Re: boot-floppies 3.0.21 for testing
On Thu, Mar 28, 2002 at 02:31:03PM -0500, Adam Di Carlo wrote:
> "Rolf Brudeseth" <rolfb@us.ibm.com> writes:
>
> > Thanks for the feedback. I will limit this e-mail to CHRP machines. Before
> > we get into the technical issues; my question is: Has there been a
> > conscious decision to make Woody support the RS6000/pSeries CHRP systems?
>
> No idea.
We haven't anything from RS/6000 people until the last month or so,
thus we haven't had anyone testing or developing that I've heard of. I
asked for help on a list of powerpc architectures we support about 2-3
months ago, and heard hardly a peep.
>
> > SuSE work on well on many of these machines. If Debian has leveraged of the
> > SuSE work and applied this hardware support to Woody, then there is no need
> > for me to volunteer my help.
>
> Again, not being a CHRP porter or having any familiarity with the
> hardware, no idea.
>
> > However, based on a few observations I tend to doubt that. First,
> > there is no RS6000/pSeries CHRP install documentation that I can
> > find available from Debian.
>
> That doesn't necessarily mean anything. Have you looked at
> http://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/ on the CHRP page to see what it
> says is supported?
>
> > Second, there is only one set of boot-floppies for the CHRP
> > platform. I am in the process of compiling the Linux kernel and I
> > see that one has to specify the processor type; thus, one would have
> > separate images for 7450, POWER3, POWER4, etc.
>
> In that case, I can rule out right now that we can support it in
> Woody. No new packages are being included in woody, and you would
> need the new kernel-image-* packages for this. Furthermore, I'm not
> willing to make a change this drastic at this late date for Woody.
>
> > Third, the rescue floppy does not appear to be in the ELF format.
> >
> > I have some experience in software development; however, I have limited
> > knowledge of how to compile the Linux kernel and build boot/root images. I
> > have been reading various FAQs and HOWTOs and I am slowly making progress.
> > However, if Debian wants to support the RS6000/pSeries, I can help by
> > testing the images on various machines and forward technical questions to
> > the internal Linux group. I am not sure filing a bug with Debian will help
> > if nobody is actively working on adding RS6000/pSeries support.
> >
> > Unfortunately, I am not in a positions to send you any hardware; however,
> > do you know if there a person with Debian that is focusing on adding
> > support to the RS6000/pSeries CHRP systems. If there is, then I could work
> > with that person. Am I better off broadcasting this in the PPC mailing
> > list?
>
> Yes. I've CC'd the list.
>
> > I would also like to point out that this is not an IBM sponsored effort. I
> > just want to help Debian on a personal level.
>
> No problem, and thanks for your ideas and clear exposition of what
> would have to be done.
Yes, it'd be great to support it under the new debian-installer effort. That's
also a fresh start, and a chance for someone to incorporate what SUSE has
learned, as you say.
--
*------v--------- Installing Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 --------v------*
| <http://www.debian.org/releases/woody/installmanual> |
| debian-imac (potato): <http://debian-imac.sourceforge.net> |
| Chris Tillman tillman@voicetrak.com |
| May the Source be with you |
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