Re: Moving an install between architectures
Hello Kelly!
I've moved my personal desktop system from i386 (Pentium III) to ppc
(Power Mac G4) to ppc64 (Power Mac G5) to amd64 (AMD Phenom 2). I used
Gentoo linux though.
All user data, configuration files, databases, documents etc. works like
a charm on another architecture. I transferred by whole home directory
without changing anything and got the same desktop on the other system.
Some files, especially in /etc, will have to be adapted for them to work.
APM disks are fine on any architecture, but not as boot media. Also, a
stock kernel (like on Debian, I guess) will likely not have support for
APM compiled in if not on powerpc.
On Gentoo, I still have a HDD that is APM formated and I can use it
normally. On Debian you would have to compile your own kernel for it to
work.
Also, you will require a second HDD/SDD/*bootable media to boot from,
and then you can access the APM disk from the running system.
On Gentoo, mac-fdisk was building fine (with Gentoo-specific patches) on
my amd64 system. I looked for mac-fdisk on Debian i386/amd64, but it is
not available except on powerpc.
With parted there is a working alternative though.
So, yes, partly it will work.
No, installing on top will not work, due to the Apple Partition Map –
not bootable on Intel machines.
The same is true when trying to switch between BIOS and UEFI on
Intel/AMD64: it can be done, but not without headache and a lot of
getting into it (reading, losing hair). That is due to BIOS requires MBR
(Master Boot Record) partitioning, UEFI required GPT (GUID Partition
Table). Otherwise there will be boot problems.
It will work relatively easy to use a new HDD/SSD for the new
architecture, install the OS of your choice (Debian). Then build a
custom kernel, include the partitioning scheme for the old HDD, like
APM, and use the old HDD as your /home and /var partitions.
Be carefull with RAID configurations, get them right in /etc/*.
Good luck!
Andreas aka Linux User #330250
Am 2016-01-04 um 18:42 schrieb Kelly Venechanos:
> I have a Power Mac G5 running Debian Jessie at the moment. I've been
> using it as my primary email (IMAP) server and name server for my home
> network along with a couple of other services. I have it configured
> with RAID 1 and an encrypted partition for system (which was very
> interesting to configure). It's one of two G5 Power Macs I bought a
> couple of years ago from my local Goodwill Computer Works store.
>
> Yesterday, the logic board died on me. I ended up swapping the
> hardware (RAM, drives, GPU) into the other G5 Power Mac I own, and
> everything is running well again. However, I am concerned for the future.
>
> If my backup (and now current) G5 dies, I would have to move the hard
> drives and data into an Intel based system. It looks like Intel based
> machines can read APM (Apple Partition Map). What I don't know is if I
> would need to transfer the data to an intermediary system and then
> build a whole new OS configuration for an Intel machine or if I could
> just install Intel Debian (Jessie) on top of the existing partitions
> without losing all of my user data. Could doing the latter (installing
> on top) work?
>
> There's a part of me which wants to try it for fun if nothing else,
> but I thought you guys might know. (Obviously, I would have to backup
> my data prior either way.)
>
>
Reply to: