Ethan Benson wrote: > On Tue, Jun 06, 2000 at 10:08:56AM -0400, Adam C Powell IV wrote: > > Ethan Benson wrote: > > > > > 2) why you don't WANT to use yaboot on oldworld hardware: > > > [snip] first let us go over the main complaints about quik: > > > > > > [snip] > > > b) oldworld macs (with very few exceptions) lack the ability to > > > interface with OF from the console, instead you must use a serial > > > terminal: > > > > This is wrong. You just need to set the input device to the keyboard and > > output device to the screen- in fact, this works on my StarMax 3000. > > This > > most apple machines lack a video driver for OpenFirmware, so setting > the screen variable does nothing, the 7200 - 8500 machines do not > appear to support OF video (according to tests done by an aquaintence > of mine) oldworld G3s i think do have a driver.
Wow, didn't realize how lucky I am. :-) In any case, this is relevant to the original poster, who has a StarMax too. > > can be done using the "Boot Variables" MacOS utility (which I got with > > LinuxPPC R4 :-); is there a tool shipping with Debian that can set anything > > besides the boot device? > > nvsetenv will change any variable. > > Usage: nvsetenv variable value Cool. I'll try this a bit later, and contribute to the docs on this if I get a chance. Maybe even an ncurses front-end matching Boot Variables' functions, or debconf for quik? Other ideas? (To make it user-friendly.) > > Also, if the installer knows the root partition, why can't it figure out the > > boot-device parameter and set it automatically, as part of the "Make Linux > > bootable" step? I know, "well then, write the patch," okay, someday. Just > > a > > wishlist/suggestion, from someone who hasn't actually tried the boot > > floppies, just heard that this step is necessary. :-) > > because there is no way to find out that > /dev/hda3 == /yucky/openfirmware/device/path/ata/@0:0 > > this would require kernel modifications becuase the kernel does not > know either, and there is no reliable way to figure it out. every > hardware is a bit different. What about /proc/device-tree, which is copied from OF on boot? (I think that's the name, I'm not at my home machine now.) Zeen, -Adam P.
