Chimera Linux

[q66_]

my project of the last ~2 years and what i've been focusing on after leaving voidlinux:

Chimera Linux

Chimera Linux

chimera-linux.org

an early iso image for ppc64 is now available: https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/testing/chimera-linux-ppc64-LIVE-20230620-gnome.iso

Chimera Linux (@chimera_linux@floss.social)

Attached: 1 image first experimental big endian #powerpc #ppc64 iso is available: https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/testing/chimera-linux-ppc64-LIVE-20230620-gnome.iso here is it running from usb on my 2005 #powermac g5 keep in mind it's a tier 3 architecture, so don't expect perfection

floss.social

at very least it boots/works on my machine, expect all of the usual big endian nits though, and probably a ton of other additional jank currently not present on the tier1 architectures

i might get around to launching a 32-bit port eventually (a few months) as well, but for now some toolchain issues got in the way

 

[sailorMH]

@q66_

Great! Thank you!

 

[ITzTravelInTime]

I whish my G5 quad works so i would test this with a decently modern gpu, instead i have to use my agp one, how well would a geforce 6800 gt work with this distro?

 

[q66_]

I whish my G5 quad works so i would test this with a decently modern gpu, instead i have to use my agp one, how well would a geforce 6800 gt work with this distro?

dunno, the 6600le that is in the gpu slot on mine fails to modeset (no display) which i've been experiencing since at least early 5.x kernels on other systems, so hard to say (maybe my card is just bad though)

 

[AdamBuker]

Will try this later on my dual core G5.

PS. Our family loves Bananya!

 

[konfusion]

Thank you! Gonna try it with my quad soon.

 

[Yumiko Noua]

cool

 

[q66_]

do keep in mind that installing it is going to be tricky right now considering 1) there is no documentation on how to do so, so you have to be familiar with how the boot process of a power mac works, and adapt 2) there is no native tool to deal with APM partition tables or legacy HFS filesystems, both of which are needed to set up a bootloader; `parted` can deal with APM, but one has to install it first, and it's a little bit clunky especially for creation of the bootstrap partition, and for HFS there is currently nothing; i'll add `mac-fdisk` and `hfsutils` in the coming days/weeks

 

[q66_]

i added mac-fdisk+hfsutils which should make installation technically possible as well as some initial docs; obviously the published image does not contain them so an internet-connected live env is needed, but it's a start

 

[AdamBuker]

Just attempted to boot via open firmware the live image from a usb drive (formatted using the dd command in terminal) and got this far. Using a powermac 11,2 with 16GB ram and Radeon X1900 G5 edition. Used ‘\boot\grub\powerpc.elf’ as the boot file path. It loaded into grub then attempted to boot before crashing into open firmware.

 

[eastone]

X1900 with ppc rom isn't supported.

 

[AdamBuker]

X1900 with ppc rom isn't supported.

of course. It seems like most ppc distros don’t support it. 😕

 

[NathanJHill]

Just posting to send my love and support. At this point, my Mac Mini M1 has made me post less and less on vintage hardware. Still, I love the work and want to be supportive. I may give Chimera a try.

 

[q66_]

new images are out (20230915); this now includes official ppc64 ISOs, which should be installable out of the box (mac-specific partitioning tools are included)

 

[3922434]

If you add 32 bit I would write you a check right now for 1 billion dollars(just don’t cash the check😂.

 

[q66_]

View attachment 2265592 If you add 32 bit I would write you a check right now for 1 billion dollars(just don’t cash the check😂.

i don't need a check, i need somebody to figure out why the crosscompiled base system segfaults, so feel free to do that and then we'll see

 

[3922434]

Any new if this will come to ppc32?

 

[Huffandy]

How's the next beta coming? Was wondering... PowerMac G5 quad here

 

[ks23]

https://chimera-linux.org/news/