From: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu (Charles Hedrick) Subject: Re: Linux + Sun 3/50 + Xkernel.....would it work? Date: 7 May 1993 23:36:33 GMT
ferrick@acsu.buffalo.edu (Patrick K. Ferrick) writes:
>Could an ethernetted Linux box serve up Xkernel to a Sun 3/50 or 60,
>thereby using it as an x terminal? Here is my reasoning:
It's reasonable in principle. We use 3/50's with Xkernels at Rutgers.
However if the 3/50 is diskless, you'll have to be able to netboot it.
This requires your Linux machine to have servers for RARP and TFTP.
Tftp is not a problem: there's standard Unix code, which should work
with any reasonable TCP implementation. However RARP is a bit more
difficult. It's a low-level protocol that requires support that is
not present in all TCP implementations. There's no reason it couldn't
be done, but it would probably require installing the Berkeley packet
filter in Linux, and making a version of RARPD that uses the BPF.
Anybody know if that's been done?
The main problem with 3/50's is that the monitors tend to blow in
power failures. It's normally the flyback. I'd be reluctant to get
one unless you know enough (or can find someone who does) to be able
to replace a flyback. Or if you have stable power.