Install FreeBSD 5.2.1 on Compaq Proliant 800

[Jason Taylor]

Robert Fitzpatrick wrote:
> Trying to install FreeBSD 5.2.1 on a Compaq Proliant 800, looking for
> someone that has done this or similar. Of course, you have to have the
> SmartStart CD, I have that, I choose System Erase and it loads the
> Compaq partition and the FreeBSD goes without error and when I reboot I
> get 'Invalid partition type', that's it. After System Erase, I set the
> configuration to Unix (Large Geometry), there are 4 SCSI drives, two
> 18GB and two 9GB, FreeBSD finds and represents all correctly on install.
> Seems the Compaq BIOS is just not letting me use those partitions as
> active?
> 

It's been a while since I actually did this and I wasn't bright enough 
to document the process. This is an a Proliant 1500.  I believe I picked 
the SCO UnixWare 7 configuration just because it was the only one with 
Unix in the name.  I think the only significance that choice has is in 
what, if any, wizardy type install option you're given.  Additionally, I 
had to do at least the following two things to get it working.  There 
may have been more.  Again, I foolishly did not document the process.

Set the APIC mode to "Full Table - Mapped" per the directions at 
http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions/2003-October/021692.html

Set the amount of physical memory in /boot/loader.conf like so: 
hw.physmem="98304k".  Of course, you'll substitute a value that reflects 
the amount of memory your box actually has.  On the first go round 
you'll need to pick the option from the Beastie menu to get to a boot 
prompt and type in: 'set hw.physmem="98304k"' and then 'boot' or, to 
play it safer, 'boot -s'.

Hope this helps.  :-)