Hi Duane,Did you install a 2.6 or 2.4 kernel? The 2.6 kernel requires an initial ramdisk. The 2.4 kernel (usually) does not.
The kernel installer leaves a kernel and a tailored initrd in the /boot partition. You need to copy them into the appropriate places inside the MacOS System folder on your HFS partition.
The way I do this is to go to the "alt-F2" console after the new kernel has been installed and just before it reboots. Then I do the following:
modprobe hfs # (see note 1) mkdir /MacOS mount -t hfs /dev/discs/disc0/part6 /MacOS # (see note 2) ls -l /MacOS # (to make sure you've got the right partition mounted!)cp /target/boot/vmlinux /MacOS/System\ Folder/Linux\ Kernels/ # (see note 3) cp /target/boot/initrd.img /MacOS/System\ Folder/Linux\ Ramdisks/ # (see note 3)
sync umount /MacOSThen switch back to the "alt-F1" console and allow the reboot to proceed. This will land you in MacOS with BootX running. You will need to modify the various options to make it pick your new kernel and initrd.
Don't worry about the fact that choosing an initrd will take away the option to tell it where your root partition is: The initrd that was prepared for you by the kernel install stuff has the right code to switch to your real root partition once it has loaded the necessary modules, etc. You just have to point BootX at it and it does the rest.
note 1: You can use "hfsplus" in place of "hfs", if your MacOS partition is HFSplus. I use HFS, personally, because I feel like the Linux HFSplus module is still fairly new and untested. But I'm old and paranoid. You may be braver.
note 2: The installer uses "devfs" (I think that's the right word) device names. You need to figure out which partition has your MacOS system on it, and use that in place of "/dev/..../part6". Shell auto-completion is your friend here!
note 3: BootX gives you a variety of places to put your kernels and initial ramdisk images. I've used the folder-names that I chose when I was getting started. You should use your own choice, of course.
Enjoy! Rick On Sunday, September 26, 2004, at 12:28 AM, Duane Cottle wrote:
I successfully installed Sarge using this week's iso CD. I used BootX toaccess it, as the box won't boot from the CD. After the installation, I deselected the ramdisk according to README and set root to /dev/hda7 likewise. I get kernel panic and "no root" error. When I use the ramdisk, the installer begins again. Has anyone seen this? I prefer BootX over miboot, and yaboot is not an option on OldWorlds AFAICT. Thanks for any advice. Cheers, Duane -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-powerpc-REQUEST@lists.debian.orgwith a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org