Floppies for ALPHA [Re: cvs commit: src/sys/conf files.alpha src/sys/alpha/conf GENERIC NOTES]

[Scott Long]

Wilko Bulte wrote:
> On Mon, Jul 21, 2003 at 03:58:46PM -0600, Scott Long wrote:
> 
>>Wilko Bulte wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, Jul 21, 2003 at 12:15:25PM -0700, Bernd Walter wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>ticso       2003/07/21 12:15:25 PDT
>>>>
>>>>FreeBSD src repository
>>>>
>>>>Modified files:
>>>>  sys/conf             files.alpha 
>>>>  sys/alpha/conf       GENERIC NOTES 
>>>>Log:
>>>>Enable eisa support on alpha.
>>>>We need eisa bridge support on some models, which now depends on having
>>>>eisa in the kernel.
>>>
>>>
>>>Without having checked: what about the bootfloppy?
>>>
>>
>>This is a loosing fight.  While there is still some value in having
>>floppies for x86, is there really any value in them for Alpha?  My
>>understanding is that CD-ROMs have been standard on all Alphas for
>>the past 5-10 years.  Netbooting is an easy alternative for those
> 
> 
> Correct. On all Alpha's in fact. Even the DEC3000 etc.
> 
> 
>>without CDs or bandwidth.  We do not do floppies for sparc64 and ia64,
>>and I would hope/expect that we don't do them for amd64.  I think it's
>>time to cut them out of Alpha.
> 
> 
> Absolutely. But everytime we planned on doing that there was uproar.
> You obviously loose the network install with just a floppy to boot from.
> But miniinst.iso fills that gap, at least IMHO.
> 
> W/
> 

Is there an alternative for those in remote areas that can neither
download the miniiso nor buy the cd set?  Every time that we talk about
downloading iso's, the issue comes up of those in eastern-bloc and
asian countries that have little bandwidth.  Can Alpha do a 'boot-only'
cd image that is <5MB?

Scott