sparc32 problems with libc6 and 2.4 kernel

[SHAW ADMIN <sys.admin@shaw.ca>]

I cannot seem to get a 2.4 linux kernel running on this machine. Debian seems to have brought me the closest to acheiving this.

"...
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
  kernel-image-2.4-sparc32-smp: Depends: kernel-image-2.4.27-3-sparc32-smp but it is not installable
  libc6-sparc64: Depends: libc6 (= 2.3.6-13) but 2.2.5-11.8 is to be installed
  libgcc1: Depends: libc6 (>= 2.3.5-1) but 2.2.5-11.8 is to be installed
  sysvinit: Depends: e2fsprogs (>= 1.15-1) but it is not going to be installed
..."

So I try to install 'libc6':

"...
Do you want to upgrade glibc now? [Y/n] y

WARNING: This version of glibc requires that you be running
kernel version 2.4.1 or later. Earlier kernels contained
bugs that may render the system unusable if a modern version
of glibc is installed.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.3.6-13_sparc.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
..."

so it seems that they both depend on eachother, however, libc6 and not requested depends for kernel 2.4.1 or greater from apt.

I have made numerous attempts to shove libc6 in and get the 2.4 kernel after, but all without success.

I have also tried to compile an older 2.4 kernel (possibly without initrd? i dont know). here was my output:

make clean		<OK>
make oldconfig		<OK>
make menuconfig		<FAILED>

"...
>> Unable to find the Ncurses libraries.
>>
>> You must have Ncurses installed in order
>> to use 'make menuconfig'
..."

apt-get install ncurses-base

"...
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
  libc6-sparc64: Depends: libc6 (= 2.3.6-13) but 2.2.5-11.8 is to be installed
  libgcc1: Depends: libc6 (>= 2.3.5-1) but 2.2.5-11.8 is to be installed
  ncurses-base: Depends: libncurses5 (>= 5.4-5) but 5.2.20020112a-7 is to be installed
  sysvinit: Depends: e2fsprogs (>= 1.15-1) but it is not going to be installed
.."


I have been working on this project for some time now, perhaps someone has had any experiences that could help me. The only config option I have not tried is "make config".


Thanks,
Shaun Prince


here are my current specs:

Linux sparc 2.2.20 #1 SMP Tue Apr 13 04:25:42 UTC 2004 sparc unknown

cpu             : ROSS HyperSparc RT625 or RT626
fpu             : ROSS HyperSparc combined IU/FPU
promlib         : Version 3 Revision 2
prom            : 2.25
type            : sun4m
ncpus probed    : 4
ncpus active    : 4

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main non-free contrib
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main non-free contrib