The PowerPC Debian Wiki

[z970]

What do you think the likelihood is that this ever gets fixed? I believe this issue plagues the same GPU's in OpenBSD, as well.

Certainly, the likelihood that this gets fixed in Debian 11 is much higher if it's reported as a bug / alerted to the mailing list. Not all of the developers have all the machines and possible configurations, so it's very important that users take part in fixing issues when neccessary.
[doublepost=1563488323][/doublepost]

...It may be possible that the rest have the same issue, and we can just slot them all as incompatible with Ubuntu 14.04+ / Debian 8+.

Now this is interesting.

This guy has 16.04 on his Mini running fine just by setting the AGP mode to -1. Maybe there's less problems with the free firmware...?

 

[swamprock]

FYI, sid is now the repo for testing Bullseye, the next major release of Debian, which is years off (of course). If anyone is still using the unstable repos, the welcome text will reflect this ("Welcome to Debian bullseye/sid") as well as hardinfo.

Here's a shot of my iBook G4 1.33 running sid, now with a SSD-

 

[z970]

I'm waiting for the Ports team to release a Debian 11 image so I can update the Sid Installation Guide. At the moment, it's just kind of behind the times, especially given all the recent changes here.

Rest assured, it will get its due.

 

[swamprock]

I'm waiting for the Ports team to release a Debian 11 image so I can update the Sid Installation Guide. At the moment, it's just kind of behind the times, especially given all the recent changes here.

Rest assured, it will get its due.

It may be a while. It's still early and there are still quite a lot of missing pieces in the new sid. Don't install anything requiring Mono, for instance. It'll take a lot of manual digging and ripping out of problematic libraries if you do.

Stick with Buster for now. Luckily, I haven't run across anything that breaks my install by switching back to the snapshot repo for now.

 

[z970]

Much improved readability and legibility. No more squinting.

Also added guide for browsing with the iOS Safari user agent. No resource hogging allowed.

 

[sparty411]

Hey guys, I'd like to report that Debian Wheezy works quite well on my iBook G3 A1005. GPU hardware acceleration, and suspend work just fine. I am able to install newer software by using the Jessie repo's, but I'm feeling ambitious now. If someone with more Linux knowledge could tell me how to hold back the packages that keep GPU acceleration working, that would be nice. It would probably be possible to upgrade to Jessie, then to Sid from there, if I just knew which packages to hold back, and how to go about doing it.

Edit - Nevermind, I've been told by someone who has tried this, that it will not work.

 

[z970]

Hey guys, I'd like to report that Debian Wheezy works quite well on my iBook G3 A1005. GPU hardware acceleration, and suspend work just fine. I am able to install newer software by using the Jessie repo's, but I'm feeling ambitious now. If someone with more Linux knowledge could tell me how to hold back the packages that keep GPU acceleration working, that would be nice. It would probably be possible to upgrade to Jessie, then to Sid from there, if I just knew which packages to hold back, and how to go about doing it.

Edit - Nevermind, I've been told by someone who has tried this, that it will not work.

If you install Jessie packages onto Wheezy, you might bork your install with a bunch of new unfulfilled dependencies.

If you plan on staying with a specific stable release, this is not recommended.

Why not spruce your DE up a little?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-powerpc-linux-wiki.2178457/page-2#post-27324386

 

[sparty411]

If you install Jessie packages onto Wheezy, you might bork your install with a bunch of new unfulfilled dependencies.

If you plan on staying with a specific stable release, this is not recommended.

Why not spruce your DE up a little?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-powerpc-linux-wiki.2178457/page-2#post-27324386

Yeah, I already completely borked it once, when I installed Firefox-ESR. Unfortunately, this is the only method I can use to install semi new software on this machine. I'm not really into DE ricing, but I'll check it out later on once the little ones are asleep

 

[sparty411]

I reported the iBook G3 2d/3d acceleration problem to the mailing list. Hopefully some masochist decides to do something about it. If anyone here knows of someone that might be interested in troubleshooting / development, I'd be more than happy to donate hardware.

 

[LightBulbFun]

With regards to the 9600... the 9700 seems to work just fine in my 1.5ghz PBG4, and I always thought that the 9700 was a subset of the 9600

the Radeon Mobility 9700 is based off of the 9600

the Desktop Radeon 9700 is a different card (the desktop 9600 is effectively a 9700 cut in half and die shrunk)

@z970mp your eMac issues are because an eMacs CRT is a fixed frequency CRT so it will just go blank if it gets fed an incompatible rez/frequency

 

[z970]

Question: Is the formatting over the top? The original goal was to highlight important words to make following the guides easier, but now that I look at it, it just seems kind of over saturated and really takes away from the Wiki's cleanness overall.

Maybe exclude the introduction and tone everything else slightly down...?

Thanks, all.

 

[bjar]

I followed the steps to install 16.04 on my powermac g4 fw800 dual 1.25ghz. Then did sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop gnome-session-flashback.

It gets to the login screen and freezes. Will gnome not work at all on a g4? Thanks.

 

[z970]

I followed the steps to install 16.04 on my powermac g4 fw800 dual 1.25ghz. Then did sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop gnome-session-flashback.

It gets to the login screen and freezes. Will gnome not work at all on a g4? Thanks.

GNOME will work on a G4 just fine...

Are you able to choose GNOME Flashback (Metacity) via the LightDM login window, or are you after that point and it won't log into said selected desktop environment?

Also, are you running the stock Radeon 9000 Pro, or are you on something else?

 

[bjar]

GNOME will work on a G4 just fine...

Are you able to choose GNOME Flashback (Metacity) via the LightDM login window, or are you after that point and it won't log into said selected desktop environment?

Also, are you running the stock Radeon 9000 Pro, or are you on something else?

I have a g5 9600 installed, with taped pins. I tried over again and rebooted after installing lightdm. It freezes at log in after that. (So maybe a lightdm issue?) So I tried cntl alt f(whatever number you want) and got to a command prompt. Installed xfce. Same thing. Freezes up. I figured it might be my graphics card.

 

[z970]

I have a g5 9600 installed, with taped pins. I tried over again and rebooted after installing lightdm. It freezes at log in after that. (So maybe a lightdm issue?) So I tried cntl alt f(whatever number you want) and got to a command prompt. Installed xfce. Same thing. Freezes up. I figured it might be my graphics card.

It's possible LightDM doesn't like your 9600.

How about this, get into a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + 1), login, and do:

sudo apt --no-install-recommends install lxdm

It will start processing, then explain to you what a display manager is and which one you want to use. Select LXDM when you are given the choice.

Afterward, reboot. Then, you can choose a desktop environment from the left side of the bottom menu bar.

 

[bjar]

It's possible LightDM doesn't like your 9600.

How about this, get into a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + 1), login, and do:

sudo apt --no-install-recommends install lxdm

It will start processing, then explain to you what a display manager is and which one you want to use. Select LXDM when you are given the choice.

Afterward, reboot. Then, you can choose a desktop environment from the top right part of the menu bar.

Thanks! I will try this evening. Also forgot to mention, I am booting off a FireWire drive because I do not have an ide to sata adapter and the pci sata card I have doesn’t seem to work in Linux. Are the any tricks to get that to work? It boots to yaboot, hit l to boot Linux. Next says boot: Type Linux. Then gets stuck in a loop. So I installed to FireWire and have the issue above.

 

[z970]

Thanks! I will try this evening. Also forgot to mention, I am booting off a FireWire drive because I do not have an ide to sata adapter and the pci sata card I have doesn’t seem to work in Linux. Are the any tricks to get that to work? It boots to yaboot, hit l to boot Linux. Next says boot: Type Linux. Then gets stuck in a loop. So I installed to FireWire and have the issue above.

Aside from maybe installing 'linux-firmware-nonfree' while the SATA card is in the machine, I couldn't say.

Also, quick correction. I said the 'top right' part of the LXDM menu bar, but I was confusing LXDM with Debian LightDM, so after refreshing my memory, I recalled it's actually the lower left side, as its menu bar is on the bottom as opposed to the top.

If all else fails, there are plenty of other desktop environments than just GNOME Flashback. MATE is a lot like GNOME Flashback, but requires a small amount of beforehand tweaking to get working in Ubuntu Server. You can also get a pretty accurate and lighter footprint recreation in Xfce, as it's just so customizable. Definitely one of my favorite DEs.

Hope I helped.

 

[bjar]

It's possible LightDM doesn't like your 9600.

How about this, get into a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + 1), login, and do:

sudo apt --no-install-recommends install lxdm

It will start processing, then explain to you what a display manager is and which one you want to use. Select LXDM when you are given the choice.

Afterward, reboot. Then, you can choose a desktop environment from the left side of the bottom menu bar.

Getting errors. See screenshot. Think I may just try Debian.

 

[z970]

Getting errors. See screenshot. Think I may just try Debian. View attachment 850008

It thinks there's something wrong with your repositories and that your file system is read-only. That is definitely not supposed to happen, ever.

Just to make sure it can indeed connect to the Internet, what's the output of 'ping debian.org' (stop with Ctrl + C)? If it's not outputting '64 bytes' every second, it's not connected and wouldn't have connected to the repositories anyway, although it would've been giving out a different error if that was the case.

On that note, did you happen to install network-manager as the install guide suggested? On some machines, I've found myself stranded from the Internet if I installed 16.04 and did not follow up with network-manager, only being able to try again with a reinstall.

In any case, a fresh install may be in order. If it gives you any trouble afterward, I'd suggest trying Debian 10.

Apologies for the issues.

 

[bjar]

Well I don't think it is your fault! I am no linux expert, I have messed around with it on the raspberry pi but that is easy. On thing to note though, when you install network manager it tells you to go into /etc/network/interfaces and delete your current interface if you want network manager to manage it, I did not do that. So maybe why I was getting those errors. So I reinstalled 16.04, instead of LightDM I did the ...-recommends install lxdm that you mentioned on a fresh install. It looked like it installed (none of those errors on fresh install) but nothing happened. No menu bar or options to pick desktop environment that you mentioned, nothing. Got frustrated so I got out my quicksilver and put the 16.04 DVD, and now even more frustrated because I realize it does not have a DVD drive, only CD. I am going to take a break and drink a few beers and maybe try again tomorrow with 12.04, 14.04, or Debian.

 

[swamprock]

It thinks there's something wrong with your repositories and that your file system is read-only. That is definitely not supposed to happen, ever.

Just to make sure it can indeed connect to the Internet, what's the output of 'ping debian.org' (stop with Ctrl + C)? If it's not outputting '64 bytes' every second, it's not connected and wouldn't have connected to the repositories anyway, although it would've been giving out a different error if that was the case.

On that note, did you happen to install network-manager as the install guide suggested? On some machines, I've found myself stranded from the Internet if I installed 16.04 and did not follow up with network-manager, only being able to try again with a reinstall.

In any case, a fresh install may be in order. If it gives you any trouble afterward, I'd suggest trying Debian 10.

Apologies for the issues.

I'm still using the May 2018 CD image to do my Debian 10 installs. Of course, I'm using my old procedure as well, but using the snapshot repo instead of the old unstable repos. Just wanted to mention that the old CD image still works, but the workarounds for getting the key installed still apply, as there isn't any "Manually add info" selection on that image.

 

[z970]

I'm still using the May 2018 CD image to do my Debian 10 installs. Of course, I'm using my old procedure as well, but using the snapshot repo instead of the old unstable repos. Just wanted to mention that the old CD image still works, but the workarounds for getting the key installed still apply, as there isn't any "Manually add info" selection on that image.

The 05-18 image is what's being used for the Debian 10 (Buster) link in the Downloads sector.

This has all been addressed in the install guide. The solution is to download the archive keyring on another system, transfer to USB, plug into Debian machine, and install.

 

[z970]

Well I don't think it is your fault! I am no linux expert, I have messed around with it on the raspberry pi but that is easy. On thing to note though, when you install network manager it tells you to go into /etc/network/interfaces and delete your current interface if you want network manager to manage it, I did not do that. So maybe why I was getting those errors. So I reinstalled 16.04, instead of LightDM I did the ...-recommends install lxdm that you mentioned on a fresh install. It looked like it installed (none of those errors on fresh install) but nothing happened. No menu bar or options to pick desktop environment that you mentioned, nothing. Got frustrated so I got out my quicksilver and put the 16.04 DVD, and now even more frustrated because I realize it does not have a DVD drive, only CD. I am going to take a break and drink a few beers and maybe try again tomorrow with 12.04, 14.04, or Debian.

Once network-manager is in, that err can be taken care of with 'sudo rm /etc/network/interfaces'.

Every distribution offered besides 16.04 will fit on a CD. However, if you still have your Raspberry Pi at hand, you could try flashing to a spare USB and boot from there.

All that said, I believe the only problems we've seen here is that 16.04 for whatever reason does not like your MDD's GPU, and that 16.04 for whatever reason cannot connect to the repositories.

Maybe see how 16.04 fares with your Quicksilver, and try Debian 10 on your MDD?

It looked like it installed (none of those errors on fresh install) but nothing happened. No menu bar or options to pick desktop environment that you mentioned, nothing. Got frustrated so I got out my quicksilver and put the 16.04 DVD, and now even more frustrated because I realize it does not have a DVD drive, only CD.

Totally unrelated at this time of year, but that quote just reminded me of a funny story I've got saved on my system. Might lighten the mood.

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas Pressure. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.


When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth, and two others had jumped the fence and were out heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground, and all the toys were scattered.


Frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunken all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom but found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.



Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.


Not a lot of people know this.

Have a Merry Christmas.

 

[bjar]

Once network-manager is in, that err can be taken care of with 'sudo rm /etc/network/interfaces'.

Every distribution offered besides 16.04 will fit on a CD. However, if you still have your Raspberry Pi at hand, you could try flashing to a spare USB and boot from there.

All that said, I believe the only problems we've seen here is that 16.04 for whatever reason does not like your MDD's GPU, and that 16.04 for whatever reason cannot connect to the repositories.

Maybe see how 16.04 fares with your Quicksilver, and try Debian 10 on your MDD?



Totally unrelated at this time of year, but that quote just reminded me of a funny story I've got saved on my system. Might lighten the mood.

Haven’t heard that one before. Thanks =). I’ll try 16.04 on the quicksilver and Debian on the MDD as you said.

 

[z970]

@swamprock, how did you get that graphical boot screen in Sid working on your iBook? That would be a great addition to the Wiki and countless already installed systems.

And quick question, are your PowerBook's backlit keys still misbehaving in Sid, or was some kind of fix found?

Thanks.