This is the NetBSD/VAX Frequently Asked Questions with Answers page

Mirror at VAXarchive

V1.11, June 18 1997, Gunnar.

This FAQ has not been updated recently, it does not mention the new sysinstall program which makes installing NetBSD a lot easier. You should first read the 1.4.2 installation manual and then come back here for all the additional information that is in this FAQ that the manual doesn't have, and also you will be able to recognize the parts of this FAQ that are out of date. It still has a lot of useful information!

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Purpose of this FAQ
• 1.2 Scope
• 1.3 Availability
• 1.4 Copyright and disclaimers
• 1.5 General information
• 1.6 Additions and corrections
• 1.7 FAQ contributors

• 2.1 Additions
• 2.2 Changes
• 2.3 Deletions

• 3.1 Where can I find NetBSD/VAX?
• 3.2 What hardware is supported?
• 3.3 How do I create the boot tape?
• 3.4 Can I create the tape on a VMS system?
• 3.5 How do I boot the VAX from the tape?
• 3.6 What are the VAX device names under NetBSD/VAX?
• 3.7 What is 'edlabel' and why do I need a label on my disk?
• 3.8 What is the disktab entry for my xxxx disk?
• 3.9 How do i use 'edlabel'?
• 3.10 How do I use 'copy' to install the miniroot?
• 3.11 When I run 'copy' it says it's copying to the "a" partition. What's going on?
• 3.12 How do I boot the miniroot from disk?
• 3.13 How do I use 'newfs' to create filesystems?
• 3.14 How do I use 'disklabel' to write boot blocks?
• 3.15 Where is the 'raboot' boot image?
• 3.16 How do I install the rest of NetBSD/VAX?
• 3.17 Where is the netbsd kernel?
• 3.18 How do I boot the installed system?
• 3.19 I made it so far, now what?
• 3.20 An entirely different approach to installing...
• 3.21 Can I netboot my VAXen from a Unix server?

• 4.1 Where can I find the Current NetBSD distribution?
• 4.2 What should I do before the upgrade?
• 4.3 How do I upgrade?
• 4.4 The kernel build crashes. Now what?
• 4.5 What do I need to do after the upgrade?

• 5.1 My uVAXII crashes every 24 hours. Why?
• 5.2 Can I use a TK70 on my NetBSD/VAX system?
• 5.3 How can I low-level format my RD53/RD54 disks?
• 5.4 What about support for the MicroVAX 3100? Or VAXBI?
• 5.5 Can I run PPP on NetBSD/VAX?
• 5.6 Why is my VAX suddenly talking Swedish to me?
• 5.7 Is 'top' ported to NetBSD/VAX?
• 5.8 How do I build a kernel for the MicroVAX III?
• 5.9 Why do I get "garbage" on the console when I try to login?
• 5.10 What to do if I have little disk space?
• 5.11 Which bootflags can I give to the boot loader?

• 6.1 Where can I find more information about VAXen?
• 6.2 What are those boards in my VAX?
• 6.3 Can I make my own VAXstation II/GPX monitor cable?
• 6.4 How can I identify my old CDC/Imprimis disk?
• 6.5 Can I convert my big VAX' 3-phase power-supply for home use?
• 6.6 The lighter side of VAX.

Getting more information about NetBSD and NetBSD/VAX:

The NetBSD WWW site

The NetBSD mailing lists page Please join the port-vax list!

The *BSD FAQ site

and hosted on a MicroVAX II running NetBSD/vax.