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The problem is, what do you netboot from? Netbooting a modern computer from another modern computer is somewhat easy, but with old computers it can be a nightm
by gattilorenz 10y ago
The problem is, what do you netboot from?
Netbooting a modern computer from another modern computer is somewhat easy, but with old computers it can be a nightmare. I tried to boot OS9 on a G3 iMac from a 2012 Intel MacBook, and despite days of work I couldn't do it.
- fit2rule 10y agoWouldn't it be that the Alto uses normally available standard netboot protocols that could be set up easily with a Linux box somewhere?
- digi_owl 10y agoGiven that we are talking about a computer from 1973, the chance that there is anything "standard" about the network boot is minimal... Edit: well damn, a quick search bulled up a lovely PDF from textfiles.com. http://textfiles.com/bitsavers/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoBootProto.pdf http://textfiles.com/bitsavers/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoBootProto....
- gattilorenz 10y agoCool! It seems most internet gateways contain a boot server, problem solved ;) Seriously though, I would bet that, with enough knowledge & time, you might find everything you need to netboot an Alto here: http://xeroxalto.computerhistory.org/ http://xeroxalto.computerhistory.org/ /Ibis/AltoGateway/Servers/BootServer* looks promising
- digi_owl 10y agoYeah, still need to set up another computer on a ethernet (likely the good old thick coax kind with 75 ohm terminators) network that behave properly according to the pdf. Fun times... BTW, if anyone wonders what pup stands for in that pdf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PARC_Universal_Packet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PARC_Universal_Packet