[K12OSN] Network boot hangs

[Peter Trifonov]

Rob, thanks a lot for the suggestion. I have tried gPXE, but with the same
result. 
The problem arises AFTER Linux kernel is downloaded from the server and
started. 
The kernel says:

...
Creating new ramdisk to hold our new rootfs
Mounting root filesystem: ... from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx [Some NFS traffic is
observed at the server at this moment]
Setting up the new root ramdisk area
Doing the switchroot
SwitchRoot v0.1 - Copyright 2005 Linux based systems design
Freeing ram used by initramfs


After this the system stops doing anything.


With best regards,
P. Trifonov


> -----Original Message-----
> From: k12osn-bounces at redhat.com [mailto:k12osn-bounces at redhat.com] On
> Behalf Of Rob Owens
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 6:21 PM
> To: Support list for open source software in schools.
> Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Network boot hangs
> 
> I had a similar problem and found that some clients would not boot with
> an etherboot cd, but they would boot with a gPXE cd.  Try that.  You
> can get it from www.rom-o-matic.net.  When it comes to the driver
> selection part, choose gpxe from the drop-down list.
> 
> -Rob
> 
> On Mon, Feb 09, 2009 at 10:54:44AM +0300, Peter Trifonov wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have installed K12LTSP 5-EL/32 bit onto a server in my network. It
> works
> > fine with relatively modern client PCs.
> > However, booting 12-year old HP Vectra PCs (Pentium-200 CPU, 96 MB
> RAM)
> > hangs with the words "Freeing ram used by initramfs".
> > The system is not really frozen, but nothing happens.  I have a few
> such
> > PCs, and all of them exhibit such behavior. I have observed some NFS
> traffic
> > between the server and the client before it hangs.
> >
> > Does anyone have any suggestions what can be wrong with the clients?