---------- Original message ----------
Subject: Re: iMac G4 1GHz user, using HP PC as external DVD
Date: Friday, 03. August 2012
From: Kris Tilford <ktilfo...@cox.net>
To: g3-5-list@googlegroups.com
> On Aug 2, 2012, at 10:29 PM, Mullin9 wrote:
> > I have an iMac G4 1GHz
> > it does not have a working CD/DVD ROM drive.
> > I however have 2005 HP PC with a working DVD Drive, and a FW 400 port.
> > Can I put my HP PC on target mode ? and hook it up to my iMac by FW
> > 400?
>
> There's no FW Target Disk mode for PCs. It would sure be great of
> someone would write a BIOS hack that would enable FW Target Disk mode
> for PCs.
>
> If you're not needing to boot from the optical drive, you can network
> the PC to the Mac and use the optical drive on the PC. If you need to
> boot from the optical drive you'll need an external optical FW drive,
> or another Mac booted in Target disk mode with a working optical drive.
Well, funny that you mention this NOW that Linux Kernel 3.5 has been released.
This particular new kernel revision includes the new FireWire /aka/ IEEE-1394
kernel module (e.q. driver) sbp-target which does exactly that.
Hence, in theory, booting your HP PC with a suitable Linux distribution that
uses the brand new kernel 3.5 (which is /right now/ very unlikely that the
most common distributions do), you could use this module and make your HP
Linux PC function as a Target Disk Mode PC for your Mac.
IF you really want to do that, use a slim Linux Live-CD that has the ability
to run solely from RAM (i.e. that doesn’t require the CD anymore once boot-up
is complete) and that includes the sbp-target module, boot from this CD, eject
the CD, make it go into Target Disk Mode, and you’re all set-up.
I just checkd and recommend Parted Magic for this task:
http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=start
On 1st of August 2012 it has been updated to kernel 3.5.0, so if it includes
the sbp-target module, you’re lucky!
But, looking at the 3.5 release notes, here:
https://ieee1394.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Release_Notes
and the special instructions how to do it there:
https://ieee1394.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Sbp-target
makes me believe that you have to be at least a power user to go this path.
Cheers,
Andreas aka Mac User #330250
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