Re: Boot Loader: OFW network booting support

On 2022-11-14 11:33, Warner Losh wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 14, 2022, 12:29 PM Chris <bsd-lists@bsdforge.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 2022-11-14 08:34, Warner Losh wrote:
>> > I'd like to drop support for OFW network booting.
>> >
>> > These days, the only OpenFirmware machines are really old Mac G4 and G5
>> > machines. Nothing else can use it (it used to be shared with sparc64
>> > machines).
>> >
>> > I'm in the process of reworking some of the disk code, which touches the
>> > OFW disk code which would force me to write extra code for OFW since it
>> > doesn't fit the pattern we have on other architectures very well.
>> >
>> > So, rather than do a lot of work I can barely test (I might have an old
>> G4
>> > mac in my dad's old thing), I'm thinking about dropping the support,
>> > especially since I don't think it's been used by anybody in a long time.
>> >
>> > Before I do that, though, I'd see if anyone is actively using it...
>> I have a dual proc/800Mhz G4. But I would call it "hobby" class. Nothing
>> that should require me to need or you continue FreeBSD (current) support.
>> 
> 
> 
> Ever net boot it?
Not w/o a fair amount of "futzing". It's been awhile -- 9.x?. With enough
persistence I could get to the FreeBSD boot menu and fire off a boot. But
was never able to manage an install (kept loosing root (/)). I just figured
another release or 2 would reconcile things. :-)

--Chris
> 
> Warner
> 
>> Thanks for asking. :-)
>> >
>> > Warner
>> --Chris