NanoBSD boot failure

[Sean Bruno]

Sean Bruno wrote:
> I've run into a weird boot failure with a new Intel 
> motherboard(http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/D201GLY2/index.htm). 
>
>
> I have installed a Transcend 512MB IDE 
> module(http://www.transcendusa.com/products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=26&LangNo=0) 
> as my boot device.
>
> If I install a minimal FreeBSD install from CDROM, the machine boots 
> just fine.
>
> If I build a NanoBSD image and dd it onto the device, the system 
> attempts to boot and just sits at a blank screen with a flashing 
> cursor.  I never see the boot loader start or the kernel begin to 
> load.  The same image on several other motherboards works just fine 
> and has been serving us well over the last year.
>
> Any ideas where I should start looking?
>
> Sean
>
/me has an "aha" moment.

NanoBSD set's the boot loader(by default in nanobsd.sh) to "boot0sio" 
... FreeBSD by default installs "boot0"

If I reset the boot loader manually from the fixit disk to use "boot0":  
boot0cfg -v -B ad0

All is well in the world, except that I don't get a boot loader menu on 
the serial console(of course).  If I then set it back to "boot0sio":
boot0cfg -v -b boot0sio ad0

The machine doesn't boot and all I see is a flashing cursor in the upper 
right hand corner(no BTX boot loader, no kernel, etc...).

So, where do I go now?  Back to Intel to get them to fix the serial 
port?  Or is this a possible bug in the boot0?

Sean