Creating system boot diskettes

Overview of creating system boot diskettes

The procedure you follow to create the system boot diskettes differs depending on whether you are using a UNIX host or a Windows PC to administer your filer.

Use one of the procedures shown in the following table to create the system boot diskettes.

If you are... Follow the instructions in...
Using a UNIX host to administer your filer "Creating system boot diskettes on a UNIX host"
Using a Windows PC to administer your filer "Creating system boot diskettes on a Windows PC"

Creating system boot diskettes on a UNIX host

Complete the following steps to create system boot diskettes on a UNIX host.

Note: Replace the variable filename with the name of the Boot Floppy image you downloaded.

If the diskette drive in your administration host is not named /dev/fd0, replace /dev/fd0 with the name of your diskette drive.

Step Action
1

Insert a write-enabled diskette in the diskette drive on the administration host.

2

Copy the Boot Floppy 1 image to the diskette by using the dd command:

dd if=filename of=/dev/fd0 bs=512
3

Remove the diskette from the drive and write-protect it to prevent it from being erased accidentally.

4

Attach a label to the diskette that contains the following information:

  • System Boot Diskette 1
  • Data ONTAP release number
  • NetApp filer model

    Note: It is important to record the filer model on the diskette label, especially if you have different models on site. The system boot diskettes between different filer models are not interchangeable.

5

Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for the second system boot diskette, labeling it System Boot Diskette 2.

Creating system boot diskettes on a Windows PC

Complete the following procedures to create the system boot diskettes on a Windows PC:

Downloading the RaWrite utility

If you do not have the RaWrite utility, complete the following steps to download it from the NOW Web site; otherwise, continue with the next section, "Creating system boot diskettes.""

Step Action
1 Go to the NOW home page: http://now.netapp.com/ Enter your password to enter the NOW home page.
2 Click Tools & Utilities.
3 Select RaWrite from the Useful Tools and Other Links list, then click Go!
4 Click the Download RAWRITE link to download the RaWrite utility. You might see a dialog box that states something like the following: 
You have started to download a file of the type

application

Click "More Info" to learn how to extend Navigator's 
capabilities.

Click the Save button to save the file to your hard disk.
5 Click the Save button.
Creating system boot diskettes

Complete the following steps to create the system boot diskettes.

Step Action
1 Insert a blank, write-enabled diskette into the diskette drive.
2 Open the Rawrite folder you downloaded and double-click Rawrite.exe.
Results
RaWrite starts and prompts for an image source file.
3 Enter the name you used for the Boot Floppy 1 image file that you downloaded.
Results

RaWrite prompts for a target diskette drive.

4 Enter the drive letter for the formatted diskette that will be the system boot diskette.
Results

RaWrite displays messages like the following:

RaWrite 2.0 - Write disk file to raw floppy diskette

Number of sectors per track for this disk is 18

Writing image to drive A:.  Press ^C to abort.

Track: 79  Head:  1

Done.
5

Remove the diskette from the drive.

6

Write-protect the diskette.

7

Attach a label to the diskette that contains the following information:

  • System Boot Diskette 1
  • Data ONTAP release number
  • NetApp filer model

    Note: It is important to record the filer model on the diskette label, especially if you have different models on site. The system boot diskettes between different filer models are not interchangeable.

8

Repeat Steps 1 through 7 for the second system boot diskette, labeling it System Boot Diskette 2.

What to do next

Continue the upgrade process using the instructions in "Booting from the system boot diskettes."

Copyright © 1999, Network Appliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

Part No. 210-02336
File: sw_up2.htm
Last updated: 02/22/99 13:53:12