Bug#382787: failed boot on RS/6000 H50
Package: installation-reports
Debian-installer-version: as supplied on Debian 3.1r2 net-install CD
uname -a: didn't get that far
Date: 2005-08-10
Method: CD-rom from Debian 3.1r2 as-is and altered per instructions on
debian-ppc mailing list
Machine: IBM RS/6000 H50
Processor:dual PowerPC 604e
Memory:128 MB
Root Device: didn't get that far; intended to be /dev/sda
Root Size/partition table: didn't get that far
Output of lspci and lspci -n: didn't get that far
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot worked: [E]
Configure network HW: [ ]
Config network: [ ]
Detect CD: [ ]
Load installer modules: [ ]
Detect hard drives: [ ]
Partition hard drives: [ ]
Create file systems: [ ]
Mount partitions: [ ]
Install base system: [ ]
Install boot loader: [ ]
Reboot: [ ]
Comments/Problems:
The purpose of this phase of install is for my vendor to confirm that
linux will run on the H50 prior to shipping it. All we want is to get
some indication that linux will work. Even getting the plain kernel to
load without parameters and then panic with no init would be OK. Don't
need to actually run the installer until I get the unit here. The
vendor is not a unix person and not a command-line type; they
normally only run the diagnostics and then ship.
The CD as is doesn't boot. Debian-PPC mailing list said that the
problem was that the RS/6000 looks for some boot stuff in an extra
directory and that yaboot looks for its config in /etc/yaboot.conf.
I made these changes and burned a new CD calling it -alt.iso
It still doesn't boot.
Manually from the OF command line boot cdrom:,\install\yaboot
works, but yaboot is looking on /dev/sda:/etc for yaboot.conf instead of
the CDROM.
Manually from the OF command line boot cdrom:,\install\powerpc\vmlinux
get error 'claim failed' printed right after the command line on the
same line. No other change to the display.
In an attempt to isolate the problem, have also tried to boot the LFS
live-cd which uses a parameterless monolithic kernel and also got the
'claim failed' error. I don't know what is generating the message.
I have suggested to my vendor that from the yaboot boot: promt he enter
boot cdrom:,/install/powerpc/vmlinux
followed by all the parameters that the yaboot.conf shows for the
install image, and including video=ofonly. I've never seen yaboot and
the manual boot section in the documentation is rather sparse.
He has been using a video card with keyboard. I've suggested that he
remove the video card and use the terminal on ttyS0.
I haven't heard back on these last two suggestions due to the weekend.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Doug Tutty.
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