Is Ubuntu giving up on the PPC platform?

[Brian Durant]

On 12. feb 2006, at 19.56, Larry Grover wrote:

> Brian Durant wrote:
>> Hi Larry,
>> Nice to hear from you again. I have the yaboot.conf issue solved,  
>> Here was the solution for that:
>> ofpath /dev/sda
>> /ht at 0,f2000000/pci at 3/k2-sata-root at c/k2-sata at 0/disk at 0:
>> ofpath /dev/sdb
>> /k2-sata at 0/disk at 0:
>> sudo mv /usr/sbin/ofpath /usr/sbin/ofpath.orig
>> cd /usr/sbin
>> sudo wget -P . http://people.redhat.com/pnasrat/ofpath
>> chmod 755 ofpath
>
>
> Ah, so the problem was with the ofpath binary distributed by  
> Ubuntu? Hopefully Dapper gets a less buggy version.  Did you file  
> this bug on Malone, along with your solution?

The way I understood it, there was a bug in the version of yaboot  
that was included. I haven't done anything as I wasn't sure if that  
qualified as an Ubuntu bug or not. I just follow the instructions  
that I get when there is some one that is kind enough to help me and  
then I learn by following the instructions 8-)

>> sudo ofpath /dev/sda
>> /ht at 0,f2000000/pci at 3/k2-sata-root at c/k2-sata at 0/disk at 0:
>> sudo ofpath /dev/sdb
>> /ht at 0,f2000000/pci at 3/k2-sata-root at c/k2-sata at 1/disk at 0:
>> sudo ybin -v
>> Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to get yaboot to boot  
>> default into OS X yet. I tried "default=macosx", but no luck.
>
>
> You might check the yaboot manpage and see if it is possible to use  
> an open firmware path in the "default=..." line.  The "default"  
> option may work if you can specify an of path rather than use the  
> shorthand "macosx".

I know that there is something like using aliases to point to a SATA  
drive (sd1), etc., but the other you are talking about, I have no idea.

>> With regards to the kernel issue, I see two possibilities as I  
>> believe we have talked about before:
>> 1) The patch that you are talking about. I don't know what the  
>> patch would be called. Maybe something with windfarm_9.1.
>
>
> I'm not sure either, but I image someone on the debian-powerpc list  
> can point you to the correct patch.

They seem to be above dealing with newbies, which I can understand to  
a certain extent. I try to look at those man pages and stuff, but I  
just don't understand much and can't put the info it in a context.

>> 2) Installing the latest build of the stable (2.6) using  
>> pmac_defconfig, i.e. latest build 2.6.15.4. This can be found at:
>> http://www.ppckernel.org/kernel.php?id=74
>> Unfortunately, as a newbie to Linux, I don't have the overview to  
>> really know which is the easiest and simplest way to do this. What  
>> do you suggest?
>
>
> Installing a precompiled binary kerenel is bound to be easier and  
> quicker (if it works).  The installation instructions are straight  
> forward, so you might as well give it a try:
> http://www.ppckernel.org/installation.php
>
> Just make sure that you leave an old, working kernel installed and  
> leave a stanza for it in your yaboot.conf file, so that you can  
> boot into the old kernel in case the 2.6.15.4. kernel from  
> ppckernel.org doesn't work.   I assume you are familiar enough with  
> the yaboot.conf file by now to figure this out?

Without screwing it up, you mean? ;-) I'm not sure...

> But I also suggest that you try patching and compiling your own  
> kernel.   It's a good skill to know.  It is a bit involved, and it  
> does takes some time, but it you have a good how-to or guide to  
> follow, it is not really very hard.
>
> Regards,
> Larry

Easy for you to say :-) I think I'll have to try and do some reading  
before I try this. The problem is that I only have a certain amount  
of time to get something like this to work, as I am otherwise afraid  
that the computer pulls a China Syndrome on me. I don't have the  
luxury to take the time to learn all of the fiddly bits.

Cheers,

Brian