Known Problems and Peculiarities in SuSE Linux 7.3 for PowerPC

Support knowledgebase (bugs73ppc)
Applies to

SuSE Linux PowerPC: Version 7.3

Known problems and peculiarities in SuSE Linux 7.3 for PowerPC:

Topics:

  1. Installation on Apple iMac

    There is a bug in the kernel 2.4.12 which will lead to filesystem corruption on iMacs, the installation fails after a few packages. A workaround for this bug exists:

    reboot your iMac
    hold down the keys command + option + o + f until the OpenFirmware prompt appears
    enter the following command to boot the installer 
    boot cd:,install ide0=noautotune
    

    You should update the kernel to 2.4.16 or later after the installation.

    ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/ppc/kernel/2.4.16/k_deflt.rpm
    rpm -Uvh k_deflt.rpm
    
  2. PREP: The kernel is not copied in the boot partition

    Do not reboot the system after the installation. Copy the kernel manually inserting CD 1 and proceeding as follows:

    mount /cdrom
    dd if=/cdrom/suse/images/zImage.prep of=/dev/sda1
    
  3. Some internal modems do not run or run too slowly after the setup with yast2.

    Set 115200 baud as data transfer rate in yast2 or modify file /etc/wvdial.conf manually.

  4. The bootloader setup fails with new PowerBooks and G4 PowerMacs, booting into the installed system fails.

    Use CD1 and yast2 to boot into the installed system. Edit the file /boot/compatible_machines.txt. Add the identity string for your new Mac. You can get this string with the command "cat /proc/cpuinfo". There is a line starting with machine, the identstring is PowerBook3,3 on the new PowerBooks.

    Add this ident string to the file /boot/compatible_machines.txt and run lilo. You Mac should boot now.

  5. Using the CD burner in new PowerMacs

    YaST2 will detect your CD burner and does add the needed "hdc=ide-scsi" to /etc/lilo.conf. But the module to activate the IDE-SCSI emulation can not be loaded automatically.
    As a result, the installation fails when YaST2 tries to access the second CD.

    A workaround for that bug:

    You should add this line to the file /etc/init.d/boot.local

    modprobe ide-scsi
    
    Your CD burner will have the device name /dev/sr0. (check the "dmesg" output for the exact name)
    Newer kernels will have the ide-scsi driver compiled into the kernel, that modprobe command is not needed anymore.

Keywords: PPC, POWERPC, MAC, MACINTOSH, APPLE, RS6000, APUS, UMAX, 7.3, 73, BUGS, ERRORS, NEW INSTALLATION, INSTALLATION, PROBLEMS

Categories: Power PC

SDB-bugs73ppc, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 21. Nov 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 28. Jan 2002 by glazzar (sdb_gen 1.40.0)