As I recently wrote here, I acquired a HP Visualize Workstation (C3600). I was interested in getting debian Linux running on it. The installation should be done via network (netboot). And I found out: no problem at all. Done in half an afternoon. So here are my experiences with the installation-process:

First, have a look at this great howto. There are some very useful information. I only want to write down, how I finally did it.

First, I had only one monitor, so I did everything via serial connection to the machine. The monitor was connected to another pc, just to read some emails in the meantime :-).
You will need a serial null-modem cable with female plugs (9-pins). After this, connect the hp c3600 with another computer. You should install minicom there.

apt-get install minicom

After this, get minicom running (as root)

minicom

Now press Ctrl-A –> Z. You can configure the serial port there. Press P and then choose 9600-8-N-1.
After this, fire up your C3600.
I connected the monitor at least once to the C3600 to switch the machine to serial console. (During the boot-process, press ESC. You will come into the boot-menu. There enter path console serial_1. This did the trick for me.)
Remark: If your HP does not recognize your monitor, there’s a way to force it to search for it:
After power-on of the HP, wait for the NUM-LOCK light, to come on. At this very moment, hit the TAB-Key. Now, the machine will start to switch through all monitor-modes. At some moment, you will see your monitor show some text - then you’re right on the way. The LCD-Display is also showing something of searching for monitors… (not quite sure about the real text)

Now, while your machine is booting, hit ESC again, to come back to the boot-menu. OK. Your machine is waiting for booting now (HPs are very patient…).

Now you have to install another machine with the necessary tools, for booting the HP via network. First, you need a dhcp-Server running. I used debian dhcp3-Server

apt-get install dhcp3-common

You have to config the server to provide a valid IP-address to your hp. My config-file looks like this:

option domain-name “gimme-th.at”;
option domain-name-servers ns1.example.org, ns2.example.org;
option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
allow booting;
allow bootp;

server-name “teutates”;
subnet 192.168.178.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.178.200 192.168.178.235;
option routers 192.178.168.1;
}

group {
next-server 192.168.178.30;

host hpbox {
hardware ethernet 00:30:6E:08:BD:89;
fixed-address 192.168.178.70;
filename “/srv/tftpd/boot.img”;
}
}

The mac-address written in italics has to be replaced with the mac-address of your HP. You can obtain it (while you are in boot-menu) by typing:

information
lanaddress

Then you get the mac-address of your machine. This has to be put into your dhcpd.conf-file.

Now, you should look for the boot.img-File. I found out, that the installer-hppa directory is empty on most debian-mirrors (please correct me, if I am wrong). I found a valid file here.

The tftpd-server brings this boot-file to your hp. So now, install the tftpd-server.

apt-get install tftp-hpa

Now fire up the tftpd-server, by typing:

/usr/sbin/in.tftpd -l -s / -vvvvv &

(If you don’t need it very often, there’s no need for entering it in the inetd!

Now you enter the path of your boot.img-file into the dhcpd.conf - file like this:

filename “/srv/tftpd/boot.img”;

Restart dhcpd

/etc/init.d/dhcp3-server restart

Now, back in the boot-menu of the hp, you will find out, whether the setup of the dhcp and tftpd-server is working.
Enter

search lan

If the hp is not able to find a server, repeat this command. Sometimes it does not work at first try.
This command should output something like P0 ….. IP-address_of_your_server

Now you can start the boot-process by typing

boot p0

You will get a question like: Interact with IPL (Y, N, or Cancel)?>
I hit N.

After this, the machine will get the boot.img via lan. The rest of the installation is quite typical for debian. I don’t want to write a lot about this.

If your machine does not find the image, you may look in /var/log/syslog or /var/log/daemon.log The dhcp and the tftpd-server are writing their information into these files.

This was the way, I got my HP Workstation with PA-RISC Processor running debian Linux via netboot. If you have some additional information, please comment!