RedHat 7.3 + Netboot kernel load failure...

[Chris Wilkinson]

Greets folks...

I've just started experimenting with the "nbgrub" portions of GRUB 0.92 and
I've hit a bit of a wall. The TFTP exchanges take place, but the system
hangs up after displaying "Uncompressing Linux... Ok, booting the kernel."

If you're interested in lending a hand, here's the background in brief...

GRUB 0.92 is compiled with the following operands:
    ./configure --enable-diskless --enable-eepro100
The kernel is compiled with the following options:
    IP: Kernel Level Autoconfiguration
    IP: Kernel Level Autoconfiguration > IP: BOOTP Support
    IP: Kernel Level Autoconfiguration > IP: DHCP Support
    Root NFS
    Appropriate Network Drivers
TFTP is active and properly configured. 
DHCP (BOOTP) is active and properly configured. 

>From dhcp.conf:
     option option-150 "(nd)/client-grub.conf";
     filename "nbgrub-0.92-eepro100";
>From client-grub.conf:
     root (nd)
     kernel /netboot-kernel-2.4.9-31.gz rw root=/dev/nfs

This is the process:

The machine starts via floppy running an Etherboot 5.0.6 ROM (for eepro100). 
BOOTP/DHCP transmits the proper IP/GW/NM information. 
The file "nbgrub-0.92-eepro100" is requested/received via TFTP. 
GRUB starts, initializes bootp, and comes up with the proper menu.
The boot selection described above is selected. 
The kernel file "netboot-kernel-2.4.9-31.gz" is requested/received via TFTP.

The following is displayed:
----------------------------------------------------------
root (nd)
Filesystem type is tftp, using whole disk. 
Kernel...
     [Linux-bzImage, setup=0x1400, size=0x12fb38]

Uncompressing Linux... Ok, booting the kernel. 
----------------------------------------------------------

Then, nothing. No further text is printed and the machine becomes completely
unresponsive, the keyboard completely locked. Not even CAPS lock will toggle
any longer. The same thing occurs with a variety of kernels, none of which
ever get any further then the last line above. 

I feel like I'm missing something obvious, yet I fail to find anything in
the mailing lists or on the web that might lend a hint as to what is
happening in this situation. BOOTP and TFTP are clearly working properly and
GRUB is making all the right calls, yet the kernel is not initializing
properly. 

Does anyone have any clues as to what I'm missing? 
And comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Chris Wilkinson