How to boot an HP laptop from an iso in a VAIO via lan?

[benny7440]

First let me tell you that this's a repost of another thread in this forum that had no replies.

The HP laptop is wifi/lan capable AWA the VAIO notebook. The HPs' BIOS is capable of LAN booting; its' HDD is dead.

I've a DSL modem with wifi capability, too; 4 lan connectors (one is already used by the VAIO).

Have searched in many places for info on how to do this but the info is spread all over the different sites. For ex., found a list of things to do if you're running in a machine with Windows: not my case.

I'm booting, mostly, PL528.005 but can boot PL525, 511, WARY 512 & Puppy Studio {all frugally installed}.

My ultimate goal is to be able to boot any of those with a menu-like screen from/at the HP to choose from. My immediate goal is to boot PL528.005 from the HP.

Have read about PXE & know I've something to install/write as a script in the VAIO side (server?), think I don't need to do anything at the clent's side (HP?).

Is there a collection of instructions, somewhere, to look at for resolving this isuue?

Thanks for any tips/hints/links!

Now I don't know how to connect the two machines: via the modem or directly?

I was reading a post by gcmartin around this issue & started to consider something NEW: what about a VAIO (64 bits word)=PXE Server & the HP Compaq nx9010 (Pentium 4, but can't tell if it's a 32 or 64 bits word processor)=PXE Client?...

What should I d/l as the pet files in this case?

Edit: I spent > 1 hr trying to find out which architecture it has but failed to obtain the desired data. Any help on this (32 bits or 64 bits) processor?

[jobo]

i know its possibly a stupid question, but why dont you just boot the hp from disc and stick a memory stick in the usb or install it on the usb ?

or is this a project over and above just getting the hp working

[benny7440]

Thanks for responding, jobo!

One of the things I want is to have a UNIQUE system in all the working machines. Something more immediate is to be able to transfer a large iso file between the two (when & if I find a working sata hdd for the hp: have a problem with my main hdd partitions in the VAIO).

Other things that sound interesting is to have a complete screen for navigation/working: my VAIO's screen isn't working & the external one isn't 9x16, so it doesn't show all the screen.

[jobo]

ok so you have two half working laps tops ?

why cant you boot the hp from disc, so you then have one completely working one

[benny7440]

If you read my previous post you'll notice that the said HP's HDD isn't good, so I can't access that for nothing.

BTW, I've tried PXEBooting again & it went faster & farther, but failed, again...

[jobo]

no you dont need a hdd to boot puppy from disc, that rather the point of it, you used the cd as the hard drive and save any thing you wont to a usb stick

does the cd drive work, if so your off and running

[benny7440]

I already booted up from flash-hdd (DSL) but even though I got connected to the web this's too limited an os as is. I'm going to try a live cd now.

Note: It's getting too late & need to sleep, so after this trial I'm shutting down. Thanks!

[jobo]

I already booted up from flash-hdd (DSL) but even though I got connected to the web this's too limited an os as is. I'm going to try a live cd now.

Note: It's getting too late & need to sleep, so after this trial I'm shutting down. Thanks!

i think your running under a misapprehension , puupy doesnt apart from a save file use the hdd at all, it loads into ram from the disc or flash, what you got when it booted is what you get either way round, in what way was this limited? this speed will increase greatly the second time you boot it, after you have created a save file to a usb memory, all the applications beyond the basics have to be downloaded and installed just as you might with windows

what you should get, with a reasonable spec machine, have you told us what spec the hp is ? is internet and start up speeds comparable with windows 7 and functionality at about vista/late xp level, dependent which linux pup your using


however if your trying to put a ''late distro'' on a early( pre xp) machine to might find it disappointing, just as an early distro on a vista machine may not work all that well

so what are you trying to install on what machine ?

[benny7440]

Thanks for responding, jobo!

Part of the specs for the HP-Compaq nx9010 laptop follows:
"At A Glance

Microsoft Windows XP Professional or
Microsoft Windows XP Home
NOTE: Microsoft Windows 2000 driver support via web.
Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 processors – up to 3.06 GHz
Intel® Celeron® processors – up to 2.8 GHz
15-inch TFT XGA display
Configurations as light as 7.07 lb/3.2 kg and as thin as 1.73 in/4.39 cm (14-inch panel)
256MB or 512MB DDR SDRAM (266 MHz), Upgradeable to 1GB
Up to 80 GB (4200 rpm) hard drive
Integrated NIC, high speed 56K modem, and available 802.11b and 802.11g Wireless LAN
Full-size keyboard with 5 Quick Launch Buttons"

The link for the site where more info can be found is:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quic ... 99_na.HTML

This HP laptop was running XP Home Ed. & I was trying to run Puppy Linux 528.005 via LAN, which resides (and I'm using) at the 2nd (sda2 - ext3) partition on the VAIO's HDD.

Before I did run Ubuntu 8.10 at the HP (> one year ago); I think both computers are capable of running the same level of OS's but the VAIO has a 9x16 screen & the other a 3x4 one. Don't know for sure if this has a 32-bits cpu, but the VAIO has a 64-bits one.

Edit: At the time of posting I didn't checked the page linked above completely, after posting I had an eye over there I checked the model # of the HP & found out that the closer one appearing there is the one with the numbering: Cnx9010UP280X530WCg25P. It's located almost at the middle of the page.

Edit: I've tried PL431 & Ubuntu8.10 recently with the HP but there's an error message...

Almost a year ago I was using this laptop with a puppy livecd & it worked ok but I got tired of having to press a PF key to establish the first boot device for the BIOS, so I tried to enter the BIOS setup but it was asking for a pwd that nobody ever knew it existed. I tried many obvious ones, then found at a site about ~40 common ones that worked for some people. After trying every possible combination taking care of NOT trying > 3 times before shutting down the system I got careless &, after a Out house break I most have tried > "Magic #": you got it! The machine refused to even startup. I don't have right now the faintest idea as to how to fix that; do you?

[jobo]

so its an p4 with between a quarter and a gig of ram which is good, but the other bit has me perplexed, its possible to set a password in there to stop people messing, did you buy it second hand ? but i didnt know it shut down never to work again if you got it wrong 3 times

so this llapy your trying to boot wont switch on?

[jobo]

just a google later, try thisRe: BIOS Password Reset
Options

05-08-2012 06:10 AM

Aces try.



31663580



"QWERTY" keyboard only.

if not ask here they seekm pretty clued in http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-R ... 3249#M6396

[jobo]

it also seems that taking the lapy apart and removing the battery works ? or if soldered in, you could resort to the old dodge of putting it in the freezer for a week

[benny7440]

Thanks jobo for responding!

Yes, once you put one or two pwds at the BIOS level it can happen (Supervisory or administrator/owner pwds, there're two different levels of security with this BIOS).

I've spent a lot of time trying to find what BIOS comes with this HP in many papers & with web searches but can't find it right now, sorry. This laptop was a nephew's university engineering computer years, as you can imagine it has suffered mightily..., to the point the hdd stopped booting up, even though when I checked it over a year ago it was searchable/writable. Maybe the heads were located/stopped at the worst place for receiving a shock.

The laptop turn on & it is capable of booting up with a Flash HDD formatted = VFAT16 with DamnSmallLinux in it. If I try to boot with a cdrom livecd with Ubuntu or PL431 there appears an error message (sorry, can't remember what it says, but can try to duplicate/repeat the process for writing it down).

With respect to your 2nd post (backwards) I followed the link you provided but I must admit that don't understand the contents (with respect to the bios pwd).

I'm not trying the freezer one, sorry.

[jobo]

, the link says your not alone and that their is a code for freing up the bios, you just have to find it. if you post you model number up on that site they may provided it for you, they have for others

in side the lap top there is a second battery, like a watch battery, if you remove it it wipes the bios memory, though it will wipe all the settings, so yuo have to reset it up, there is also away of inserting a program to reset it, much as youd take a block of a mobile phone

i wouldnt rule out the freezer, it works a treat with wiping the security codes of stolen car radios

[greengeek]

Hi Benny7440, If I understand you correctly - you would like to boot Puppy in the HP, using an iso supplied across the network from the VAIO? Is that correct?

I have done this (with help from GCMartin) and it is so easy! I started out with a topic requesting help with ways to boot direct from an iso (without HDD installation), and one of the methods was the PXE method which I think will be perfect for you.

I would suggest that you look at these two posts:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 23&start=4
(which is where GCMartin suggests the method), and:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 3&start=20
(which is my description of the steps that worked for me)

There are other posts that may describe the process, or variations of that process, and also GCMartin has produced a "Google Doc" that is more detailed, but have a look at those two posts and see if it looks like the sort of thing you are looking for.

[benny7440]

Thanks for replying, jobo & greengeek!

I entered in the hp site & already asked there, waiting for some feedback

Yes, greengeek, you're correct. I've some available iso files there ready to be used. I've visited/read the info at your links already; in fact, I tried it a few times & it won't finish the process. Think I need extra help & that's why I insist in entering the BIOS for tweaking it a little bit, if necessary. BTW, I edited the default file mentioned somewhere there to include PDEV1=rootfs. Now I've to test it. I'll post anything if valuable after it happens or not.

Edit: I took a look again at all the info & edited the default file as per the instructions to include: "PDEV1=rootfs" in the right place & gave it a couple of chances but it failed again at the same point. It starts loading the initrd.gz but never completes.

Have a couple of questions now:
1) Is this something that my 64 bits cpu VAIO can do while running PL528.005?
2) In the case it works, (can I)/(do I've to) go to Menu>Network>Netboot - Server & stop it after the client's running? How many times I've to run at the console the "mknetboot.sh" script/command?

Addendum: This's the RoxTerm console output of the esecution of:
"sh-4.1# mknetboot.sh
5445 blocks
268030 blocks
/usr/sbin/mknetboot.sh: line 31: kill: (10390) - No such process
sh-4.1# mknetboot.sh
5445 blocks
268030 blocks
/usr/sbin/mknetboot.sh: line 42: 12619 Terminated Xdialog --title "mknetboot" --no-buttons --infobox "This will take a while. Please wait ..." 0 0 60000 (wd: ~)
sh-4.1#"

[greengeek]

Edit: I took a look again at all the info & edited the default file as per the instructions to include: "PDEV1=rootfs" in the right place & gave it a couple of chances but it failed again at the same point. It starts loading the initrd.gz but never completes.

Hi benny7440. I don't know if I can be of much help, because it looks as if you may be using some of the more complex settings that I did not try.

I would probably recommend that you try once more (avoiding the google doc) and using a very basic set of instructions as I described in my own post here:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 3&start=20
I did not use anything like the "PDEV1=rootfs" parameter, so I don't have any idea what effect that might be having.

The google doc covers extra information that is not necessary in the first case of trying a simple PXE boot. Would you have time to try once more, just using my own notes? And also, please use an iso that you know is definitely working, just in case the download was bad somehow.

1) Is this something that my 64 bits cpu VAIO can do while running PL528.005?

I am sorry, I do not know the answer to that.

2) In the case it works, (can I)/(do I've to) go to Menu>Network>Netboot - Server & stop it after the client's running?

Not sure. I think I need to go back and try this myself (I haven't used the PXE boot for a few months now)

How many times I've to run at the console the "mknetboot.sh" script/command?

You only have to do this once. This command creates some files that are used by the PXE server, ready to send to the other PC. However, if you decide that you want to make a DIFFERENT iso available, you will need to run the command again - to create a new set of files. (unless you manually move files around, which I did try). I did not try any of the more fancy features listed in that google doc, and I think it would be best if you try my basic instructions first, to get things going.

Addendum: This's the RoxTerm console output of the esecution of:
"sh-4.1# mknetboot.sh
5445 blocks
268030 blocks
/usr/sbin/mknetboot.sh: line 31: kill: (10390) - No such process
sh-4.1# mknetboot.sh
5445 blocks
268030 blocks
/usr/sbin/mknetboot.sh: line 42: 12619 Terminated Xdialog --title "mknetboot" --no-buttons --infobox "This will take a while. Please wait ..." 0 0 60000 (wd: ~)
sh-4.1#"

I seem to remember I had to just ignore some error messages, but I really need to try this again as I may have forgotten something.

[greengeek]

Also - can you confirm again which Puppy are you using on the Vaio, and which puppy are you using as your PXE iso? Have you successfully used that iso to boot another machine? (ie: could the iso be corrupted, or is it already proven good?).

Just one more suggestion: could you also try using Puppy 4.3.1 as the iso you use to send to the HP via PXE? It would be a useful comparison.

[benny7440]

Thanks, greengeek, for responding!

I already have followed some of your info for the d/l's. I already deleted the entry in the default file of PDEV1=... & saved. Started Netboot - Server & checked out for 'netboot.sh' & it already exists in 2 different places: /initrd/pup_rw/usr/sbin/ & /usr/sbin, so didn't open a console for running the mknetboot.sh script or command.

As to the iso file I'm trying to use to be served to the PXE client it's the one used for extracting the 3 files needed for my frugal installation of PL528.005.

I'm running the VAIO with PL528.005. I also have PL528 & Puppy WARY 512 there. I think that the fact that I'm running 528.005 proves it's good. I can say the same for the other two isos.

I would have done that (trying the 431 iso file) but can't find it nowhere. Do you know where I might d/l it again?

Next I'm going to give this another chance & will post back the results (after I get lunch).

First Edit: Haven't had lunch yet. Think have to run that script again because after editing the default file the client responded with 'can't find vmlinuz...' message.

Second Edit: After running the said script & starting the PXE client again it went farther but, again, it failed at the same step: Loading initrd.gz. This would be, with the same settings, my 6th trial but always stops at the same spot.

[greengeek]

It starts loading the initrd.gz but never completes.

After it shows the loading initrd.gz message, do you see a line of fullstops slowly appearing? If so, how many dots appear? And how long have you left the PC running at that point? I have just been trying this process again and I find that some isos take a very long time to load across the network. (up to ten minutes)

Instead of my suggestion of Puppy 4.3.1 can I suggest Wary Tiny instead? It is here:
http://www.smokey01.com/Tman/WaryTiny.iso
It is quite small and quick to load. Also, it seems to be easy for the mknetboot.sh script to work with this file - it did not give me the errors that I saw with some other isos.