PPC: 7.0: Kernel does not start on some models
Support knowledgebase (ppc70_boot_fails)
Applies to
Kernel: Version 2.2.16
SuSE Linux PowerPC: Version 7.0
Symptom
You try to install SuSE Linux 7.0 on an older Mac. This fails and you get an error message with the last line saying:
Console Colour dummy device 80x25
So far, the following machines are known to be affected:
- Umax Aegis
- Apple Powermac 4400
- Motorola Starmax 4160
Until now, it seems this phenomenon exclusively concerns computers with a so-called Tansania board.
In case you should encounter a similar problem with another Mac, please note the additional solution at the end of this article.
Cause
For reasons which have not been understood exhaustively, the kernel is not able to initialize the frame buffer.
Solution
For the time being, the following method has proved successful for the computer models listed above:
On the CD1 the following files can be found in the directory /suse/images
:
vmlinux.benh.gz
k_benh.rpm
Copy vmlinux.benh.gz
to your Linuxboot partition (the HFS partition). Unpack the file with the tool MacGzip (located on the CD in the directory /suseboot/Tools/
). Rename this unpacked kernel to vmlinux
and replace the original kernel with this new kernel.
Activate the option No video driver
in BootX.
Now it should be possible to booting or install.
After completing the installation the respective RPM package needs to be installed. For this purpose, mount the CD with the root
identity, using the following command:
mount /cdrom
If this works without generating any error messages, run the following command:
rpm -i /cdrom/suse/images/k_benh.rpm
Update:
In the meantime we have placed a kernel on the Net, for which the option No video driver
in BootX does not need to be activated. For test purposes this kernel can be found here:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/ppc/kernel/2.2.18/vmlinux-2.2.18-0.gz
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/ppc/kernel/2.2.18/k_pmac-2.2.18-1.ppc.rpm
Feedback on this subject is appreciated. Please use the address mentioned below.
Additional solution
In case other models with ATI graphics generate similar error messages, try the following kernel parameter in BootX (separate from existing parameters with space):
video=atyfb:vmode:17
With this option the kernel is forced to open the ATI frame buffer with a resolution of 1024x768. If necessary, use the value 10 instead of 17 in order to set the resolution to 800x600.
Keywords: PPC, 7.0, INSTALLATION, ROOT, CONSOLE, BOOTX
Categories:
Power Macintosh
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)
SDB-ppc70_boot_fails, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany
- Version: 27. Nov 2000
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 30. Jan 2001 by olh (sdb_gen 1.40.0)