PowerMac G4/1Ghz with Nvidia GeForce 440mx notes

Just a few notes for OpenFirmware, Xorg configuration. Sources guide-open-firmware-apple-bios-0, xorgconf-powermac-g41ghz-geforce-4-mx-apple-studio-display-17, http://sowerbutts.com/linux-mac-mini/.

OpenFirmware:

• ls - displays contents of the current path in the device tree.
• devalias - provides a list of short alias names for key hardware devices.
• .properties - provides a list of properties for the selected device.
• pwd - displays the current path within the device tree.
• dev - selects a device (using either the alias or absolute/relative device tree path).
• words - provides a list of forth scripts associated with the selected device.
• source - executes a particular forth script.
• load - loads a image from disk, cd, network or another device.
• go - execites the currently loaded image.
• see - displays the source code for a particular forth script.

Booting installation of Debian GNU/Linux Squeeze 6.0 on PowerMac G4/1Ghz: 

0>boot cd:,\install\yaboot

 Partition disk:

1. Don't touch the small Partition #1 at the start of the disk, that contains the partition map itself.
2. Partition #2 (16MB) is for "yaboot", the bootstrap that allows you to boot
3. Linux or MacOS. You want to tell the partitioner to use that partition as a "NewWorld boot partition", and set the bootable flag.
4. Partition #3 (2.0GB) should be used as "swap area".
5. Partition #4 (48.0GB) is your root filesystem, you want to use that as a "ReiserFS journalling file system", format it, and mount it on "/"

 Booting after installation:

0>setenv boot-file hd:3,\yaboot

Xorg.conf PowerMac G4/1GHz GeForce 4 MX:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
BusID   "PCI:0:16:0"
Driver  "nv"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier    "StudioDisplay17"
    Option "DPMS"
    HorizSync   30-80
    VertRefresh   50-100
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier    "Default Screen"
    Monitor        "StudioDisplay17"
    Device        "Configured Video Device"
        DefaultDepth    24
           SubSection       "Display"
             Depth            24
             Modes             "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
           EndSubSection
           SubSection        "Display"
             Depth            16
             Modes             "1280x1024" "1024x768""800x600" "640x480"
           EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      15
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      8
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      4
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      1
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier   "Default Layout"
   Screen      "Default Screen"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
   Mode   0666
EndSection

Fix console font on NetBSD 5.1/macppc

One of annoying things about booting NetBSD 5.1 on PowerMAC G4 after install is console font which is too big to fit in screen. Today I found solution on port-macppc mailing list. You can see it here http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-macppc/2011/10/18/msg001479.html.

Edit your kernel config file to look like this:

#options    FONT_GALLANT12x22
options       FONT_VT8x8

then recompile and reboot.

Installing NetBSD 5.1 on PowerMAC G4

I've tried to install NetBSD 5.1 on PowerMAC G4 (grey) following these instructions: http://wiki-static.aydogan.net/How_to_install_NetBSD_on_a_Power_Macintosh_G4_Grey but I had problems booting.

Here are some tips.
It seems that netbsd-INSTALL.gz image which comes from 5.1 installation CD is ok but netbsd-GENERIC.gz and others were not tested so they crashed when I rebooted after installation. So here what I've done to solve this after installation is done but can not boot to netbsd:

Hold Alt+Win+o+f when starting PowerMAC to enter in OpenFirmware cmd line menu.
Boot with install netbsd image. Something like that:

0> boot cd:,\ofwboot.xcf \macppc\binary\kernel\netbsd-INSTALL.gz

When it boots you will be prompted for (I)nstall (S)hell ... choose 'S;.
Now from shell mount your root partition and chroot to it and set up your internet connection:

# mount /dev/wd0a /mnt2
# chroot /mnt2
# ifconfig gem0 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0 up
# route add default 192.168.1.1
# echo "nameserver 192.168.1.1" > /etc/resolv.conf

Now you can download and compile your own kernel. Get syssrc.tgz from ftp.netbsd.org untar it and go to sys/arch/macppc/conf. Use GENERIC config as if you try to compile POWERMAC_G5 or some of the others result will be the same - kernel crash on next reboot.

# cp GENERIC G4
# vi G4
# config G4
# cd ../compile/G4
# make depend
# make
# cp /netbsd /netbsd.old
# cp netbsd /netbsd

If you want your Xorg server to work you need to add these lines to kernel config file and recompile it:

options WSFB_FAKE_VGA_FB
options WSDISPLAY_COMPAT_PCVT # emulate some ioctls
options WSDISPLAY_COMPAT_SYSCONS # emulate some ioctls
options WSDISPLAY_COMPAT_USL # VT handling
options WSDISPLAY_COMPAT_RAWKBD # can get raw scancodes

Now you just use: X -configure and then test your config with: X -config xorg.conf.new