Installing Linux on a iMac (SuSE 7.0)
Hardware description (Series G, August 2000)
Processor: Apple G3 (PowerPC 750CX) 400 MHz / 256 KB cache
Memory: 192 MB SDRAM
Hard Disk: 10 GB Ultra DMA/33
Monitor: 15" monitor, resolution 1024 x 768
Graphic card: ATI Rage 128 Pro
Sound card: Awacs (?)
24x CD-ROM: 4x DVD-ROM drive, slot loading
Connectivity: Ethernet10/100 Mbs & 56K Modem
Keybord: Apple Keybord (USB) (qwerty/ US)
Mouse: Apple Mouse Pro (USB)(single button) + Logitech (USB)
Others: 2 fire wire ports, external video monitor port, Air Port Card slot
Installing SuSE Linux 7.0
Advise: the information here is a short summary useful in case of SuSE 7.0. In this case I suggest to read also SuSE documentation (if you don't have the manuals you can download .pdf file from SuSE ftp server) . If you are preparing to install another Linux distro for PPC, please take into account that some things may be different.
General remarks: the installation it's easy and with Yast 1 + Sax2 (for X-system) + Yast 2-beta (helpful to configure the sound) one has everything working. Only problems encountered: the partition utility of Mac OS 9, very weird (maybe too "complicated" for a simple minded Linux user...), the discovery of having 10 Mac OS partitions (but that seems to be normal) and some things to be avoided while editing yaboot.conf. My iMac belongs to the "New World" class of macs, therefore one has to use Yaboot to boot Linux (if you have a "Old World" mac, you will have to use BootX and load Linux within MacOS).
SuSE 7.0 PowerPC Edition: comes with kernel 2.2.16 (later upgraded to 2.2.18 , just for fun: 2.2.16 was also fine) and XFree86 4.0.1 (and KDE 1, but I later upgraded to KDE 2.1, with a SuSE update, just for "esthetic" reasons)
Preparation: One has to prepare the system to a dual boot configuration: MacOS 9 + Linux. One cannot install Linux alone for the following reasons: (1) to partition the disk, the partition utility available works under MacOS (fdisk does not work with MacOS fs) and (2) the /boot partition (with the kernel) has to be on a MacOS type (HFS) partition. Furthermore, in the Apple computers there is no BIOS, but Open Firmware. If you have an iMac ("New World" macs) and one single hard disk, the partitioning scheme should be the following:
|
Partition for MacOS |
In HFS or HFS+ format |
|---|---|
|
Boot partition for Linux |
In HFS standard , 30 MB of size |
|
Partition for Linux |
In Linux, or "unallocated", or "root" (depending on version of your Drive Setup). Recommended size: 2 GB minimum. |
|
Swap partition for Linux |
In A/UX or "unallocated" format. Recommended size: 1 or 1.5 times your RAM size. |
The partitioning (**) has to be done with "Drive Setup" tool of MacOS, which is normally on the MacOS CD. Insert the CD (computer switched off) and boot from CD with pressing "c" after hearing the starting sound. Then start Drive Setup and partition the disk like mentioned above. After this, check that on your desktop there are the 2 icons of the 2 MacOS-type (HFS) partitions: the one for MacOS and the one for /boot. Reinstall MacOS now.
After having installed MacOS, you can proceed to install Linux. Boot the 1st SuSE CD and follow instructions. Choose "Expert Partitioning" to format the Linux partition(s): be aware of formatting as EXT2 only the Linux root partition (+/home etc.), but don't format the boot partition, which should be kept HFS standard. Assing "swap" flag to the swap partition. Proceed with installation.
After installation, you should prepare to boot the system. In SuSE 7.0, Linux cannot access to HFS file system, therefore you have to manually copy from CD 1, within MacOS, the suseboot directory in the Linux boot volume: this directory should contain the following files:
vmlinux (the compressed image of the linux kernel), Yaboot (the linux loader), yaboot.conf (its configuration), os-chooser
Then, mark this partition as "active", in the start-up field. SuSE suggests to use LILO as usual, to write yaboot.conf and modify os-chooser accordingly, so that one boots the newly installed kernel from the disk. On the other hand for the reason mentioned above this didn't work for me, so I had to edit manually yaboot.conf. One should never edit nor modify these files in Linux! Therefore use MacOS "Simpletext" editor to change these files. Important: when finished, mark bootable os-chooser, executing the script mark os-chooser bootable that you will find in suseboot/tools directory. The files should look like this:
yaboot.conf
default = linux
timeout = 50 # in tents of seconds
image = vmlinux
label = linux
append = " " # pass here kernel's parameters, if necessary
root = /dev/hda11 # the device name of the root partition
os-chooser
Than everything should be ready for booting the newly installed system.
Further configuration of the system (modem, network, sound) can be done after installation. Yast2 (beta in SuSE 7.0 PPC) is helpful in configuring the sound automatically. Otherwise take a look at the file /etc/modules.conf. Somewhere it suggests the correct sound driver for the iMacs or whatever PowerPC you may have. Don't edit this file! Just insert the correct module with insmod. Ethernet and modem both work well, you can configure them manually or with Yast1. The X-window system gets properly configured with SuSE tool Sax2 (download my /etc/X11/XF86config) It is convenient to buy a 2 or 3 mouse button if you want to use Linux normally: the single-button mouse of Apple is unpractical with Linux. Logitech Wheel Mouse works fine.
Conclusions
The installation of SuSE 7.0 PowerPC on an Apple iMac is straightforward. The partitioning and copying of the boot directory, as well as the configuration of Yaboot should be done in MacOS manually, but the installation of Linux + post installation configuration can be done via the SuSE GUI tools (Yast + Yast2 + Sax2), in the same manner one would do on the Intel platform. Linux on PowerPC behaves identical to the one for Intel, for the user and system administrator point of view. This is very striking and convenient: in my case I use Linux on Intel at work, and Linux on an iMac at home. I can use the same programs and files, compile the same sources etc, on very different hardware. I do not feel any difference, apart that the iMac it's a faster and more silent machine!! Sound, graphic, modem, ethernet, usb are all supported and working out of the box.
Useful things to know
Neither Linux nor MacOS boot, your CD cannot be ejected...: boot the computer and at the same time keep pressed the only button of the Apple Mouse. The CD will be ejected.
You want to access to Open Firmware: while booting, press ALT-APPLE-o-f
You want to change settings in Open Firmware: download SuSE manual and see section "Handling Open Firmware"
Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is provided without any warranty.
Installing Linux on a iMac (SuSE 7.3)
Advise: the information here is a short summary useful in case of SuSE 7.3. In this case I suggest to read also SuSE documentation (if you don't have the manuals you can download .pdf file from SuSE ftp server) . If you are preparing to install another Linux distro for PPC, please take into account that some things may be different.
SuSE 7.3 PowerPC Edition: comes with kernel 2.4.12 (this has a problem with iMacs, therefore one should pass a parameter to the kernel, see later) and XFree86 4.1.0 (and KDE 2.2.1).
General remarks: see also my report on installing SuSE 7.0 PPC. The partitioning has to be performed in MacOS with "Drive Setup" tool. The installation of version 7.3 was so easy that even a child could do that. No manual copying of suseboot directory is necessary, neither manual configuration of Yaboot and os-chooser; this is done automatically by Yast, now.The installation can be done completely graphically, as well as the system configuration and tuning. Only problem: kernel 2.4.12 has a bug (see SuSE report) that makes the installation not possible on iMacs unless passing the parameter ide0=noautotune to it.
Step by step:
partition the disk (use suggested table) in MacOS with "Drive Setup".
switch off the computer and insert CD 1 of SuSE.
reboot the computer: while rebooting, access to Open Firmware pressing: ALT-APPLE-o-f, at the same time (you need many fingers, ehhh ;)))) ). When the prompt appears, type in: boot cd:, ide0=noautotune, and press enter. In this way you pass this parameter to the kernel. The nice thing is that the Yast2 installator will remember that, and will write it in lilo.conf (if it won't, remember to do it yourself!). Therefore also the newly installed kernel will get the correct parameter and everything will work fine.
you can choose between graphical installation or text installation. I chose graphical, and Yast2 started. Just follow the instructions and everything should go smoothly. Note: choose "partitioning for experts". Format the Linux partition with your favourite file system, set "swap" flag to the swap partition, but do not format the Linux boot volume, which has to be HFS standard. SuSE 7.3 now comes with Reiserfs also for PPC, as well as with other newer journaling file systems, like EXT3 and JFS. Also cryptofs is supported. I formatted my Linux partition as Reiserfs, which is a well tested journaling file system that I already used on the Intel architecture. Also indicates, when asked, which is your boot volume, and which one the MacOS volume (don't swap them...).
Yast2 will automatically write lilo.conf and run lilo. In case it won't or you install manually, here is my lilo.conf.
default = linux
timeout = 50 # in tents of seconds
image = vmlinux
label = linux
append = "ide0=noautotune" # pass here kernel's parameters, ide0=autotune necessary on iMacs.
the automatic configuration of XFree86 with Yast2 was successful, download here /etc/X11/XFree86config.
you can choose to configure the system during the installation or after. In both cases you can configure sound, graphic, ethernet end modem successfully with Yast2.
I advise to get a 2 or 3 button mouse, the one button mouse of Apple is not practical in Linux.
root = /dev/hda11 # the device name of the root partition
Conclusions
The installation of SuSE 7.3 PowerPC on an Apple iMac is straightforward. The partitioning and copying of the boot directory, as well as the configuration of Yaboot should be done in MacOS manually, but the installation of Linux + post installation configuration can be done via the SuSE GUI tools (Yast + Yast2 + Sax2), in the same manner one would do on the Intel platform. Linux on PowerPC behaves identical to the one for Intel, for the user and system administrator point of view. This is very striking and convenient: in my case I use Linux on Intel at work, and Linux on an iMac at home. I can use the same programs and files, compile the same sources etc, on very different hardware. I do not feel any difference, apart that the iMac it's a faster and more silent machine!! Sound, graphic, modem, ethernet, usb are all supported and working out of the box.
Useful things to know
Neither Linux nor MacOS boot, your CD cannot be ejected...: boot the computer and at the same time keep pressed the only button of the Apple Mouse. The CD will be ejected.
You want to access to Open Firmware: while booting, press ALT-APPLE-o-f
You want to change settings in Open Firmware: download SuSE manual and see section "Handling Open Firmware"
Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is provided without any warranty.