these instrutions are subject to change. I improve it as I see fit and/or when I get a constructive feedback.
1- Get ready:
1a- Install BootX.
This is the boatloader you need. There is Quik and miboot as alternatives. I strongly recommend BootX: This is the easiest of all but NEED MacOS installed... at the least a minimal installation is enough. Get BootX from there - OR - from YDL3 CD1.
<http://penguinppc.org/~benh/>
Download the following kernel and place it in 'Linux Kernel' folder. The reason for this is because the kernel provided by TSS on these CDs will NOT boot on (any?) OldWorld macs...
This one must be placed IN System Folder (alongside Extentions, Preferences....) for bootx to use.
http://www.shiner.info/?files/Yellow%20 ... 204/kernel
filename= vmlinux-2.6.8-1.ydl.7
size= 4526K
date= 10-01-2004 04:54
description=This is the normal kernel for OW working with YDL4 try this with miboot install. Let us know if it works for you ???
1b- Copy 'ramdisk.image.gz' off YellowDog4 install CD1 into your MacOS System Folder - OR - wherever you want it.
2- Set!
2a- Setup bootx to use the new kernel and ramdisk.
2b- You'll want to put your video= configuration in the "More Kernel arguments" field. There is sooo many variables Im not going to detail'em all in here so I'll post a link instead
<http://www.jonh.net/lppcfom-serve/cache/1043.html>
2c- Other BootX options:
Use the 'Grab G3 Cache Setting" mini-app if appropriate. You will find it within BootX's folder. Then check the corresponding checkbox in "Option" dialog.
I don't think you'll need/want any of the others (No video drivers, Force SCSI on.....)
A 'Guest' suggested to use these RAM Disk size setting:
---> Set RAM Disk size to 18192
I found that the default value does work fine with the "text-install" mode (and things goes faster...) Also, it seam to throw away some "Out of RAM" problems....To use this mode, insert "text" in the "More Kernel Arguments" field.
3- Go!
Insert CD1 in CD-ROM and click 'Linux' Anaconda will launch and guide you through the installation process. You may enjoy the "text-mode" install as its faster and use less RAM. This eam to throw away some "out of RAM" problems....
3a- Partitionning:
You WANT a /boot partition. 100MB will be just right. You can live without one but some kernel configurations (upon updating) could go kaboom.. Try to place swap at the END of the partition table, this will ensure good performance... Also, it is wise to setup a /home partition. This is what you are going to use to store your cool files and such.
NOTE: after anaconda is gone copying files to the HD, it will crash. Have no worry, its only because its looking for yaboot / macosx stuffs but there is none on a OldWorld mac so it crash...Its no big deal just reboot it'll be fine. After startup, you should meet the 'firstboot' setup dialog allowing you to perform the last steps of installations.
Post-Install Configurations:
1- [might not be necessary - try without this step first] Copy the initrd-2.6.8-1.ydl.7.img file from in /boot to the MacOS side of things. You can either mount the macos partition from within linux and copy it straight in -OR- you could email it to yourslef and retreive it from MacOS. Use this file as a RAMDISK in BootX. Make sure the version match the kernel's one (2.6.x-1 is the version)
2a- You will meet a text-mode login, login as root and add your 'user' account:
]# useradd <username> [ENTER]
]# passwd <username> [ENTER]
NOTE: If you have a /home partition and wish to 'restore' your user profile instead of wiping it all, append -d to useradd:
]# useradd -D <username> [ENTER]
2b- If you want a graphical login (GDM) instead of a DOS-like text login-prompt:
]# nano /etc/inittab [ENTER]
look for this line:
id:3:initdefault:
change '3' to '5' save and quit. Next boot will be all set!
6- Configure yum:
Replace /etc/yum.conf file for the one at:
[url]<http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pipermail/yellowdog-general/2004-December/017330.html>[/url]
NOTE: You may leave the freshrpms sections apart but I recommend you keep'em.
The GranFinal:
Since we (OldWorld users) don't use yaboot and since YDL4 is designed to be used with yaboot on NewWorld macs, updating the kernel invoke a few extra steps that the NewWorld (lucky) users dont have to do. Its just that we'll have to manually copy a file to the MacOS side of things. The file is vmlinux located in /boot:
- vmlinux-<KERNEL_VERSION>
vmlinux MUST be copied in "Linux Kernel" folder on the MacOS partition/disk so that BootX can use it.
UPDATE: kernel 2.6.10 is out. yum will update correctly after a minor modification to a config file. Append this line in the top section of /etc/yum.conf file(right under "pkgpolicy=newest" line)
exclude=kernel-g5 kernel-g5-smp
NEW NOTES:
*The 2.6.10 kernel produces some funky lines in the consoles but work fine in graphical mode. My card is a 'ATY Mach64'... I still use 2.6.9 for this reason.
*If using 2.6.10, some oldworld macs need to invoke a kernel module and add a line in /etc/modprobe.conf before using the bmac interface (ethernet adapter found in most beige G3s):
alias eth0 bmac in /etc/modprobe.conf
and
/sbin/modprobe bmac to invoke the kernel module
Thats all folks. Enjoy!
If you spot something wrong in this article (typos, eroneous informations... whatever) please let me know I'll update accordingly.
im not a tuxpert. Does that Performa's CD-ROM a SCSI or ATA one? It smell like it want a ATA... but I don't know.