on Alix Board

Files we need:

  • bsd.rd (i386)
  • pxeboot
  • install.conf
  • dnsmasq
  • nullmodem
  • USB NIC (optional)
# setup "/etc/dnsmasq.conf"
port=0
interface=enp0s20u1 # change me
bind-interfaces
dhcp-range=10.1.0.100,10.1.0.254,12h
dhcp-boot=/tftpboot/pxeboot
enable-tftp
tftp-root=/tftpboot/

# add ip to USB NIC
> ip addr add 10.1.0.10/24 dev enp0s20u1

# cp files to tftpboot
> cp {install.conf,bsd.rd,pxeboot} /tftpboot/

# make tftp dir
> mkdir /tftpboot/etc

# edit /tftpboot/etc/boot.conf
stty com0 9600
set tty com0
boot tftp:/bsd.rd

# setup /tftpboot/install.conf
System hostname = server1
Password for root = $2b$14$Z4xRMg8vDpgYH...GVot3ySoj8yby
Change the default console to com0 = yes
Which speed should com0 use = 9600
Setup a user = puffy
Password for user = *************
Public ssh key for user = ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1...g3Aqre puffy@ai
What timezone are you in = Europe/Stockholm
Location of sets = http
HTTP Server = cdn.openbsd.org

# start dnsmasq
> systemctl start dnsmasq.service

# watch service
> journalctl -u dnsmasq.service -f

use port vr0 for tftp (usb side)

add swap per usb

# find usb disk
> sysctl hw.disknames

# edit partitions
> disklabel -E sd0 # 1087666 is about 512M

# edit /etc/fstab
999999a8942e228b.a none swap sw

# read swap from fstab and start
> swapctl  -A

For alix boards the default setting is 38400 8N1, no flow control

see handbook

# To enter setup, type S during the memory test. You should see something like the following:
PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.98j
640 KB Base Memory
261120 KB Extended Memory
01F0 Master 848A CF 128MB
Phys C/H/S 1002/8/32 Log C/H/S 1002/8/32
BIOS setup:
(9) 9600 baud (2) 19200 baud *3* 38400 baud (5) 57600 baud (1) 115200 baud
*C* CHS mode (L) LBA mode (W) HDD wait (V) HDD slave (U) UDMA enable
(M) MFGPT workaround
(P) late PCI init
*R* Serial console enable
(E) PXE boot enable
(X) Xmodem upload
(Q) Quit

Relinking the kernel is default when booting and it needs a lot of RAM. Consider to add USB Swap storage to the system