[MinnowBoard] Request ID [#INC-8237]: Using PXE boot to install Linux on a Minnowboard Turbot

[Rick Thomas]

Hi Steve et al,

No, this is not a show-stopper.  It’s just me trying out a new (to me) feature.  Given the problems I had (as recorded a month or so ago in this list) with getting the Turbot firmware to boot the Debian installer from a USB stick, I figured it would be useful (and fun) to experiment with other ways of accomplishing the task.

Here’s what I did:

I set up a small local network consisting of a netgate router providing access to the Internet, running pfSense, one Intel NUC to use as the server, and the aforementioned MinnowBoard Turbot as client.

The NUC is running Debian Stretch, set up with dnsmasq as described in the Debian wiki:
    https://wiki.debian.org/PXEBootInstall
The Turbot has a monitor plugged into the HDMI port, a keyboard and mouse plugged into the USB2 port, and an 8GB uSD card into which I hope to install Debian Stretch.

I tested this setup with a Dell laptop (legacy BIOS, not UEFI) and was able to boot into the installer running in “rescue” mode so as not to damage the system already installed on it.

However, when I power-up the Turbot and tell the firmware to boot via the ethernet with PXE, it gives the behavior I described: Screen flashes too fast to read, and return to the firmware.

I have not tried it with a serial console, though I plan to — I’ll report back when I have something to report.

Thanks for any help you can give!
Rick


On Jul 2, 2018, at 3:40 AM, Steve W. <support at netgate.com> wrote:

> Hi Rick,
> That's not something I have tested personally but we can look into it. I don't see any reason it shouldn't be possible. We don't support that directly however. 
> 
> I assume you need to PXE boot this? It's something you need to do repeatedly? 
> 
> Can you give us more details of your test setup? Exactly what image are you trying to boot?
> 
> Thanks,
> Steve Wheeler
> 
> ---
> Manage your support request online at https://go.netgate.com
> 
> On Mon, Jul 2 at 10:47 AM , Rick <rbthomas at pobox.com> wrote:
> 
> I’m trying to install Debian Linux on a Turbot dual-core, single ethernet.
> 
> I want to network boot (PXE boot) the Turbot into the debian installer. I’ve set up a TFTPboot server as described in the Debian documentation. I’ve tested it with a Dell laptop, and been able to use it to boot the Debian installer on the laptop.
> 
> But she I try to PXE boot the Turbot, the screen flashes a few times — way too fast for me to read anything — and it returns to the BIOS boot menu.
> 
> The Minowboard’s BIOS is version 097, the latest.
> 
> Anybody have a clue?
> 
> ADVthanksANCE,
> Rick
> [#INC-8237]