Linux on IBM RS/6000 PPC

This page will cover the building of a Linux system on an IBM RS/6000 PowerPC system Model 7248 at 100/120 Mhz.

I've heard that it is possible and that someone has done it, but I've not yet found enough infos on this thing.

If you know something that can be used in this building, please let me know.

OK, nowadays this project has been passed over by bigger and more powerful sites, so it will remain here for the posterity ...

THE HARDWARE

• IBM RS/6000 Model 7248 - 100 Mhz
• 64 Mb RAM
• 2 x 2.1 GB internal scsi disks.
• Integrated SCSI: NCR53C810 rev 1
• Integrated PCI ethernet adapter - PCnet/PCI II AMD 79C970A (rev.18)
• Integrated VGA adapter. S3 Inc Vision 864-P (rev.0)
• Integrated Sound:
• IBM LCD 15" Monitor, shared with an NT Box
• Floppy drive 1.44Mb (Linux says 2.88 ]
• IBM Kbd US
• IBM (Logitech) PS/2 3 Button Mouse
• IBM GXT250P - VGA compatible controller

TO DO / TO GET

• Best Distribution for Linux PPC : Debian - LinuxPPC-1999 - YellowDog ??
• Minimum Package List ( Which RPM ? )
• LinuxPPC 1999 CD - Buy or Download and Burn ?
• Boot image to install LinuxPPC-1999 with this HW

THE STORY

• Read here how I came to this installation.

CHRONOLOGY

• 29 May 2002
  • Big Leap. Reinstalled using a Debian.
• 21 Oct 1999
  • HURRAY!!!Got LinuxPPC R5 installed !
  • Boot Images
  • RS/6000
  • LinuxPPC
  • PReP Station

• 31 Aug 1999
  • Nothing works, out of time. I'll be back later if boss allows.

• 24 Aug 1999
  • Trying new boot Images

• 23 Aug 1999
  • Back to work after Holydays 8-)
  • Scanning newsgroups and mailing lists to get updated
  • Organizing collected informations
  • Found updated boot images and people suffering like me ...

• 22 Jul 1999
  • Downloaded LinuxPPC-1999 and burnt CD
  • No R5 boot image is able to drive SCSI !! 8-(
  • Downloaded Debian Boot image : Same results !!
  • It seems 2.2.x kernels can't handle ncr53c810-0 scsi adapter as 2.1 did.

• 20 Jun 1999
  • Downloaded New Kernels. 2.1.119 Works ! Floppy & Net available.
  • I've also reread PRePStation Docs and made HD bootable !
  • Downloading LinuxPPC 1999 R5 - Hope this helps ( 33Kbps Modem :-( )

• May 1999
  • Distribution: LinuxPPC R4 from linuxppc.org
  • Using an external scsi linux partitioned disk to store distribution.
  • First Install of LinuxPPC R4 !!
  • Floppy boot with manual root=/dev/sda1 noinitrd
  • System works with alpha console, no graphic X , no network, NO FLOPPY !!
  • ... can't even run setup.

DONE

• Boot Floppies. - From linuxppc.org and other sites
  Release 4 works well, but R5 is buggy !
• Distribution Download : LinuxPPC R4 from ftp.linuxppc.org
• Distribution Download : LinuxPPC-1999 from ftp.linuxppc.org
• CD-ROM of LinuxPPC-1999 - Burnt on an AIX system
• Got LinuxPPC-2000 ?? from Magazine (Linux&C)
• Downloaded boot images from Ingvar site
• Downloaded Debian base files

OPEN QUESTIONS

• Is it possible to upgrade from R4 to R5 whitout booting from a new image ?
  If yes, how is it done ? I'm new to Linux, please explain.
• Why did LinuxPPC R4 ship kernel 2.1.57 whith 2.1.24 sources ?
  How can I try to rebuild a kernel using unaligned software ?
  These sources DO NOT fully recompile, due to some PMac intrusions/leftbacks ...
• What about Graphic - How about X on VGA+ ?
• Any hope I can use IBM GXT250P Adapter ? It's still there, but unseen !
• What capacity is the floppy ?
  It should be 1.44Mb, but during boot Linux Kernel says 2.88 !!
  How can I find it out ?
  Which device should I use to format at 2.88 ?

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

How do I boot from Floppy ?
Hit Function key (F5) during boot : before last icon displays.
F1 + SMS Floppy = Graphic System Maintenance
F2 = Select Boot Device
F4 = VGA Mode System Maintenance + SMS Floppy to run tests
F5 = Force Floppy Boot (?)
F8 = Goto Boot Prompt ( Only on New Models with Open Firmware )
How do I setup to boot from disk ?
RTFM :-) - Aoshimak docet !
Is there anywhere a FULL kernel able to run on this HW ?
Maybe, Try 2.1.119 or 2.1.125
What about Mouse ? There IS a 3 button mouse
Upgrade kernel and configure !!

Active Contributors

Community : Contacts / Collaborators / Coworkers / ...

• Francesco Bradascio - Collegue with Intel Linux experience. Thanks for his help in installing and rebuilding kenel.
• - Anonymous friend with my same problems.
• Paulo Henrique Baptista de Oliveira - Someone trying to install Debian Linux on a 43P 133.
• Luigi Trovato - Italian guy facing and solving boot problems
• Dave Belliveau -
• Bob Ferguson -

LinuxPPC Related Sites / Passive Contributors (they aren't aware of me 8-) )

• PReP Station
• LinuxPPC news from beelers - MindSpring Enterprises
• PowerPenguin
• LinuxPPC.org
• LinuxPPC.com
• YellowDog Linux
• Debian also supports PPC
• Pacific HiTech TurboLinux PPC

LinuxPPC Local Resources

• XF86Config-4: My XFree Config File
• Makefile: Makefile for 2.4 Kernel
• Config.in: Config file for 2.4 Kernel
• ibm_e15fb.c: Source for 2.4 Kernel
• ibm_e15fb.h: Source for 2.4 Kernel
• vgaregs.h: Source for 2.4 Kernel
• fbmem.c: Source for 2.4 Kernel
• config-2.4.18.txt: My .config for 2.4 Kernel

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