Problem mounting Root FS over NFS

[AmithaP]

Hi,
I hope someone could help me with this ASAP

I compiled the linux2.4.5 kernal (slackware 8) for the master(server) node and made it nfs server. I compiled the kernal for the slave node with root FS over NFS. I had dhcp among the network options. I am using dhcp.
My server has dhcp enabled. it runs the dhcp demon and when i execute the command /usr/sbin: dhcpd , it shows that it is listening and seding .... but it doesnt receive anything from the slave(client).
NFS runs on my master node.
when i do rpcinfo -p, it shows that nfs is running.

I checked the dhcpd.conf (it is ok..)
It gets requests/acks from other clients in the sub-domain when configured.

I had made the image of the kernal and made a boot floppy from it and i am using that to start my diskless -root client(slave).

Now, when i try to start my client(Slave) with the boot disk on..it gives me the following :
-----
Partition check:
Root-NFS: No NFS server available, giving up.
VFS: Unable to mount root fs via NFS, trying floppy.
VFS: Insert root floppy and press ENTER
-----


The kernel is correctly configured with NFS, NFS on Root, Kernel
AutoConfiguration (DHCP), but I do not receive a DHCP request asking for
the NFS Root Server in my DHCP logs. Kernel Version 2.4.5

Any ideas?
Thank you in advance..
Amitha

 

[MrTom]

hmm... i seem to remember having a similar problem a while back.
just to check that everything runs ok without dhcp you can get lilo to configure the card with

append = "root=/dev/nfs ip=__nodeIP__:__NFSserverIP__:__GatewayIP__:__Broadcast__:__hostname__:eth0ff nfsroot=__NFSserver__:/path/to/nfsMount "

all the things surrounded by "__" should be ip addresses.

 

[AmithaP]

Hi MrTom,
Thank you very much. It worked..now it boots up and gets the root fs over NFS..but now the problem is..the client mounts fs over nfs from server. But after that it gives me the prompt to enter the userid and password..when i enter the root and root password it says that

"No Directory, logging in with HOME=/"

and it gives me the file system in / of the server and not the one in /tftpboot/<client-ip>

can me tell me where i am going wrong and where i have to specify the directory which it has to mount..,
I thought it will know it by &quot;nfsroot= &quot; string., but it doesnot recognize it and it is giving me the /files. Please help me resolve this.
Thank you in advance..
Amitha