Discussion:
live cd
(too old to reply)
Victor Ramiro
2004-12-17 16:10:30 UTC
Permalink
hi,

im looking for a live cd for my ibook g4.
why a live cd?, because i want to try linux on my ibook
before partition my hard disk an all that
(i'm a pc linux user,a newbie on mac)

well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
now, i want to start again, from zero, so i accept any comments

thanks a lot
--
Victor A. Ramiro Cid - LU #171397
mailto:<***@SIN_ESTOdcc.uchile.cl> http://www.dcc.uchile.cl/~vramiro
Lynn
2004-12-17 21:06:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Victor Ramiro
hi,
im looking for a live cd for my ibook g4.
why a live cd?, because i want to try linux on my ibook
before partition my hard disk an all that
(i'm a pc linux user,a newbie on mac)
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
now, i want to start again, from zero, so i accept any comments
thanks a lot
--
Victor A. Ramiro Cid - LU #171397
You may want to look here for an opinion and some information on live
cds for PPC:

http://homepage.mac.com/bner/iblog/B1570693677/C1271976503/E1995539341/

-----
There is also a live cd for NetBSD now as well:

http://www.cs.stevens.edu/~jschauma/acm/cd.html

Unfortunately it's not for PPC, but there are instructions on how to
build one, so I think you may be able to put one together from the info
available.

http://www.cs.stevens.edu/~jschauma/acm/createcd.txt


I hadn't actually *looked* at the instructions until now and I see that
it requires installing NetBSD first in order to create the live cd. So
this doesn't appear to be as uncomplicated as I was imagining unless you
have a spare HD to use for the project or another PPC box that can be
used to create the live CD.

HTH,
Lynn
Axel Hammerschmidt
2004-12-17 22:16:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Victor Ramiro
im looking for a live cd for my ibook g4.
why a live cd?, because i want to try linux on my ibook
before partition my hard disk an all that
(i'm a pc linux user,a newbie on mac)
For an alternative, take a look at the article in Macworld
(International/USA edition) from August, page 88: "Hasta la Vista, Aqua"
by Cyrus Farivar.

Explains how you can run X11 and KDE on Mac OS X. Should also let you
run Open Source apps.
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
now, i want to start again, from zero, so i accept any comments
Tell us a little about the distro's you tried.
--
CamContacts Confirmation: You are win our girl for 1 hour free of charge
David Marceau
2004-12-17 22:16:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Victor Ramiro
hi,
im looking for a live cd for my ibook g4.
why a live cd?, because i want to try linux on my ibook
before partition my hard disk an all that
(i'm a pc linux user,a newbie on mac)
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
now, i want to start again, from zero, so i accept any comments
thanks a lot
--
Victor A. Ramiro Cid - LU #171397
My suggestion is to get yourself an external hard drive attached to your
firewire(ilink in mac speak) or usb2.0 ports.
The other suggestion is ensure your external does speak both firewire and
usb2.0. The one I have tried that works well in both mac os x and linux is acom
data. They range from 40 GB-250GB drives from where I have seen them at future
shop here and compusmart. The price on sale right now is: 200$CANADIAN for
250GB at FUTURESHOP. This is a good price.

Once you have this external hard drive hooked up in mac os x just copy all you
hard drive data to the external hard drive on a 40GB PARTITION whidh is about
the same size as your ibook g4 if I recall.

Have your PC nearby and on the net also in order to get the needed information
just in case something is missing for your configuration.
There is in your apple menu the about and the capacity for you to get ibook g4
machine's hardware profile(Brandname, model and device name in your computer
along with some ID's). I suggest you save this profile into a file and have it
handy on your pc. It will come in handy for the graphics card, monitor, and
hard disk information later.

Then with lots of peace of mind, try all the fun stuff you want with linux cd's
on your ppc. I've tried ubuntu, mandrake, yellowdog, and gentoo(a bit).
Ubuntu was very nice except for divx stuff(xine) had dependency issues for my
particular situation. Mandrake and yellowdog are pretty much on the same level
but I am definitely happy with my Debian-based PC so UBUNTU was a logical choice
to try on ibook g4 ppc first. There is a Debian netinstall for ppc which you
could also try.

It requires an extreme amount of patience to install gentoo. If you follow the
instructions carefully here and build everything for the ppc ibook g4 from
sources, the end result could run everything your heart desires. I'm actually
in the middle of trying gentoo... I've seen gentoo running at the linux
symposium on some ibooks so it's not just blah blah. It's for real.

WARNING: In general it does take time to try out all these linuxes along with
your favourite apps to make sure they all run fine in each of these.

GOOD NEWS: ACTUALLY Ubuntu, Mandrake, YellowDogLinux, Debian and Gentoo are all
very good and you have plenty to learn from any of these distributions :) Don't
feel uncomfortable choosing. Just be thankful you have alternatives to MAC OS X.

I hope this helps.
Jack Malmostoso
2004-12-18 07:10:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
As for now I know of two very good looking livecds on PPC:

Gentoo (www.gentoo.org)

Rocklinux
(http://iso.rocklinux.de/rock-ftp/unofficial/fake/livecd-powerpc-604e-rev4860.iso)

I don't remember the exact link for the former, for the latter just type
"startx" at the prompt when the system has booted.
It has got a very nice KDE desktop with everything you could ever need.

Anyway, just insert the cd, reboot and keep the "c" key pressed.
--
Best Regards, Jack
Linux User #264449
Powered by Fedora Core 3 (x86)
Powered by Debian Sid (ppc)
jim bob and joe bob
2004-12-21 05:05:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jack Malmostoso
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
Gentoo (www.gentoo.org)
Rocklinux
(http://iso.rocklinux.de/rock-ftp/unofficial/fake/livecd-powerpc-604e-rev4860.iso)
Any suggestions for burning one of those to a cd from MacOS? What
format to use? Any preparation to the .iso file before burning? Is it
even possible to do from MacOS? If not what is the point?
Keith
Post by Jack Malmostoso
I don't remember the exact link for the former, for the latter just type
"startx" at the prompt when the system has booted.
It has got a very nice KDE desktop with everything you could ever need.
Anyway, just insert the cd, reboot and keep the "c" key pressed.
Jack Malmostoso
2004-12-24 17:39:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Any suggestions for burning one of those to a cd from MacOS? What
format to use? Any preparation to the .iso file before burning? Is it
even possible to do from MacOS? If not what is the point?
Download the .iso, DO NOT OPEN IT OR MOUNT IT OR WHATEVER, check the
md5sum and burn it with your favourite application. In Toast, there is a
"burn image" function if I remember well.
--
Best Regards, Jack
Linux User #264449
Powered by Fedora Core 3 (x86)
Powered by Debian Sid (ppc)
jim bob and joe bob
2004-12-24 19:21:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jack Malmostoso
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Any suggestions for burning one of those to a cd from MacOS? What
format to use? Any preparation to the .iso file before burning? Is it
even possible to do from MacOS? If not what is the point?
Download the .iso, DO NOT OPEN IT OR MOUNT IT OR WHATEVER, check the
md5sum and burn it with your favourite application. In Toast, there is a
"burn image" function if I remember well.
Maybe I need to get toast. I have been burning with discribe. I have
not used md5sum. I don't have the burn image function listed. The
closest thing I have is Disk Copy Image but we have been all through
that before. It modifies the files so that they won't work. Is there a
way to burn from Linux, probably text based, if I should get it running
on my G3? I have no confidence that I will have a GUI right out of the
box. I am fairly certain that I can get at the image file on my mac
drive from Linux.
I R A Darth Aggie
2004-12-24 22:18:17 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 13:21:02 -0600,
+ that before. It modifies the files so that they won't work. Is there a
+ way to burn from Linux, probably text based, if I should get it running
+ on my G3?
The command you're looking for is 'cdrecord'. First, you do this (as root):

# cdrecord -scanbus

which should produce something like:

scsibus1:
1,0,0 100) 'SONY ' 'DVD RW DRU-500A ' '2.0c' Removable CD-ROM

Then to burn,

# cdrecord dev=1,0,0 some_iso_image.iso

and all should be good. You may want to play with the speed=
option. If I'm having issues with buffer underflows, I might do this:

# cdrecord dev=1,0,0 speed=4 some_iso_image.iso

speed=4 may not be the best, but it is a nice, safe number.

James
--
Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC
I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow
isn't looking good, either.
I am BOFH. Resistance is futile. Your network will be assimilated.
jim bob and joe bob
2004-12-25 06:21:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by I R A Darth Aggie
On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 13:21:02 -0600,
+ that before. It modifies the files so that they won't work. Is there a
+ way to burn from Linux, probably text based, if I should get it running
+ on my G3?
# cdrecord -scanbus
1,0,0 100) 'SONY ' 'DVD RW DRU-500A ' '2.0c' Removable CD-ROM
Then to burn,
# cdrecord dev=1,0,0 some_iso_image.iso
and all should be good. You may want to play with the speed=
# cdrecord dev=1,0,0 speed=4 some_iso_image.iso
speed=4 may not be the best, but it is a nice, safe number.
James
Thanks. I assume by speed=4 you mean 4x? I have been burning at 10x
under 9.1, sometimes down to 6 or 8 when I don't feel so lucky.
It will have to wait til after the holidays at this point. Too much
else going on to concentrate on building another system on the G3. I
may have to do it on an external drive so as to leave my internal one
alone.
Keith
Admin
2004-12-28 14:20:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Post by Jack Malmostoso
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
Gentoo (www.gentoo.org)
Rocklinux
(http://iso.rocklinux.de/rock-ftp/unofficial/fake/livecd-powerpc-604e-rev4860.iso)
Any
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Any suggestions for burning one of those to a cd from MacOS? What
format to use? Any preparation to the .iso file before burning? Is it
even possible to do from MacOS? If not what is the point?
Keith
Post by Jack Malmostoso
I don't remember the exact link for the former, for the latter just type
"startx" at the prompt when the system has booted.
It has got a very nice KDE desktop with everything you could ever need.
Anyway, just insert the cd, reboot and keep the "c" key pressed.
This cd was optimized for the old 604. It will not run on a G3 or G4.
Is there one for a g4?
jim bob and joe bob
2004-12-28 15:08:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Post by Jack Malmostoso
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
Gentoo (www.gentoo.org)
Rocklinux
(http://iso.rocklinux.de/rock-ftp/unofficial/fake/livecd-powerpc-604e-rev4860.iso)
Any
Post by jim bob and joe bob
Any suggestions for burning one of those to a cd from MacOS? What
format to use? Any preparation to the .iso file before burning? Is
it even possible to do from MacOS? If not what is the point?
Keith
Post by Jack Malmostoso
I don't remember the exact link for the former, for the latter just type
"startx" at the prompt when the system has booted.
It has got a very nice KDE desktop with everything you could ever need.
Anyway, just insert the cd, reboot and keep the "c" key pressed.
This cd was optimized for the old 604. It will not run on a G3 or G4. Is
there one for a g4?
I thought I might give it a try on my 603e if I could manage to burn a
useable cd. Sometimes by accident things are a little backwards compatible.
Keith
Anton Ertl
2004-12-18 09:21:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Victor Ramiro
hi,
im looking for a live cd for my ibook g4.
why a live cd?, because i want to try linux on my ibook
before partition my hard disk an all that
(i'm a pc linux user,a newbie on mac)
In that case, I don't see any reason for holding onto MacOS. Just
jump in and intall Linux on the hard disk. If it does not work, you
can still install MacOS X from the CD that came with your iBook.

I got my iBook G4 (1066MHz) a month ago or so, and did not even bother
to do anything with MacOS X. I installed from the Debian Sarge
installer CD, and it was very easy, except for one gotcha (which may
be fixed in the meantime): The yaboot.conf was wrong after the
installation (it wanted to load an initrd that did not exist), so
yaboot dropped me into Open Firmware; there I had to type "reboot" to
continue booting (which I discovered by luck, although I guess I would
have found it on the net eventually).

Things that I haven't gotten to work: Using the external and the
internal screen at the same time (I would like clone mode). What I
have not tried, but would also like: Disabling the touchpad (maybe
disable it only if there is an external mouse connected). Suspending
reportedly does not work, either (certainly not when you close the
lid), but with the screen lamp turned off, it consumes only 12.7W
(wall-plug power, probably less from the battery) and that should work
as a poor man's suspend-to-RAM.
Post by Victor Ramiro
well, i've been looking for a live cd, and i found a few distributions.
my problem is that any of that cd's worked on my ibook (i couldnt start
from the cd, and y tried ALL the keys :) ).
Try pressing c on booting.

- anton
--
M. Anton Ertl Some things have to be seen to be believed
***@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at Most things have to be believed to be seen
http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/anton/home.html
Jack Malmostoso
2005-01-03 07:59:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anton Ertl
Things that I haven't gotten to work: Using the external and the
internal screen at the same time (I would like clone mode).
Are you sure it does not work? I never bothered about this since I don't
use that stuff, but I think it is possible by patching and recompiling
XFree.
Post by Anton Ertl
What I
have not tried, but would also like: Disabling the touchpad (maybe
disable it only if there is an external mouse connected).
There it is all a matter of XF86Config.
Post by Anton Ertl
Suspending
reportedly does not work, either (certainly not when you close the
lid), but with the screen lamp turned off, it consumes only 12.7W
(wall-plug power, probably less from the battery) and that should work
as a poor man's suspend-to-RAM.
Well, sleep works like a charm with BenH's latest patches against 2.6.9
kernel!

Just look at the debian powerpc mailing list (you can follow it via the
usenet gateway at linux.debian.ports.powerpc) and read the news!
--
Best Regards, Jack
Linux User #264449
Powered by Fedora Core 3 (x86)
Powered by Debian Sid (ppc)
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