PPC: Installation and Graphics on PowerBook/Mac G4

Support knowledgebase (ubrueck_ppc_G4radeon)
Applies to

SuSE Linux PowerPC: Versions 7.1 to 7.3

Situation

You want to install SuSE Linux PPC on a PowerBook or PowerMac G4 with an ATI Radeon graphics card.
However, the image is not clearly displayed or the screen is black.

Procedure

The latest kernel, vmlinux.install.elf-newpmac, is needed for the installation.
You can download it from our ftp server at:

ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/ppc/kernel/2.4.16/

After having downloaded the kernel, write it to the Linux boot partition you have created with the program "Drive Setup"
and rename the kernel to "install".

Boot into Open Firmware by pressing command+option+o+f when booting,
and enter the following at the Open Firmware prompt:

boot hd:9,install

(9 is the partition number of the boot partition in your first hard disk, which must be correspondingly adjusted to that of your system).

If unexpectedly you still obtain a black screen, please change the entry at the Open Firmware prompt to:

boot hd:9,install video=ofonly

Once the installation has been completed, download the kernel k_deflt.rpm from the ftp directory mentioned above, and also the modutils "modutils.rpm"
from the directory:

ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/ppc/kernel/



Both packages can be installed on Linux with the command: rpm -Uhv /path_to_the_file/file.rpm

Now start the bootloader: lilo

Your graphics card can be configured by entering:

sax2 -m 0=fbdev

Keywords: PPC, POWERMAC, POWERBOOK, APPLE, POWERPC, MACINTOSH

Categories: Power PC

SDB-ubrueck_ppc_G4radeon, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 31. Jan 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 31. Jan 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)