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Diskless boot into Windows

New MessageDiskless boot into Windows (modified 0 times) abenusa
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I was wondering if anyone has managed to get an IO without a hard drive to boot up into Windows? I have heard of diskless IBM compatible PCs where the ethernet NIC would have a boot PROM. Somehow the boot PROM would load the appropriate files across the network and eventually the operating system would come up. I have not heard much about this sort of thing lately. I am assuming that a PC without a HDD is just not feasible due to the amount of disk access required by today's operating systems and software. I suppose the performance would be poor. One advantage an IOpener would have over a standard PC is the 16MB SanDisk for storage of all the drivers needed for initial access to the USB port to ethernet converter for the initial boot sequence. Any comments???
- abenusa -
01-10-2001 15:46:18

New MessageRE:Diskless boot into Windows (modified 0 times) dogbert
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You would use something like BOOTP or DHCP to find a server and obtain an IP, then use TFTP to transfer an OS into memory.

You could use a bootprom but with an external interface it might not be easy to put one in. You could put a read only boot disk image in the SANdisk that runs on boot and executes everything required.

Hope it helps!

Dogbert.

Do not take life too seriously; you will never get out of it alive.
01-10-2001 16:04:41

New MessageRE:Diskless boot into Windows (modified 0 times) macattack
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How has this project been coming along?? what would be needed to get the IO to recognize the USB port, then register that is has a USB ethernet adapter, then load a bootprom from the sandisk??
01-23-2001 18:15:45

New MessageRE:Diskless boot into Windows (modified 0 times) Programmer
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you need a DOS USB Stack, then a TCP Stack with a driver for the USB NIC.

From there you should be good.

01-24-2001 07:08:28

New MessageRE:Diskless boot into Windows (modified 0 times) Gultig
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FYI

Good luck finding a DOS USB stack anywhere. I checked on several USB sites, and other than $10,000 for one that a certain company will custom make for you, there are none.

It looks like an opensource project has taken up the cause, but they have JUST begun.

01-24-2001 12:18:31

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