Arch Linux

Xi0N

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From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

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Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

Hi all!
Im trying to install arch in a machine that now has Ubuntu 8.04 running on it without any problem. It already has been running Ubuntu since 7.04 and i never got any problem similar to what im going to explain.
Originally, this machine was a small firewalll with a 800 Mhz CPU and 128 Mb SDRAM (133Mhz), two lan interfaces, VGA output and a 40 Gb (upgraded to 80 Gb) 2,5 Inches Hard disk. Totally sweet for testing and learning a lot of console stuff for somebody like me (exclusively using linux since one year and a half).
I allways managed it via SSH, never directly through the VGA Output (only while installing the system) and i want to install arch on it.
I downloaded the last archlinux-2008.06-ftp-i686.img and prepared a USB with it for installing (This unit does not have CD/DVD unit, so i must do it through the only USB port that has, and lets me boot from, actually)
I did: sudo dd if=archlinux-2008.06-ftp-i686.img of=/dev/sdf
And then i attempted to boot the arch live. (Itryed later with bothe normal and IDE one)
After some minutes, iget this error message:

This Kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU:
 cmov

Unable to boot - please use a Kernel appropiated for your CPU

And is impossible to go on from here.

I want to ask if there is still any solution for installing Arch some other way.

I willl wait for your replyes.

Cheers!!

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

I tryed to update the Bios to a newer one, in order to fix this issue:

I have been able to update from a 2003 Bios ti the latest one, from july 2004, but i still have the same issue.................
Still no luck...

fwojciec

Member

Registered: 2007-05-20

Posts: 1,411

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

What sort of a processor do you have in there?  Arch is i686 optimized, so it only works on Pentium II or later processors.

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

bigboss@OuterHeaven:~$ head /proc/cpuinfo 
processor    : 0
vendor_id    : CentaurHauls
cpu family    : 6
model        : 7
model name    : VIA Samuel 2
stepping    : 3
cpu MHz        : 798.995
cache size    : 64 KB
fdiv_bug    : no
hlt_bug        : no

What is strange is that when i login through SSH to this machine (Ubuntu 8.04 Server) i get this message:

Linux OuterHeaven 2.6.24-19-generic #1 SMP Fri Jul 11 23:41:49 UTC 2008 i686

Clearly says it is a i686 machine, am i wrong?

fwojciec

Member

Registered: 2007-05-20

Posts: 1,411

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

Quick googling unearthed this link -- relevant quote:

To my surprise my machine identifies itself as i686, when asked with "uname -m". This is shurely wrong, since the VIA samuel 2 processor lacks one importent instruction: All Pre-'Nehemiah' core C3s are missing an instruction that is present on proper i686 chips! The instruction in question is CMOV, which may be present in code compiled for an i686 platform.

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

Ok, so, does this clearly mean "Sorry, no arch for you"?

Shit.....

Thanks anyway...

fwojciec

Member

Registered: 2007-05-20

Posts: 1,411

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

There was an i586 version of Arch at one stage, but I don't think this project is alive anymore.  Some good alternatives might be Slackware or Gentoo, there is also a i586 version of Crux available -- somewhat more bare-bones and manual compared to Arch, but very similar in overall design and philosophy.  Crux, IMO, would be awesome for tinkering and learning -- if that's what you looking for.

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

Well, anyway thanks for your dedicated help and for minding my problem
I am really interested in using arch because of the high updated software that provides (unline Ubuntu) but i think that if i cannot use arch, i haven't any reason for changing anymore... that was my ilusion, and i really appreciate your recommendations, but i will stick to the distro i have been using until now......
What really disturbs me is that my cpu is cheating ubuntu and saying that is an i686 CPU while is still a i586 one... and i do absolutely all the things i need.. from installing, also compiling... etc...
Anyway.... thanks again!!

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: Unable to boot, please use a kernel appropiated for your CPU

Hi again!
I finally became an Arch user, but, unfortunately, not with this machine...

Which distro do you think would be a nice one to use in this 128 MB SDRAM, and 700 Mhz machine? (it's actually a firewall)

I was thinking in Damn Small linux, but the kernel is a bit outdated (2.4) .... What do you think about Debian?

I currently use Ubuntu Server 8.04 through SSH (No xorg installed at all) because of obvious resource reasons.

Any oppinion will be welcome