ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

Ben52646 · 2010-07-20 02:36:01

First of all, I would like to note that I am relatively new to linux. So, if possible, please keep directions as simple and as step by step as possible.

Now that that's out of the way, here is what I want to do. I want to install ArchLinux on a PowerPC G5 Mac. Assuming thats possible, here are my specs (Sorry if I over did it):

Hardware Overview:
Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (3.0)
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.4f1

ATA Bus:
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-109:
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-109
Revision: A912
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal
Low Power Polling: Yes
Power Off: No
Firmware Revision: A912
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Built-in Sound Card:
Devices:
Texas Instruments TAS3004:
Inputs and Outputs:
Line Level Input:
Controls: Left, Right
Playthrough: No
PluginID: TAS
Headphones:
Controls: Mute, Left, Right
PluginID: TAS
Internal Speakers:
Controls: Mute, Master
PluginID: TAS
Line Level Output:
Controls: Mute, Left, Right
PluginID: TAS
Crystal Semiconductor CS84xx:
Inputs and Outputs:
S/PDIF Digital Input:
Controls: Mute
Playthrough: No
PluginID: Topaz
S/PDIF Digital Output:
Controls: Mute
PluginID: Topaz
Formats:
PCM 16:
Bit Depth: 16
Bit Width: 16
Channels: 2
Mixable: Yes
Sample Rates: 32 KHz, 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz
PCM 24:
Bit Depth: 24
Bit Width: 32
Channels: 2
Mixable: Yes
Sample Rates: 32 KHz, 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz
AC3 16:
Bit Depth: 16
Bit Width: 16
Channels: 2
Mixable: No
Sample Rates: 32 KHz, 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz

ATI Radeon 9600:
Chipset Model: ATY,RV351
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x4150
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-A58504-112
Displays:
HF237:
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected

USB Bus:
Host Controller Location: Built In USB
Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBOHCI
PCI Device ID: 0x0040
PCI Revision ID: 0x0001
PCI Vendor ID: 0x106b
Bus Number: 0x08

Network:
Ethernet:
Type: Ethernet
Hardware: Ethernet
BSD Device Name: en0
IPv4:
Configuration Method: DHCP
Interface Name: en0
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
DHCP Server Responses:
Lease Duration (seconds): 0
DHCP Message Type: 0x05
Proxies:
FTP Passive Mode: Yes
Ethernet:
Media Options: Full Duplex, flow-control
Media Subtype: 1000baseT
Hardware Type: Broadcom 5421

Can I using the guide located here ( http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners%27_Guide ) to install ArchLinux on my particular computer.
If not, can someone tell me how to install ArchLinux on my computer. If so, is there anything, at all, that I need to do different than what the guide says?

P.S. any tips for installing ArchLinux on my particular computer would be great AND could someone give me a link to the download page for ArchLinux for PowerPC?

Thanks,
Ben

Last edited by Ben52646 (2010-07-20 02:37:53)

BinkyTheClown · 2010-07-20 02:47:15

See this http://archlinuxppc.org/

Ben52646 · 2010-07-20 03:02:54

Okay, so I went to this site to download ArchLinux for PowerPC: http://archlinuxppc.org/download/

Can I use this guide to install ArchLinux on PowerPC: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners%27_Guide

Thanks,
Ben

BinkyTheClown · 2010-07-20 03:16:48

See also http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ins … _Linux_PPC

Last edited by BinkyTheClown (2010-07-20 03:17:25)

Ben52646 · 2010-07-20 17:17:31

Okay, so I took a look at this guide ( http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ins … _Linux_PPC ) and I'm a little confused...
Here's where I'm stuck:

I have 8.0 GB of free space, on my hard drive, for ArchLinux. The rest of the hard drive's space is being used by Mac OS X. I'm currently in the blue screen titled "arch linux installation". I see a grey box titled "main menu". to start off, i assume that i choose the option "prepare hard drive". The new menu that pops up gives me 4 choices:

auto-prepare (erases the entire hard drive)
partition hard drives
set filesystem mountpoints
return to main menu

I am guessing that for my particular situation, I want to choose "partition hard drives" (because I definitely don't want to choose option one, because I want to keep Mac OS X on my hard drive).

After that option is selected, I get a new grey box saying "available disks". Under that I have only one option which is "sda". I then hit enter. the next grey box says "select the disk you want to partition". Under that I have two options:

/dev/sda
OTHER

I then highlight "/dev/sda" and hit enter.

The next grey box starts with (I say starts with because to type all the information in the window would take forever (and it's probably not necessary)), "Now you'll be put into the mac-fdisk program where you can partition your hard drive". After that it says "EXAMPLE:" and it gives me an example. I then hit enter (because my only option is "OK").

Now, on the bottom of the screen a black line appears with this text in it:

dev/sda
command (? for help):

This is where I need help. How do I set up ArchLinux on my hard drive without deleting the current Mac OS X on my hard drive (keep in mind that I do have 8.0GB on free space on my hard drive). What commands do I use to set this up?

P.S. I would like to use all 8.0GB of that free space for ArchLinux, so, could you give me the commands with the, amount of space to use for each partition that I will be creating, already filled in? Also, please keep responses as basic and as step by step as possible.

Thanks for the help, (I really appreciate it)
Ben

valium97582 · 2010-07-26 15:50:21

I cannot help you, but I think you first should try to install Archlinux on a i686 or x86_64, because it is more difficult to install Arch on a PPC. After that, it will be easier to install your Archlinux PPC system. Anyway, you could read the fdisk documentation and ask on the IRC channel.

Hope I helped you some way.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-07-20 02:36:01

ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

#2 2010-07-20 02:47:15

Re: ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

#3 2010-07-20 03:02:54

Re: ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

#4 2010-07-20 03:16:48

Re: ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

#5 2010-07-20 17:17:31

Re: ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

#6 2010-07-26 15:50:21

Re: ArchLinux and PowerPC G5 Mac ?!?!

Board footer