Network Boot Disk

[Sinista_Ink]

Hi. Does anyone know how to make a network boot disk? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve:

[MosDef112]

For which protocol? Which NIC?

[Sinista_Ink]

Thanks Mos,
The protocol is TCP/IP. OS Win2k, and a 3com Etherlink XL 10/100 NIC.

[MosDef112]

Okay.. Do you have a Windows NT 4.0 server installed somewhere? You will need it to make this disk. I can also have you download the files you need for this disk. Also, there's different variations on the 3Com NIC's. Specifically, you can either have 3C905-TX, 3C905B-TX, and 3C905C-TX. Each NIC uses it's own driver. Let me know.

[Sinista_Ink]

Mos, it is a 3C905C-TX Nic. We don't have NT Serer installed, but I do have the CD. DO I need to actually have it installed?

[MosDef112]

Nah.. Not really.. It was just to tell you how to make the boot disk yourself in NT, but I could just have you download the files from my site. A few things before proceeding.. Since this boot disk uses DOS LANManOS, connectivity will be limited from within a LAN that is attached to a hub, and will only attach to one subnet as configured. This disk won't see any nodes past a switch or a router, it'll return 'Error 53: The computer specified could not be found.' Also, it is best to have a WINS server present within the network segment you'll be using this disk on, hopefully not necessary. You'll know if you need it when you try to attach to computer names instead of IP addresses. I also need to know what subnet you need me to configure this disk with so that it initializes your NIC and announces itself to the network, that including a unique and non-used IP from within that subnet. If you have a DHCP server present, then there's no need for this info. Last item, I need you to provide a unique NetBIOS computer name to use for this disk. Native of Microsoft networking, no two computers can have the same computer name in a LAN, same concept applies to this disk. Let me know.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Man what memories...at my old job, I used to have to crank out DOS boot disks for Artisofts LANTastic....yuck!

Go crazy with startnet.bats, loading PcAnywhere version 5.0 for DOS....set to host mode, etc. Heh.

I'm not sure about DOS drivers, but for Windows, since 5.1 and with the current 5.3, it's the same driver you download for all the 3COM 90X NICs, even the onboard 918.

[MosDef112]

LOL.. Still do that at my current job, but not for all that. They simply run Norton Ghost over the network, and to my imaging server. It's easier than having to locate images on CD-R's scattered everywhere.

[YeOldeStonecat]

No, not a network image casting system, but LANtastic was a NetBIOS networking package which was big back in the DOS/Win3.1 days, and started to fade out as Win95 came out, hardly even used anymore. It's still more stable than Windows NetBEUI for some really picky conventional memory hungry DOS apps that need to be networked.

[MosDef112]

Oh okay.. I don't go back that far.. I began with computers at the end of the existence of Windows 3.11 in the home PC. :)

[Sinista_Ink]

Hey Mos,
Sorry to get back to you so late, but I found a link that told me how to do it. http://www.networknewz.com/2001/0425.html Is this basically what you were going to havwe me do?

[MosDef112]

Yep, that's exactly it. Would you still want me to have you download the files for it, or do you want to try it yourself? I already have the files ready, just have to download them from work because I'm at home today. ;)

[Sinista_Ink]

I am going to try it myself, but I would also like to download the files just in case.
Thanks :)

[MosDef112]

:) Okay.. I'll give you the URL once I get to work, files are still there.

[MosDef112]

Okay, here's the URL for those files

ftp://ftp.omarnyc.com/public/software/3c905c-nb.zip

I attached a Readme file with instructions on how to make the disk. Let me know if it helps.

[Sinista_Ink]

Thanks Mos,
I will give it a try today.
Steve

By the way, What's a guy gotta do to get in there with the Mp3's?
:rolleyes:

[MosDef112]

You're welcome. I'll give you the password for as long as you don't download files excessively. I only have 90K upstream on my ADSL line. I'll email it to ya. If I show it in here all hell will break loose. :)

[Sinista_Ink]

Yeah I feel ya. I don't have broadband at home anymore until it becomes available in this area. They said it should be by the beginning of Fall, so I wouldn't be able to download anything until I am at work. So no prob about the excessive downloads. Thanks.
Steve

[MosDef112]

Okee dokey. ;)