QL 4222
Chapter 7 - Boot Process

Remote DOS Boot

The following information is provided to explain the QL workstation remote boot sequence when booting DOS from a NetWare file server. Remote boot of the OS/2 operating system is not supported.

1. The file server or router boots, and NetWare loads the Cubix LAN Drivers.
2. The QL Series processors find and load their image file (QLx_DOS.LOD) from the \LOGIN subdirectory of the file server designated during QL installation or from the "nearest server" if the designated server is unavailable. The image file loads and executes the following:

COMMAND.COM

CONFIG.SYS

AUTOEXEC.BAT

QL4BOOT.BAT (for QL 4000 Series processors) or

QL3BOOT.BAT (for QL 3000 Series processors)

3. The QLxBOOT.BAT file executes the following:

LSL.COM

QL4_DOS.COM (for QL 4000 Series processors) or

QL3_DOS.COM (for QL 3000 Series processors)

IPXODI.COM

QLNODE.EXE (Sets NODE number as QLNODE environment variable)

VLM.EXE

Note: Several of these files will access the NET.CFG file for configuration information.

4. After VLM.EXE, execution of the QLxBOOT.BAT file transfers from the image file to the file server's drive and continues to execute QLxBOOT.BAT from \LOGIN. Therefore, an exact copy of the QLxBOOT.BAT in the image file must be placed in the LOGIN directory on the designated server.
5. QLxBOOT.BAT then executes:

STPIPX.COM

STPIPX.COM reads SNMP trap target information from the CMSNET.CFG file on the designated server. This file is necessary only if CMS (or another SNMP-based management application) will manage the QL processors.

6. Finally, QLxBOOT.BAT executes:

QLUSRxxx.BAT (where xxx = node number), if found, or executes QLUSER.BAT

7. If the QLUSER.BAT file (default QL batch file) is invoked by QLxBOOT.BAT, it will execute the following:

QLRCV.COM (QL utility support)

LOGIN (Novell's Login command)

Local DOS Boot

The following information is provided to explain the QL workstation boot sequence when booting DOS from a local hard drive.

1. File server or router boots, and NetWare loads the Cubix LAN drivers.
2. The QL processor detects the presence of the C: drive and displays the message:

Do you want to boot from the network? (Y/N)

Note: Note that a local monitor and keyboard are required to respond to this prompt. If no response is entered, a local boot is performed.

3. The QL processor waits up to two seconds for a response. If the user enters "Y" within this time period, the QL processor performs the remote boot procedure previously described. Otherwise, the QL processor attempts to load and execute the following files from the local drive:

COMMAND.COM

CONFIG.SYS

AUTOEXEC.BAT

QL4000.BAT (for QL 4000 Series processors) or

QL3000.BAT (for QL 3000 Series processors)

4. The QLx000.BAT file executes the following files from the local drive:

LSL.COM

QL4_DOS.COM (for QL 4000 Series processors) or

QL3_DOS.COM (for QL 3000 Series processors)

IPXODI.COM

QLNODE.EXE (Sets NODE number as QLNODE environment variable)

VLM.EXE

STPIPX.COM

QLRCV.COM (QL utility support)

Note: Several of these files will access the NET.CFG file for configuration information.

5. After loading QLRCV.COM, the QLx000.BAT file changes from the local drive to the \LOGIN directory of the network drive, then executes:

LOGIN (Novell's Login command)

Local OS/2 Boot

The following information is provided to explain the QL workstation boot sequence when booting OS/2 from a local hard drive.

1. File server or router boots, and NetWare loads the Cubix LAN drivers.
2. The QL processor detects the presence of the C: drive and displays the message:

Do you want to boot from the network? (Y/N)

Note: Note that a local monitor and keyboard are required to respond to this prompt. If no response is entered, a local boot is performed. Remote boot functionality is not supported in an OS/2 environment.

3. The QL processor waits up to two seconds for a response. If the user enters "Y" within this time period, the QL processor will attempt to remote boot DOS from a NetWare file server. Otherwise, the QL processor attempts to load and execute OS/2 from the local disk drive.
4. OS/2 loads and executes the CONFIG.SYS file, which loads the drivers required by the QL system, including the NetWare environment and QL driver files.
5. It is left to the person installing the QL processor to develop the necessary STARTUP.CMD file to autoload any application software required.

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