RedHat 6.2 has once been installed on this Sparc (a friend did it). However when I tried to re-install it after the system crashed, I got the problems described below:

I tried the installation 5 times:

Installation 1 & 2: error on hda1
managed to type boot cdrom and started the installation regardless the damaged system reported "can'd find disk label, can't open disk label package". After I finished typing the network parameters and clicked on Next, the installation reported "Error mounting hda1: invalid argument" after a long delay. When I clicked on Ok, I can't see anything running for a long time.

Installation 3: can't boot from CDROM
The following are the texts displayed on the screen after the power on

Boot device net File and args:
Timedout waiting for ARP/RARP packet
Timedout waiting for ARP/RARP packet
Timedout waiting for ARP/RARP packet
... ...

I disconnected the crossover cable and tried again
Installation 4, 5: can't boot from CDROM
The following are the texts displayed on the screen after the power on

Boot device net File and args:
Network Link Setup Failed
Please check cable and try again
Timedout waiting for ARP/RARP packet
... ...

It seems to me that the system tried to boot from network, I don't know why. Is it because I configured the network in the installation?

So there are 2 questions here:
1. How can I boot from cdrom
2. If problem 1 is solved, how can I finish the installation

As I am a first time Linux user, so please please help me.
Thanks for the help in advance.

1. Does the SparcStations really come with IDE disk drives? I was under the impression they all used SCSI. If so, the disk devices should be /dev/sd? (like /dev/sda) instead of /dev/hda, which is for IDE disks.

2. No idea, sorry. Never installed Linux on a Sparc box. Did you read the Pre-Installation Guide for Redhat 6.2 on the SPARC architecture?


Håkan

1. It is an IDE disk. However, I ran set-defaults at boot prompt when the system crashed before the doing the installations. I don't know if this affects the boot. BTW, There must be a bios setup like in intel machines, how can I enter into it, I have no knowledge at all on Sun machines.

2. I did read through the Redhat 6.2 installation guide, this machine was installed RedHat 6.2 with the same CD by someone else when I bought it weeks ago since then I have started my Linux experience.