[SunHELP] Network install of Solaris 8 to an SS5 from Linux/NetBSD

[Donald Gordon]

Hi

I am trying to network-install Solaris 8 onto a cdromless ss5 from a Linux
box.

Currently it will mount the root filesystem happily off the NetBSD box (it
refuses to do so off the linux box) but the install gives up after this
with an "ERROR: bpgetfile unable to access network information" (and I am 
left with a root prompt and a spinning pipe).

I gather this has something to do with bootparamd, but I can't see any
attempt to access network information:

klatch:/home/don/solaris/iso# rpc.bootparamd -d -r 192.168.2.64
bootparamd: whoami got question for 192.168.2.3
This is host quirm.dis.org.nz
Returning quirm   (none)    192.168.2.64
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "root"
returning server:ook path:/cdrom/Solaris_8/Tools/Boot address: 192.168.2.2
bootparamd: whoami got question for 192.168.2.3
This is host quirm.dis.org.nz
Returning quirm   (none)    192.168.2.64
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "root"
returning server:ook path:/cdrom/Solaris_8/Tools/Boot address: 192.168.2.2
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "rootopts"
getfile failed for quirm
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "rootopts"
getfile failed for quirm
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "rootopts"
getfile failed for quirm
getfile got question for "quirm" and file "root"
returning server:ook path:/cdrom/Solaris_8/Tools/Boot address: 192.168.2.2

How can I persuade the installer to work?

thanks

don