tapedevice bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa
sash:

Now you can boot into fx and enable the expert mode by typing

sash: boot -f bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(fx.IP6) --x

or you can also type

sash: boot -f $tapedevice(fx.IP6) --x

After fx has started, it will ask you which disc it should work on. Normally you can simply hit the return key:

Standalone Shell SGI Version 4.0.1 IP6  Nov 15, 1991 (BE)

sash: setenv tapedevice bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa
sash: boot -f $tapedevice(fx.IP6) --x
Obtaining /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(fx.IP6) from server 192.168.1.23
215600+94928+1863440 entry: 0x80054250

fx version 4.0 IP6, Nov 15, 1991
fx: "device-name" = (dksc) [Return]
fx: ctlr# = (0) [Return]
fx: drive# = (1) [Return]
...opening dksc(0,1,)
...controller test...OK
Scsi drive type == QUANTUM FIREBALL_TM1280S300X

----- please choose one (? for help, .. to quit this menu)-----
[exi]t             [d]ebug/           [l]abel/           [a]uto
[b]adblock/        [exe]rcise/        [r]epartition/     [f]ormat
fx> a

When you have repartinioned your system you then can start the IRIX installation from the System Maintenance Menu. You do not need to set the IP adress again, it was saved in the NVRAM. But it is better still to set the variable notape - this one will be destroyed after a reset.

Standalone Shell SGI Version 4.0.1 IP6  Nov 15, 1991 (BE)
sash: setenv tapedevice bootp()192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa
sash: install
Copying installation program to disk.
Obtaining /cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1/sa(mr) from server 192.168.1.23
................................................................
................................................................
.............Copy complete
882464+95616+341648 entry: 0x80002000
IRIX Release 4.0.1 IP6 Version 11150228 System V
Copyright 1987-1991 Silicon Graphics, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

ipg0: missing
enp0: missing
fxp0: missing
The system is coming up.  Please wait.
The system is ready.
[...]

First the installer will ask you if it should create a new file system on the empty disk, answer both questions simply with yes

[...]
Current system date is Tue Jan 27 23:00:31 PST 1970

Mounting file systems:

There is no valid filesystem on /dev/dsk/dks0d1s0.

Make new file system on /dev/dsk/dks0d1s0? yes
    /dev/dsk/dks0d1s0  on  /root

There is no valid file system on /dev/dsk/dks0d1s6

Make new file system on /dev/dsk/dks0d1s6? yes
    /dev/dsk/dks0d1s6  on  /root/usr

Now the installation can begin. First we have to tell the installer from where it should take the packages. This is done with the from command:

Inst> from guest@192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1

Note that older IRIX Versions do not support the open command to open additional IRIX installation CDs. But the installer will allow you to perform multiple installation passes as seen in the example below. After you have set the installation source, you should then tell the installer that you wish to install all packages and start the installation. These steps are simply done by typing

Inst> install all
Inst> go

Then you can specify other installation medias with the from command and repeat the procedure until all CDs or tapes are installed.

The installation is finished by typing

Inst> quit

This will install the new kernel and perform some other post-installation tasks. Then you can reboot your machine.

Default location of new software is @192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1

If you are a first-time inst user, give the command "help beginner".

Inst Main Menu

 1. from [source]
 2. list [keywords] [names]
 3. go 
 4. install [keywords] [names]
 5. remove [keywords] [names]
 6. keep [keywords] [names]
 7. step [keywords] [names]
 8. versions [args] 
 9. help [topic] 
10. admin 
11. quit

Inst> from guest@192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1

Reading installation history database
What is the hostname of this machine? iris.majix.homeip.net

Are you installing software from a remote CD-ROM drive? [n, y] n

Reading product descriptions from 192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape1:

    audio      Audio Software and Sound Samples
    eoe1       Execution Only Environment 1, 4.0.1
    motif_eoe  Motif Execution Only Environment, 4.0.1

Inst> install all
Inst> go

Installing new versions of selected eoe1.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected eoe1.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected audio.data subsystems
Installing new versions of selected audio.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected motif_eoe.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected motif_eoe.man subsystems

Installation and/or removal succeeded.

Inst> from guest@192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape2

Are you installing software from a remote CD-ROM drive? [n, y] n

Reading product descriptions from 192.168.1.23:/cds/irix-4.0.1-tape2:

    NeWSfonts  NeWS Fonts, 1.0
    eoe2       Execution Only Environment 2, 4.0.1
    imgtools   ImageVision Tools 1.0
    nck        Network Computing Kernel, 1.0
    netls_eoe  NetLS LSSERVER, 1.0
    showcase   IRIS Showcase, 2.0

Inst> install all
Inst> go

Installing new versions of selected imgtools.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected imgtools.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected imgtools.hlp subsystems
Installing new versions of selected imgtools.gifts subsystems
Installing new versions of selected showcase.sw subsystems
Note: install audio.data.sounds to obtain audio sample files for Showcase.
Installing new versions of selected showcase.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected eoe2.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected eoe2.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected NeWSfonts.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected nck.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected nck.sw subsystems
Installing new versions of selected netls_eoe.man subsystems
Installing new versions of selected netls_eoe.sw subsystems

Installation and/or removal succeeded.

Inst> quit

Running exit commands ...
.....`fonts.dir' is up to date.
.................................................
Please wait ...
Ready to restart the system.  Restart? [y, n] y

Now the system will restart, and you can login as root and set up networking etc.

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