rhel 5.5 installation DVD not working on Power Intellistation 285

[robers97]

I'm trying to go from openSuse 11.1 to RHEL 5.5 to get at more of the
enterprise features, but the installation DVD hangs after the right
after the monitors are detected early on in the boot process. I think
this is because the 285 Intellistations come with GXT4500 or GXT6500
graphics adapters that are not supported.

The DVD passes the media check function.

A few questions:

Is there any option at the yaboot command line I could use to either
force text or a vga type video mode to see if this is what's causing
the trouble?

Should I attempt to build the RHEL source and apply a patch (http://
cruxppc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=333) and then attempt to
configure yaboot to try this image instead of using the install DVD?
I'm thinking I could source the rpms from the DVD, would just need to
copy the OS files and setup the partitioned disk space to start in a
dual install type of configuration...

Thanks in advance.

[PW]

On Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:31:52 -0800 (PST)

Post by robers97
I'm trying to go from openSuse 11.1 to RHEL 5.5 to get at more of the
enterprise features, but the installation DVD hangs after the right
after the monitors are detected early on in the boot process. I think
this is because the 285 Intellistations come with GXT4500 or GXT6500
graphics adapters that are not supported.
The DVD passes the media check function.
Is there any option at the yaboot command line I could use to either
force text or a vga type video mode to see if this is what's causing
the trouble?
Should I attempt to build the RHEL source and apply a patch (http://
cruxppc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=333) and then attempt to
configure yaboot to try this image instead of using the install DVD?
I'm thinking I could source the rpms from the DVD, would just need to
copy the OS files and setup the partitioned disk space to start in a
dual install type of configuration...
Thanks in advance.

Hi there

I have an Intellistation 285 as well which is happily running Yellow Dog
Linux 6.2. It originally came with the GXT6500 which I replaced with a
GXT135P. This makes for an easy life as running an RHEL based distro is
then a straightforward exercise. I can confirm that RHEL 5.5 will boot
into Anaconda without any difficulty for a full graphical install using
the GXT135P.

Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Best regards



Pat

[robers97]

Post by PW
Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up as
'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with those
options as parameters to append in the image definition. I know that
definition was being sourced, but the install kernel looks like it
ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a GXT135P.

[Jerry Heyman]

Post by robers97

Post by PW
Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up as
'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with those
options as parameters to append in the image definition. I know that
definition was being sourced, but the install kernel looks like it
ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a GXT135P.

What chip is the Power Intellistation?
It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power Architecture.
I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6

jerry

[pw]

On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500

Post by Jerry Heyman

Post by robers97

Post by PW
Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up
as 'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with
those options as parameters to append in the image definition. I
know that definition was being sourced, but the install kernel
looks like it ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a
GXT135P.

Hi Jerry

Post by Jerry Heyman
What chip is the Power Intellistation?
It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power
Architecture. I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6
jerry

The chip is a POWER5+ in the Intellistation 285 model. I use YDL 6.2
on mine but the installer for RHEL 5.5 will start up (graphically) with
no problems provided the graphics card is a GXT135P.

I was aware that RHEL6 will support ppc64 only whereas RHEL5 supports
ppc and ppc64. I didn't hear they had dropped support for POWER5 :(


Pat

[Jerry Heyman]

Post by pw
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500

Post by Jerry Heyman

Post by robers97

Post by PW
Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Good idea. No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up
as 'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'. I modified yaboot.config with
those options as parameters to append in the image definition. I
know that definition was being sourced, but the install kernel
looks like it ignores the pass in parameters. I"ll look for a
GXT135P.

Hi Jerry

Post by Jerry Heyman
What chip is the Power Intellistation?
It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power
Architecture. I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6
jerry

The chip is a POWER5+ in the Intellistation 285 model. I use YDL 6.2
on mine but the installer for RHEL 5.5 will start up (graphically) with
no problems provided the graphics card is a GXT135P.

This has been a problem for Linux on PPC - lack of graphic card support :-(
Not sure if it's because IBM doesn't release the information or because
no vendors are actually testing their cards w/PPC.

Post by pw
I was aware that RHEL6 will support ppc64 only whereas RHEL5 supports
ppc and ppc64. I didn't hear they had dropped support for POWER5 :(

It is unfortunate :-(

Post by pw
Pat

jerry

[ppc.addon]

i've a 275 with a GXT6500P running CRUX PPC.
Anyway there is some interesting infos on CRUX PPC forum about IBM
Intellistation POWER workstations.

cheers,
Nello

[robers97]

Post by pw
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:08:11 -0500

Post by Jerry Heyman

Post by PW
Perhaps you could alo install over a serial console or vnc?

Good idea.  No dice on trying to get the install kernel to come up
as 'text' or 'console=ttyS0,9600'.  I modified yaboot.config with
those options as parameters to append in the image definition.  I
know that definition was being sourced, but the install kernel
looks like it ignores the pass in parameters.  I"ll look for a
GXT135P.

Hi Jerry

Post by Jerry Heyman
What chip is the Power Intellistation?
It might be that they dropped support for the version of Power
Architecture. I *know* that RHEL 6 won't install on < Power6
jerry

The chip is a POWER5+ in the Intellistation 285 model. I use YDL 6.2
on mine but the installer for RHEL 5.5 will start up (graphically) with
no problems provided the graphics card is a GXT135P.
I was aware that RHEL6 will support ppc64 only whereas RHEL5 supports
ppc and ppc64. I didn't hear they had dropped support for POWER5 :(
Pat

I downgraded to the GXT135P and have it working now. Thanks!

[ppc.addon]

On 21 Gen, 18:07, robers97 <***@yahoo.com> wrote:

__cut__

I downgraded to the GXT135P and have it working now.  Thanks!

hi,
when you run X.Org, do you have shifted colors or is it fine ?

thanks,
Nello

--
CRUX PPC user!

[pw]

On Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:17:42 -0800 (PST)

Post by ppc.addon
__cut__

I downgraded to the GXT135P and have it working now.  Thanks!

hi,
when you run X.Org, do you have shifted colors or is it fine ?
thanks,
Nello

Hi Nello

I have no issue with shifted colors on Xorg - all looks fine with YDL
6.2 on the Intellistation 285 / GXT135P combination for
me.

All the best


Pat