howto install Ubuntu on a 64bit Sun UltraSPARC 5 ?

[Gilles Gravier]

Hi, Amedee!

Amedee Van Gasse (Ubuntu) wrote:
>
> Since we're still talking about 64bit in general, not AMD/Intel specific,
> let's talk about SPARC. I'm not yet hijacking. :-)
>   
Hehe... I did mention SPARC earlier on... :) So fair game.
> I have an Sun UltraSPARC 5 since a couple of weeks. Unfortunately without
> keyboard or mouse (will have to look on ebay) but at least it has a
> standard VGA adapter. Looks like it boots properly. At the moment it is
> only collecting dust.
>   
It's an OLD machine...
> Would it be possible to install Ubuntu on it? Yes of course, but without
> keyboard or mouse? Sounds like a challenge... :-)
>   
You could try Ubuntu SPARC on it... but... it doesn't have video drivers
anyway... it's just a server build. And it's really tuned for our
UltraSPARC T1 and T2 (aka Niagara) multi-threading chips...

And these machines are OLD... they don't yet support USB mice and
keyboards... you need a real Sun keyboard and mouse... Where are you in
Belgium? Anywhere near Brussels? You could connect a machine with a
VTxxx emulator on the serial port and do the installation from the
serial console... that will work. You might need a DB25-to-RS45
converter (don't remember what serial port connector is on the Ultra5).
> Or should I just install some (Open)Solaris on it?
You can try. OpenSolaris for SPARC is still VERY early. Installing it
will require a network install server somewhere on your net... and that
doesn't solve the mouse and keyboard problem anyway.

Solaris 10 is a better bet but is getting old (i.e. STABLE - some of our
customers will say).

If you want a more recent build (like the OpenSolaris features), then
try SolarisExpress which works nicely on SPARC, at
http://www.opensolaris.org/os/downloads/sol_ex_dvd_1/ (yeah, it's a big
DVD with everything on it). Note that it might not support your older
Ultra5... I know they drew the line somewhere... but don't remember the
details.

Gilles.


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