Bug#269208: Installer report (sparc)
Package: installation-reports
INSTALL REPORT
Debian-installer-version: rc1, 2 Aug 2004, from ftp.debian.org.
uname -a: Linux eclipse 2.4.26-sparc64 #1 Sun Jun 20 02:39:17 PDT 2004 sparc64 GNU/Linux
Date: 30 Aug 2004
Method: CD-ROM installer (using cdrom-mini.iso), followed by net install
(http, not proxied)
Machine: Sun Ultra 5
Processor: TI UltraSparc IIi (Sabre)
Memory: 256M
Root Device: /dev/hda
Root Size/partition table: 9.1G drive, approx. 8.4G root partition (/dev/hda1)
followed by approx. 700M swap partition (/dev/hda2)
Output of lspci and lspci -n:
bab@eclipse:~> lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Ultra IIi
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Simba Advanced PCI Bridge (rev 13)
0000:00:01.1 PCI bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Simba Advanced PCI Bridge (rev 13)
0000:01:01.0 Bridge: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. EBUS (rev 01)
0000:01:01.1 Ethernet controller: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Happy Meal (rev 01)
0000:01:02.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage Pro 215GP (rev 5c)
0000:01:03.0 IDE interface: Silicon Image, Inc. (formerly CMD Technology Inc) PCI0646 (rev 03)
bab@eclipse:~> lspci -n
0000:00:00.0 0600: 108e:a000
0000:00:01.0 0604: 108e:5000 (rev 13)
0000:00:01.1 0604: 108e:5000 (rev 13)
0000:01:01.0 0680: 108e:1000 (rev 01)
0000:01:01.1 0200: 108e:1001 (rev 01)
0000:01:02.0 0300: 1002:4750 (rev 5c)
0000:01:03.0 0101: 1095:0646 (rev 03)
bab@eclipse:~>
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot worked: [E]
Configure network HW: [O]
Config network: [O]
Detect CD: [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives: [O]
Partition hard drives: [O]
Create file systems: [O]
Mount partitions: [O]
Install base system: [O]
Install boot loader: [O]
Reboot: [O]
Comments/Problems:
Mostly fine. The only problem was with the initial boot: the linux kernel
would begin to load and moments later the screen would go blank with an "out
of range" error.
It turns out the solution was to boot with video="atyfb:1024x768@60" (or
some other appropriate resolution) at the debian-installer SILO prompt.
I actually found this in the gentoo install docs through some googling
(http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-sparc-faq.xml). I then had to supply
this again at the SILO prompt after debian-installer rebooted, and then
finally add it to my /etc/silo.conf once my system was running.
It is worth noting that the sparc was connected to a PC LCD monitor (the one
I usually use for my i386 box).
Until I found the gentoo docs this was a rather vexing problem, since it hit
at the very beginning and so you had no feedback whatsoever -- you could not
even watch the kernel messages as the machine booted up. I'd suggest that
this is worth an entry in the troubleshooting section of the sparc installer
docs (section 5.3), in the event that other people also try to hook their
sparc box up to an ordinary PC monitor.
Thanks - Ben.
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