Hello, Im new to Cobalt RaQ, what type of OS is this? Is it more like linux or unix? Why do people use this instead of other operating systems? Any info or links would be appreciated. Thanks!

cobalt raq OS is (based on) redhat linux

Where can I find information related to hardware and how to use it?

maybe that is what u'r looking for

http://www.sun.com/hardware/serverappliances/eol.html

alot of RaQ servers do not have a cd-rom, how do you install the OS on them?

with the os recovery cd for cobal linux
its installed via nfs

So the harddrive is remote on this type of server?

no, its a normal pc compatible hdd in the case

Do you have to take the hdd out, put it in another computer, install RaQ then put it back in the server? Im guessing yes because most sun servers dont have a cd-rom.

Originally posted by levidjkt
Do you have to take the hdd out, put it in another computer, install RaQ then put it back in the server? Im guessing yes because most sun servers dont have a cd-rom.
No, it's installed via NFS.

You boot a regular PC on the network with the Cobalt RaQ restore CD, and then you boot your RaQ and follow the instructions to restore the OS. It retrieves the new copy of the OS from your workstation, and saves it to the local HD on the RaQ appliance.

Or in simple terms "Network Boot" :)

Connect from a CD-ROM bootable PC with a Cross ethernet cable to the first ethernet post of your RaQ.
Booting your PC, follow the instructions and then boot your RaQ. The data will then be transferred.

Ok, I am trying to restore my raq2 with a fresh os from the bootable raq2 restore cd.

I am able to get my raq2 into the prompt for net booting.
I then used a cross over cable and connected it to a workstation with the raq2 cobalt restore cd. I booted the workstation and I followed the instructions as far as it would take me. It then would not allow me to press the space bar anymore to read on. I am curious if this is normal or if there is more to the setup portion.

I have owned many cobalts over the years but have never had to restore them.

The raq is now saying starting up... instead of net booting. It has been saying this for about 5 minutes now. The tutorial said it takes 15 minutes and should display its progress on the lcd screen as the installation goes along. Mine is just showing starting up...

Any help would be apprecaited.

Thanks,

Kendall H.

Did your CD ROM drive on the PC flash at all. Did you accept the Licence agreement by pressing y ( Yes)

One other thing. We had experiences that it does not work with our CD-RW drive and only a 24x Read-Only CD-ROM dirce worked.
Also plugging in 2 CD-ROMs at the same location also generated errors.

Figured it out. I had to use a switch and connect the pc's to the switch with a patch cable instead of a cross over.

Sorry for jumping into this thread so late.. I just recently bought a RaQ 3i from a local 'Goodwill' store, and it's slowly dying. (hard drive is suffering from tracking errors.)
(read random slapping of the drive's arm.)

I've tried binary copying the entire drive externally on a PC running Linux, but it still sees too many errors.. So, I want to go about re-installing everything from scratch onto a new drive..


2 questions.. Maximum size HD? (Somewhere read 40GB, elsewhere, 60)
and how to go about making the restore CD see another NIC card other than the specific ones listed in the install disk listings? Is there a way to make the install software to work on the Linux box?

side note: By running on the Linux box, I mean is there a way to run the install process from the already running Linux box, without needing to boot from the CD (I.E. Transfer the software to the HD, then run it from there as a process.)

Max size disk is 137Gb or whatever the old IDE max was. Largest I've used in 120Gb. You need to use 5400rpm disks if you're going to use two disks for RAID, as the power supply won't support 2x 7200rpm 3.5" disks.

You can't make the installer work with other cards, but you can install Strongbolt (osoffice.co.uk) or Rackstar, the former of which is an installer (costs $$) that includes more drivers, and the latter is an installer that installs on a disk you put in a PC and then move to the Raq.

The easiest solution is probably just to go borrow or buy a cheap, compatible NIC. They only cost about $1 now as they are very obsolete.


Alternatively you can sometimes buy disks with the Raq OS imaged on them on eBay, or ask someone here or elsewhere to image a disk for you. After Xmas I might be willing to upload an image for you if you have a place to put it.

side note: By running on the Linux box, I mean is there a way to run the install process from the already running Linux box, without needing to boot from the CD (I.E. Transfer the software to the HD, then run it from there as a process.)


I do, so Yes you can!

it's not the most fun to work on but basically you need to setup dhcp and nfs servers and install all the files used in building the production unit. everything you need is on the restore CD. Which is a Linux system that provides both the files and scripts needed to rebuild the os from the supplied rpms... This is not a image send over.. it's a build partitions from a blank disk and install one rpm at a time all the necessary files...

Max size disk is 137Gb or whatever the old IDE max was. Largest I've used in 120Gb. You need to use 5400rpm disks if you're going to use two disks for RAID, as the power supply won't support 2x 7200rpm 3.5" disks.

You can't make the installer work with other cards, but you can install Strongbolt (osoffice.co.uk) or Rackstar, the former of which is an installer (costs $$) that includes more drivers, and the latter is an installer that installs on a disk you put in a PC and then move to the Raq.

The easiest solution is probably just to go borrow or buy a cheap, compatible NIC. They only cost about $1 now as they are very obsolete.


Alternatively you can sometimes buy disks with the Raq OS imaged on them on eBay, or ask someone here or elsewhere to image a disk for you. After Xmas I might be willing to upload an image for you if you have a place to put it.



Okay, so anything bigger than 120GB is pushing the limit a little. I had been trying to use an old Samsung 40GB, to match the Maxtor that originally came with it. (ever so slightly larger by a few hundred bytes. Already tried doing am image/copy from one drive to the next, but it kept failing hitting bad sectors on the old drive.)

As Zeffie mentioned, It may be possible getting a DHCP/NFS server going (which I already have the linux box running NFS already. just need to configure in DHCP.) and building from that platform.

I already have the stock 9660-AU images from off Sun's ftp site, just need to track exactly where the scripts are, and see if it'll load from that method.

Thanks to both! It's a start, now to see if it'll pay off.

Stephen

If you ISO-bust the restore CD and look carefully, you can figure it all out, with some work. Good luck!

You don't BUST it, you mount the iso...

mount -tiso9660 -oloop filename.iso /mnt/cdrom

Yes, you can mount it if you have a running Linux system. Note that the standard Raq OS does not include /dev/loop devices -- you will have to create them.

On Windows, the tool you need goes by the generic name of "isobuster", though there are many others that will give you filesystem access to an ISO file.

Yes, you can mount it if you have a running Linux system. Note that the standard Raq OS does not include /dev/loop devices -- you will have to create them.


This is incorrect....

This is a RaQ3i and that means he should be running the RaQ4 OS at a minimum and the RaQ4 OS supports loop devices by default.

All Cobalt updates should be installed.

It supports them, but they are not created by default in /dev. You need to use mknod.

Again, That is Incorrect!

Even the RaQ2 can mount an ISO without anything more then

mount -oloop -tiso9660 /home/sample.iso /mnt/cdrom/

I just tested this on my RaQ2 and it worked like a charm...

Sigh. Yes, this works if /dev/loop0 exists. In some versions of Linux, including IIRC, the base Raq4 OS, MAKEDEV does not make /dev/loop*. They can be easily made with the command "cd /dev; mknod loop0 b 7 0".

Well, for the record, I finally got things working on the easy method.. I ran across a nice cheap Gateway E3800 (P3/450) that accepted the RAQ3 CD, and had the right NIC.. So... the base unit is back up & running. Now, slowly populating a small 60GB drive
with the bare essentials. Installed rather quickly! Trying to get up the nerve, to risk the SourceForge BIOS, and see if I can push it a little further. I tried the RaQ4 restore, but it seemed to crash after the install.

Now, trying to develope a webpage from scratch.

As was mentioned by the founder of a well known robotics competition (No, Not Battlebots!) said,

"If You Don't have a headache, You don't understand it.."
(segway inventor & F.I.R.S.T. founder Dean Kamen)

Putting it blunt, I think I just raised Advil's stock! :eek:

Stephen

Yep well the local hospital and drugstore also made some money on it too... At least in my case :(