>> From: Cameron Kaiser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (MaX List)
>> Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 19:26:54 -0700 (PDT)
>> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (MaX List)
>> Subject: Re: Linux on 8100
>>
>>> Can anyone recommend a version that is ported to this machine ?
>>
>> I think mkLinux is your only choice. I can't really recommend it, it's not
>> terribly good from reports I've heard, but it's all you've got at the
>> moment. There are some nubus-pmac architecture Linuces appearing and these
>
>That's what I thought.  I did find this.
>
><http://nubus-pmac.sourceforge.net/>
>
>Any opinions ?

The only Linux 'distribution' that directly installs on a NuBus PPC Mac is
MkLinux. The installer works great, and it runs fine, but the C libraries
and applications have not been updated for several years. There is little
interest in keeping the MkLinux project moving forward.

I have a 8100 runniing the monolithic Linux 2.4.x kernel from the URL above
with the rest of the LinuxPPC 2000 Q4 distribution. It runs fine. Other
people on the [EMAIL PROTECTED] list have successfully
installed Yellow Dog Linux or Debian on a variety of NuBus PPC machines. Be
wary of the YDL installer, it is a bit buggy, but they are due to ship a
point release (2.1) that may fix those issues. Also be aware you can't
'upgrade' from YDL 1.2 to 2.x, you have to do a complete reinstall. The
Debian installer sometimes does not properly create the fstab file
correctly (at least on NuBus installs), so you may need to edit it after
the install. LinuxPPC 2000 Q4 is a bit behind the times as far as versions
of apps and libraries go (not as old as MkLinux!), but servicable. The
LinuxPPC organization seems a bit shaky of late as well. I don't think
there are NuBus installers for the new Mandrake or SuSe PPC distros.

The issue is that there is no out-of-the-box distribution that includes a
NuBus kernel with a installer that works on NuBus PPC Macs. If you are
familiar with intalling Linux, and read all the information at the
nubus-pmac site and browse the mailing list archives, you can do the dance
and get a system running. I wouldn't reccomend it for a first-timer. The
8100 should be relativly easy, just use the on-board video, not the HPV
card that came with some NuBus PPC Macs.

I use a 9600/233 for my daily work with OS 9 and Mac OS X, but I consider
my 8100 running Linux to be too slow to use with the X windows system. If
you try it, RAM, RAM and more RAM help (at least 128). I only use it with a
command line. I am not comparing the 8100 to a G3 or G4 Mac, but it still
is too painful to run X, IMHO. I learned how to write shell scripts using
vi on a CLIPPER Intergraph server running CLIX, so the command line doesn't
scare me ;)

I have 4-5 NuBus PPC Macs and I thought I could push them into use as
servers and such, but they are too slow. I think my Pentium 166 Linux box
is more responsive (and easier to install and upgrade) than the experiences
I have had with NuBus Linux. Oh, and a 8100/100 should technically have the
same processing power as the P166. I think code and compiler optimizations
for PC/Intel architecture are the difference.

I hope this helps, if you want more info, I'd browse the
[EMAIL PROTECTED] archives.

Charles Dostale
System Administrator
Silver Oaks Communications
http://www.silveroaks.com
824 17th Street
Moline IL USA  61265
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
309-797-9898



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