Re: Debian on PowerBook 3400c
On 1/9/26 12:01 PM, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz wrote:
>
> Hi Stan,
>
> On Fri, 2026-01-09 at 17:45 +0000, Stan Johnson wrote:
>> If possible, please change "CONFIG_SCSI_MESH=m" to "CONFIG_SCSI_MESH=y"
>> in the default Debian Linux config file for Old World Macs. That would
>> allow the default Debian Linux kernel/initrd to boot on a PowerBook
>> 3400c without any need to recompile.
>
> Is there a reason why the kernel cannot load the driver from the initrd?
>
I don't know of any reason why specifying "CONFIG_SCSI_MESH=m" shouldn't
work when using an initrd. I only know that it didn't. I use a custom
kernel with "CONFIG_SCSI_MESH=y", and my PB 3400c is not a primary
system, so this isn't critical, just a request since I would like to be
able to test default Debian kernels. If there are others who think it
should be working, perhaps a bug report would make more sense, though it
doesn't appear to be a kernel bug, but instead a Debian configuration issue.
Perhaps the module that needs to be accessed when "CONFIG_SCSI_MESH=m"
is specified can't be accessed because the O'Hare chip doesn't yet know
how to access the rootfs at that point in order to load the module.
That's just a guess.
>> Also, unless there is a reason why it is needed (e.g. on PowerPC systems
>> that use GRUB?), please also remove "CONFIG_BOOTX_TEXT=y" to allow BootX
>> to be used to boot the default Debian Linux kernel/initrd on a PowerBook
>> 3400c.
>
> It can certainly be disabled provided that it doesn't have any impact on
> NewWorld PowerMacs. We would disable it on "powerpc" only, i.e. 32-bit
> PowerPC.
I don't know why the CONFIG_BOOTX_TEXT option exists, who uses it, or
why it is ever needed for 32-bit PowerPC systems. All I know is that it
keeps BootX from working on Old World Macs. Perhaps someone on the
mailing list will know whether it is a feature that benefits New World
Mac users.
thanks for your help
>
> Adrian
>
> --
> .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
> : :' : Debian Developer
> `. `' Physicist
> `- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
>
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