Re: Correct Linux Kernel for Sonnet G4 in PowerMac 7500 with Sarge?
Dear Jeffrey,
OK, had some time to think back a little bit. Here goes:
(1) Check that the BootX "Options" dialogue has the L2 cache setting
turned off. Grabbing the wrong cache settings means the CPU will
try to use your microphone as memory (or maybe your clock). There's
a handy MacOS utility called "Grab G3 Cache Settings" that you can
use to properly set and enable the cache later.
(2) I used 2.4.27 kernels primarily, and played a bit with the benh
source tree. However, I have used 2.6.18 and it works just as well.
(3) What are your ears telling you about the boot process? I know,
I know, assuming you have working ears might be a leap, but I'm not
meaning to offend or upset, just help.
(4) What the previous owner did was totally standard, and the optional
root partition isn't optional. You need a copy of the kernel on the
MacOS partition, and another on the linux partition, and they have to
be duplicates. If I recall correctly, the ramdisk has a 2.4 kernel,
so trying to do both `Use the RAMdisk ` and ` use my specified kernel '
could be a contradiction. When you install a new kernel in oldworld
linux, you have to remember put a copy of it on the MacOS parttion in
"System\ Folder:Linux\ Kernels".
Hoping that makes things better,
Peter Rooney
Jeffrey Rolland wrote:
> On 9 Oct 2007 at 17:18, brian wrote:
>
>>
>> --- Jeffrey Rolland <jrolland@wiremail.org> wrote:
>>
>> > Hello, all!
>> >
>> > I just upgraded my old Power Macintosh 7500 to have
>> > a Sonnet Crescendo/PCI G4
>> > Processor Upgrade Card. The Mac was a dual boot Mac
>> > OS 8.6 / Debian Linux "Sarge" box.
>> ≈
>> > The problem is Debian won't boot at all; I just get
>> > a black screen. I have BootX set up to load
>> > a 2.6.8 kernel (overwrote the exact name of the
>> > kernel); I'm guessing that the kernel is the
>> > problem. It probably only works for a 601 processor.
>> >
>>
>> have you tried the default kernel from sarge ??? that
>> is on the sarge install cd. there were 2.4 and 2.6
>> kernels.
>
> Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I needed to buy a new mouse, and it just came today.
>
> Yes, I tried the default kernels from Sarge. The guy who helped me set up Sarge had
> configured BootX
> to boot from a ramdisk/kernel on the Mac OS partition and gave BootX an optional parameter
> for root's
> ]\parition; I have no idea if this is standard. I know Yellow Dog 3.x had you configure BootX to
> load the kernel on root's parition.
>
>> otherwise, I would suggest ydl2.0 for a rescue disk.
>> (the entire distro fit on 1 cd the last time it did
>> and the mac hardware support is very good)
>>
>> i have not tried your particular configuration but
>> i have had "black screen" on a couple older machines
>> and this was part of my procedure and i did get etch
>> going eventually.
>>
>> however, one old 8500 i had to turn up the bright and
>> contrast all the way and then could barely still
>> see the console at night with all the lights out.
>> however(2) once Xwindows started it was fine.
>
> The monitor has the power light begin flashing, so I don't think that the problem is waiting for
> X-Windows
> to start; I think the kernel isn't loading.
>
>> assuming that this card is compatible with linux (i
>> have no idea) you could really use a decent video
>> card and ide controller (or something) with the g4 ...
>>
>> you may have better luck with osX, xpostfacto, and
>> fink (debian ports to osX), or opendarwin or
>> something.
>>
>> i have a bunch of old macs but even without upgrade
>> cards i would say you have to be really determined
>> to work on them. it has rewards but it is hard work.
>> also takes a lot of patience you cannot be in so
>> much of a hurry upgrading three things at once !
>> (make that 6 things since 601 to g4 is three already)
>>
>> brian
>
> I was really hoping ot hear from one of the people who assured me they had used Sonnet
> cards with Debian; if you're out there (John Schmidt, Peter Rooney, Ralf Saalmüller), please
> give a shout-out.
>
>> > I had the guy throw out the 601 processor, so going
>> > back temporarily isn't an option. I am
>> > having a devil of a time getting the Old World Mac
>> > booted to use the Etch Install CD. (I am
>> > really interested in upgrading to Etch. There is
>> > nothing on the Linux parition I care about
>> > saving.) Floppy booting doesn't work, probably
>> > because of the Sonnet Extension. Etch
>> > doesn't include Ramdisk/Kernel images to use with
>> > BootX.
>> >
>> > >From my previous posting on 10/29/2006, it appears
>> > that people have had success booting
>> > into Sarge with a Sonnet card. So, if someone would
>> > post with a kernel that allows me to boot
>> > into Sarge with the Sonnet card and from where to
>> > download the kernel, I should be able to
>> > handle upgrading to Etch by myself at that point.
>> >
>> > Thank you in advance for any assistance you can
>> > provide.
>> >
>> > Sincerely,
>> > --
>> > Jeffrey Rolland
>> > <jrolland@wiremail.org>
>
> <snip>
>
Jeffrey Rolland wrote:
> On 9 Oct 2007 at 17:18, brian wrote:
>
>>
>> --- Jeffrey Rolland <jrolland@wiremail.org> wrote:
>>
>> > Hello, all!
>> >
>> > I just upgraded my old Power Macintosh 7500 to have
>> > a Sonnet Crescendo/PCI G4
>> > Processor Upgrade Card. The Mac was a dual boot Mac
>> > OS 8.6 / Debian Linux "Sarge" box.
>> ≈
>> > The problem is Debian won't boot at all; I just get
>> > a black screen. I have BootX set up to load
>> > a 2.6.8 kernel (overwrote the exact name of the
>> > kernel); I'm guessing that the kernel is the
>> > problem. It probably only works for a 601 processor.
>> >
>>
>> have you tried the default kernel from sarge ??? that
>> is on the sarge install cd. there were 2.4 and 2.6
>> kernels.
>
> Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I needed to buy a new mouse, and it just came today.
>
> Yes, I tried the default kernels from Sarge. The guy who helped me set up Sarge had
> configured BootX
> to boot from a ramdisk/kernel on the Mac OS partition and gave BootX an optional parameter
> for root's
> ]\parition; I have no idea if this is standard. I know Yellow Dog 3.x had you configure BootX to
> load the kernel on root's parition.
>
>> otherwise, I would suggest ydl2.0 for a rescue disk.
>> (the entire distro fit on 1 cd the last time it did
>> and the mac hardware support is very good)
>>
>> i have not tried your particular configuration but
>> i have had "black screen" on a couple older machines
>> and this was part of my procedure and i did get etch
>> going eventually.
>>
>> however, one old 8500 i had to turn up the bright and
>> contrast all the way and then could barely still
>> see the console at night with all the lights out.
>> however(2) once Xwindows started it was fine.
>
> The monitor has the power light begin flashing, so I don't think that the problem is waiting for
> X-Windows
> to start; I think the kernel isn't loading.
>
>> assuming that this card is compatible with linux (i
>> have no idea) you could really use a decent video
>> card and ide controller (or something) with the g4 ...
>>
>> you may have better luck with osX, xpostfacto, and
>> fink (debian ports to osX), or opendarwin or
>> something.
>>
>> i have a bunch of old macs but even without upgrade
>> cards i would say you have to be really determined
>> to work on them. it has rewards but it is hard work.
>> also takes a lot of patience you cannot be in so
>> much of a hurry upgrading three things at once !
>> (make that 6 things since 601 to g4 is three already)
>>
>> brian
>
> I was really hoping ot hear from one of the people who assured me they had used Sonnet
> cards with Debian; if you're out there (John Schmidt, Peter Rooney, Ralf Saalmüller), please
> give a shout-out.
>
>> > I had the guy throw out the 601 processor, so going
>> > back temporarily isn't an option. I am
>> > having a devil of a time getting the Old World Mac
>> > booted to use the Etch Install CD. (I am
>> > really interested in upgrading to Etch. There is
>> > nothing on the Linux parition I care about
>> > saving.) Floppy booting doesn't work, probably
>> > because of the Sonnet Extension. Etch
>> > doesn't include Ramdisk/Kernel images to use with
>> > BootX.
>> >
>> > >From my previous posting on 10/29/2006, it appears
>> > that people have had success booting
>> > into Sarge with a Sonnet card. So, if someone would
>> > post with a kernel that allows me to boot
>> > into Sarge with the Sonnet card and from where to
>> > download the kernel, I should be able to
>> > handle upgrading to Etch by myself at that point.
>> >
>> > Thank you in advance for any assistance you can
>> > provide.
>> >
>> > Sincerely,
>> > --
>> > Jeffrey Rolland
>> > <jrolland@wiremail.org>
>
> <snip>
>
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