Re: Problems with hfsprogs on G5 Power Macs

[Frank Scheiner <frank.scheiner@web.de>]

On 1/3/19 12:10, Mathieu Malaterre wrote:
> On Sun, Dec 30, 2018 at 9:54 PM Frank Scheiner <frank.scheiner@web.de> wrote:
> > So one actually cannot repair that issue from a G5 - or maybe not even
> > any issue with an HFS at all, because the same also happens when trying
> > to check a clean HFS with `fsck.hfs`. The result is that an existing
> > GRUB installation can no longer be upgraded on a G5 as soon as someone
> > hits that problem. Actually I'm also unsure if my HFS problems were
> > created by an unclean shutdown at all.
> >
> > One could solve this by recreating the HFS partition from scratch and
> > restoring the contents (incl. file blessing and file types (i.e.
> > `tbxi`)). Or maybe by rewriting a `dd`ed image from a clean HFS - if you
> > have one at hand. Trying to repair the partition with `fsck.hfs` from a
> > Mac mini G4 (via SATA to USB adapter) worked for me also. But all these
> > workarounds are unhandy to the least.
>
> The way you describe this bug makes me think of a 64bits vs 32bits
> issue. Next time this happen to you, use a foreign powerpc
> installation to run ppc32 binary on your G5.

That's a good idea and I think we don't even have to wait for the next 
time this issue hits me, as even for a clean HFS the `fsck.hfs` 
segfaults. The significance of the result of such a test will not be the 
same as for checking a borked HFS, but could show a tendency.

Say, will a powerpc64 kernel from arch ppc64 work with a userland from 
arch powerpc or do I need the powerpc64 kernel from arch powerpc? Or are 
these kernels actually identical?

Because such a configuration I could setup easily by just changing the 
root FS that the machine uses when network booting.

Cheers,
Frank