Boot Multicore On A x86 Server

[lid]

Hi,

I am new to TinyCore. My requirement is to use only ramdisk image to pxeboot a diskless client server that has 16 x86_64 cores and uses Broadcome 5709 1G NIC. I downloaded the Multicore ISO image and Bcom 5709 Linux driver. Now I am trying to figure out how to proceed.  First question: Is my architecture is supported?

I loop mounted the iso and copied all the files to a regular file directory. I intend to build the Bcom driver module and add to the directory so it can be installed during the boot with ramdisk. I know how to build driver kernel modules So my second question is how and where to add the driver module.

Thanks.

David

[gerald_clark]

Multicore has nothing to do with multicore CPUs.
It is being updated and will be renamed CorePlus in 4.2.

You can try the release candidate.
I suggest you spend some time in the wiki.

[curaga]

You would benefit from building your own kernel, since for ram reasons we have the max number of cores set at 8 IIRC.

We do include support for your ethernet card, so no need to build a driver for it manually.

[Rich]

Assuming it hasn't changed since TC3.x, dmesg indicates max CPUs=8

[lid]

Ok, as a starter. I burned a DVD with iso image and try to install it on my HD first. Now I am following the install instructions but encounter two problems:

1. After mounting the DVD, I don't see "TC_install" icon at all. Why?

2. Then I clicked "Run" button and the popup "FLRun" wouldn't allow me to enter "tc-install". Instead it forced me to run "tc-terminal-server".

I am kind of stuck here.

[lid]

You would benefit from building your own kernel, since for ram reasons we have the max number of cores set at 8 IIRC.

We do include support for your ethernet card, so no need to build a driver for it manually.

Well I booted up the installation DVD with tinycore 4.1. On the screen,I launched a terminal and ifconfig only showed the loopback interface. It didn't recognize the Bcom 1G interface at all.


Does this mean the driver wasn't included?

[Rich]

Hi lid
You might want to take a look at dmesg by typing:

Code: [Select]

dmesg | lessPageUp, PageDn, Home, End, up arrow, and down arrow will allow you to navigate the output.  Enter
q to quit. Network card initialization occurs near the end. If your card requires firmware you should
see a message to that effect.
With that many cores I'd imagine you might have a lot of RAM installed. Until you get the hardware
detection sorted out you might want to limit the RAM using the boot code:

Code: [Select]

max_addr=2GA couple of members reported problems with more than 2Gig of RAM installed, see:
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,11858.msg62964.html#msg62964
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,11669.msg61842.html#msg61842
Once you have the machine booting properly, you can focus on utilizing all the RAM and/or maybe
switching to a 64 bit kernel.

[lid]

No luck so far setting max_addr=2G.
But the dmesg output did review something wrong with the Bcom driver:

bnx2: can't load firmware file bnx2/bnx2-mips-09-6.2.1a.fw

I wasn't able to find this file.

I have attached a screen shot of this error.

[Rich]

Hi lid
The extension you need is firmware-bnx2.tcz

[curaga]

About the installer, multicore has several boot options - micro, tiny, installer, wifi etc - I don't recall what the default was, but try picking the installer option.

[lid]

Hi lid
The extension you need is firmware-bnx2.tcz

Hi Rich,

Can you be more specific? What is this extension? How should I get and run it?

David

[Rich]

Hi lid
Extensions are loaded using AppBrowser. There's an icon for it at the bottom of the screen, or you can click on the desktop and use  SystemTools->AppBrowser. But since your network card is not yet
functioning, I suggest you follow curaga's advice just to get things running.

[breakstuff]

Are you by any chance booting with an external USB optical drive? If so, I have seen strange happenings with TinyCore missing wbar icons unless I put a waitusb option at boot -- but also make sure you are using the right boot option (plus, I think?). I believe my fix was: plus waitusb=20

[lid]

About the installer, multicore has several boot options - micro, tiny, installer, wifi etc - I don't recall what the default was, but try picking the installer option.

Hi Curaga,
not sure how I can select the options. I tried both pxeboot and dvd iso boot and next thing I know is I am in the Tinycore screen and looking at several icons at the bottom.

Is this a kernel or initrd option?

David

[breakstuff]

When you boot you should get a screen that says "boot:"

You can then hit F2, etc. for boot options...You're not getting this?