Re: Can't install, no KBD (G4 Cube)
It sounds as if you used the hd-media images. My understanding is that
if you want to install over the net, you should use the netboot images
instead of the hd-media images. (Netboot does not necessarily mean
that the images needed to boot is fetched from the net at boot time).
The hd-media version of the installer expect to find the files needed
locally.
Correct. My first choice was for a net install, but since the
documentation for net-install implied that a tftp server was
required, I opted to try the hd-media kit.
I downloaded the kit. I Had to hunt up a yaboot executable since it
wasn't in the kit.
I then went and hunted up the ''business-card'' iso image (also not
in the kit)
The problems came when the hd-media installer couldn't find the
image on an HFS+ filesystem.
That the hd-media installer doesn't support even _ONE_ filesystem
native to the machine it's intended to run from is absurd. What is
causing this? It's clearly not the size of the kernel. And it can't
be the size of the download since the _minimal_ download for a sarge
hd-media install is 99+ MB (businesscard.iso)
[...snip...]
If you want to be able to install from hd-media and have only HFS+
partitions, that cannot be read by the installer, you could use a
usb-stick and put the powerpc/hd-media/boot.img.gz on it (as suggested
in
You assume I have one. I do not. I have a network connection. I'd
like to use available hw.
[...snip...]
I gave up went back to the the woody installer. It has the following
compelling attributes:
1. There is a single-machine, no-iso, no-tftp installation option
(http://people.debian.org/~branden/ibook.html)
2. A complete kit is downloadable from a single url--including
yaboot (http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/woody/main/disks-
powerpc/current/new-powermac/)
3. It supports the native filesystem for the machine you're
installing it on (HFS+)
4. The kit is relatively small (~7M)
5 It works.
IMO, the sarge/etch installer represents a step backwards until it
also has these attributes.
The netboot images provides [1]-[4] except for [3]. But [3] is
uninteresting if you want [4].
Perhaps the installaion manual did not provide a clear description of
the intended purpose of the netboot images?
Let's go through these:
1. The manual gives no mention of launching a download install from
the HD. See manual comments below.
2. I could find _NO_ complete kit. None of the kits in http://
http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/installer-powerpc/current/
images/powerpc /contains the yaboot bootstrap (only one contains a
yaboot.conf). Contrast this with (http://http.us.debian.org/debian/
dists/woody/main/disks-powerpc/current/new-powermac/). Likewise,
BootX and quik bootstraps(for oldworld machines) are missing. None
of the kits have a README indicating constraints or listing other
components required for success, or where to obtain them.
3. I would think HFS+ support would be useful for loading the ram-
disk from an HFS+ filesystem.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- ----
Manual comments.
There are precious few links to the actual repositories. Every time
a file to be downloaded is mentioned, a link to the repository
containing it would be welcome.
Page http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst (Installing Debian GNU/
Linux via the Internet) give's two options:
- minimal CD
- Floppy disks
There is absolutely no mention of using HD partition provided by a co-
resident OS.
Likewise section 4.5.2 :4.5.2. Hard Disk Installer Booting for
NewWorld Macs (http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/powerpc/
ch04s05.html.en#files-newworld)
makes no mention of accessing either iso images from an HFS+
partition. Neither does the list of installation files include the
ram-disk (what was root.bin, is it now root.img? ).
The entire Network install section in the powerpc's manual reads:
(http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/powerpc/
ch02s02.html.en#id2515543)
>>>>
2.2.5. Network
You can also boot your system over the network.
Diskless installation, using network booting from a local area
network and NFS-mounting of all local filesystems, is another option.
After the operating system kernel is installed, you can install the
rest of your system via any sort of network connection (including PPP
after installation of the base system), via FTP or HTTP.
<<<<<<<<
So, yeah, I'd say it doesn't provide a clear description.
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