> Debian 3 was able to boot from a CD-R ("boot cdrom" seemed to work
> fine) but seemed to crash after it freed kernel memory (either that or
> for some reason it stopped sending output to the serial port).

How much memory have you got in the box? could that be the limiting
factor? I believe the BSDs and Linux require 4Mb simms in slot 0 before
they will install, because the installers are > 4mb in size and need the
16Mb in the first bank.

> the instructions exactly. I didnt have much success with network
> booting either - it just gave errors I think. Ive never network booted
> a computer so it is entirely possible I was doing somthing wrong.

Its a bit tricky to start with but when its set up its by far the
easiest way. Especially if, like me, you have lots of hardware of rather
advanced age and dubious reliablity. Did it get to the stage where it
was copying a file from the network? or did it just complain about the
lack of RARP, or just hang there doing nothing?

1: suggests the file is not bootable,
2: suggests the RARP service on the server is not working
3: suggests the RARP service *is* working, but the TFTP service on the
same box isnt. (Note, it goest without saying the RARP and the TFTP
service should be on the same box) (Note, this may be permissions on
/tftpboot as well)

> My SPARCstation 5 is currently dead (power led comes on straight away
> for about half a second, turns off, drives spin up, nothing else
> happens. I cant connect a serial cable as I dont have appropriate
> adapters & monitors dont seem to work so I have no idea whats wrong).
> As a result of its deadness tape booting anything will be difficult -
> it was my only linux box with SCSI.

I assume you dont have access to another machine of similar sort of age
then? Its possible to do a basic debian install onto a disk on either a
sun4c, sun4m or sun4d and then swap the disks around (You cant do this
with Solaris, and I dont know about the BSDs) (You can plug in the SCSI
II disk into the CD-rom slot and connect your external CD rom)